ABSTRACT
Lee Roy Abernathy, affectionately dubbed ‘‘Profes-
sor,’’ was one of gospel music’s more innovative and
entrepreneurial performers. In a professional career
that spanned more than sixty years, he organized
quartets, taught voice and piano, and composed one
of the all-time best-selling gospel songs. He grasped
the importance of television in its early days, hosting
his own daily gospel show in Atlanta and introdu-
cing other gospel musicians to a wider audience. In
many ways, Abernathy broke the mold of the tradi-
tional gospel performer as he used his broad range of
musical-and marketing-talents to succeed in the
world of professional entertainment.
