LISTEN How Elvis really knew how to take a gospel song and make it universal for the world. God bless you Elvis!
“How Great Thou Art” is a popular Christian hymn that Elvis Presley recorded multiple times throughout his career. One of the most notable performances was his live performance of the song in 1974, which won him his third and final Grammy Award for Best Inspirational Performance.
The song was originally written in Swedish by Stuart K. Hine, but it was later translated into English and became a widely popular hymn in the United States. Elvis’s version of the song features his signature powerful vocals and emotional delivery, backed by a choir and a full orchestra.
Elvis first recorded “How Great Thou Art” in the RCA Studio B in Nashville, Tennessee, in May 1966. The recording was later released on the album “How Great Thou Art” in 1967 and won him his first Grammy Award for Best Sacred Performance.
Elvis continued to perform “How Great Thou Art” throughout his career, including during his famous 1968 Comeback Special and during his live performances in Las Vegas in the 1970s. His live performance at the Mid-South Coliseum in Memphis on March 20, 1974, was particularly notable, as it was recorded and later released on the album “Elvis Recorded Live on Stage in Memphis.”
The live performance of “How Great Thou Art” featured Elvis accompanied by a gospel choir and a full orchestra, and his powerful delivery of the song brought the audience to their feet. The performance won him his third and final Grammy Award for Best Inspirational Performance in 1975.
Elvis’s version of “How Great Thou Art” has since become one of the most beloved renditions of the song, and it continues to be a popular choice for weddings, funerals, and other special occasions.
