Dottie Rambo, The Queen Of Gospel Music

DOTTIE RAMBO, indefatigable song writer, renowned recording artist and reigning Queen of Gospel Music, has over 2500 songs that touch millions. Her voice is heard around the world, her heart an open book. Dottie has over sixty years of changing lives in performance and song.

Her songs include legendary hits like, “We Shall Behold Him,” “I Go To The Rock,” “I Will Glory In The Cross,” “Sheltered In The Arms Of God,” “He Looked Beyond My Fault (and Saw My Need),” “Oil And The Wine,” “Tears Will Never Stain The Streets Of That City,” “I’ve Never Been This Homesick Before,” "If That Isn't Love," and “Build My Mansion (Next Door to Jesus)” to name a small fraction.

And it all began at the age of eight. Little Dottie wrote her first song on a Morganfield, Kentucky creek bank. By the time she was twelve, she had learned to play her brother’s guitar by listening to broadcasts of the Grand OLE Opry on WSM radio, Nashville, Tennessee. It was at this time she hit the road.

Leaving her home and family, with a cheap guitar, cardboard suitcase and a promise that her momma would “worry God to death,” over her being away, Dottie spent the next four years going from church to church singing and speaking at any occasion she could. Although young, Dottie had an intuitive way about her that caused her to grow, adapt, and hone her song-craft, causing her to become a consummate singer/songwriter. People still marvel at the fact that a little girl could play a guitar as fluently as she did.

Marriage at sixteen, and a child one year later did nothing to stop her from traveling and songwriting. As other groups started singing her songs, it came to the attention of the then-Governor of the state of Louisiana, Jimmie Davis. Davis flew her to the Governor’s Mansion, had her perform some of her songs, and then offered her more money than she had ever dreamed (as a young Kentucky girl) to publish her songs. It was her first big break.

By the end of the 1960’s Dottie had won a Grammy for 1968’s “It’s the Soul of Me” for best Gospel Album, beating out the likes of Mavis Staples and James Cleveland, causing Billboard magazine to name her Trendsetter of the Year. She and her family were the first Gospel singers to sing for the troops in Vietnam—she even went places that Bob Hope felt were too dangerous. Her stylish guitar playing, one of the only women in Gospel to play electric lead, caused Moserite Guitars (the choice of the Ventures) to build both a Dottie Rambo Model electric guitar and a Moserite “Rambo” model guitar amplifier.
The demand for Dottie Rambo only increased in the 1970’s and 80’s. She and her family were the first Gospel singers to perform behind the Iron Curtain. Performers such asDickie Betts (of the Allman Brothers), Barbara Mandrell, and Country Music Hall of Fame’s Jimmie Davis (to name a few) recorded with Dottie on their records. And the list of people who recorded her songs is astounding.

And the requests to record her songs never stopped. After writing her heartfelt blockbuster, “He Looked Beyond My Faults (And Saw My Need),” the doors opened for her songs to be recorded by such luminary artists as: Elvis Presley, Barbara Mandrell, Bill Monroe, Johnny Cash, Whitney Houston, Vince Gill, Dottie West, Pat Boone, Sandy Patti, the Oak Ridge Boys, Jerry Lee Lewis, Commissioned, Ricky Skaggs, Dolly Parton and countless others. Elvis had even signed a deal to record a Gospel album of nothing but Dottie Rambo songs just before he passed.

As the era of Christian television dawned, Dottie was there setting the pace. Starting with The Gospel Singing Jubilee in the 1960’s, Dottie lent talent and resources to fledgling Christian networks such as: Pat Robertson’s CBN, Jim and Tammy Bakkers’ PTL and Paul and Jan Crouchs’ TBN.
Her charisma was felt weekly during the 1980’s on her TBN show, “The Dottie Rambo Magazine” which was the top rated show for the network six consecutive years. It featured interviews, fashion, cooking segments, and singing. These shows are still re-run by the network due to their popularity.

Even today she continues to be a guest on many Christian network programs, featured on special programming about her life, and has appeared on TNN, GAC, PAX, Women’s Entertainment and others. Even television shows as diverse as Saturday Night Live and Dr. Phil have featured artists performing her songs.

Styles do not slow her down. Whether folk, country-gospel, rock, R&B, soul, inspirational, or pop, Dottie has written and performed in each vein as convincingly as if each were the only genre she’d ever done. For her children’s record, “Down By The Creek Bank,” Dottie Rambo has the honor of being the first children’s record to sell over one million copies.
Even physical tragedy has not stopped Dottie Rambo. Her self-driven motto has always been, “If you can talk you can sing, if you can walk you can go.” But in 1989, while performing on a TBN telethon, a ruptured disc caused severe damage. Vertebrae calcified to her spinal chord. Although she performed sporadically during the 1990’s, most people thought that Dottie could not possibly recover sufficiently from the numerous surgeries and experimental treatments to ever be a constant presence in the music industry again. But they underestimated the perseverance factor in Dottie Rambo’s life. No hideous back surgeries, divorce, searing pain, or mismanagement of her finances were going to stop Dottie. She has always lived in the world of the miraculous.

And the awards kept coming. In 1994, the Country Christian Music Association named her Songwriter of the Century.
In 1999, Dottie took the stage with Whitney Houston to receive the Dove award for Best Traditional Gospel Song with “I Go To The Rock.” Houston performed this in the movie, “The Preacher’s Wife,” the soundtrack of which sold double platinum—the largest selling gospel recording ever.

In 2000, Dottie was awarded a Lifetime Achievement award from ASCAP. It is a rare honor for a Gospel Songwriter.
By the early 21st century, with current manager Larry Ferguson, Dottie Rambo was again performing and writing to an audience that was new and hungry for the type of genius-crafted songs that she has to offer. Her 71st album, “Stand By The River,” went to the top of the Christian charts, and featured hit-duet with Dolly Parton on the title song. It won two Christian Music Fan Awards for song of the year and duo of the year causing Dolly Parton to say, “I am so very proud of the awards that I have won with Dottie Rambo for our song ‘Stand By The River.’ It was a great honor to work with her. Congratulations Dottie…you made me look good.”

In 2002, Barbara Mandrell hosted a tribute to Dottie at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee. It was an all-star event that brought luminaries such as Larry Gatlin, Crystal Gayle, Vestal Goodman, The Speer Family, The Isaacs, Stella Parton, Jesse Dixon, the Crab Family, Barbara Fairchild, the Jordanaires and even her daughter and granddaughter, Reba and Destiny Rambo-McGuire.

Dottie has spent the last few years touring increasingly more, with requests and covers of her songs such as MGM’s motion picture, “Undertow” featuring her song, “Sheltered In The Arms Of God,” being twice inducted into the Gospel Music Associations Hall of Fame (once as a solo performer, once with her group, the Rambos), 2003’s Pioneer award by CCMA, CCMA’s Songwriter of the Year award in 2004, culminating with 2006’s Kentucky Hall of Fame, which honors Kentucky’s own who have achieved great things.

She is now working on her 80th project: a new CD of fan-voted favorites.

The songs of Dottie Rambo have proven staying power. Through good times and bad, triumph and trial, they are there to console, uplift and sometimes just make you laugh. Her songs–emanating from record, cassette and CD players–are the modern-day campfire we all gather around and feel warm.

There is a belief among those who know her: even if she hadn’t written one song, Dottie Rambo would have still changed the world.

What Others Are Saying About Dottie Rambo…

“ Dottie Rambo is a special and precious person. I have always loved her and her writing. I think she is one of the most incredible writers of our time...or anybody's time.” –Dolly Parton

“ It was a pleasure to record one of Dottie Rambo's songs, "I Go To The Rock" for "The Preacher's Wife". It was one of my favorites. What a sweet lady and gifted songwriter.” – Whitney Houston

“ Dottie has given so much to the music world, because her gift of music came with the sweetest spirit. My brother Pake, and my little sister, Susie and I would wear out the Singing Rambo's albums. At family get-togethers we still sing those beautiful songs. Thank you, Dottie for sharing your God-given gifts with us.” – Reba McEntire

“ Dottie Rambo has been in the business a long time. No matter how young or talented other artists are, she can still go out and the stage and sing with the best of them, and does.” – Loretta Lynn

“ Every song she writes is so powerful. Anytime I am around her, whether it is in the recording studio or just talking with her over lunch, it excites me to see how God works through her. She is constantly creating songs, stories, ideas for plays or television, books, or just motivating people around her. I feel blessed to have shared "I Will Glory In The Cross" with it's writer, a very special lady, Dottie Rambo.” – Barbara Mandrell

“ When I think of Dottie Rambo, I think of my favorite terry cloth robe and slippers. She's comfortable, warm and wonderful. I admire her very much for her commitment to the truth- in her life and in her music.” – Kathie Lee Gifford

“ Dottie Rambo's name has become synonymous with some of the most gifted and anointed Christian music of our time. Her music and ministry brings us into a dimension of worship that touches the hearts and inspires us to deeper faith in our walk with the Lord.” – Paul & Jan Crouch

“ Dottie Rambo has been a great inspiration to me, not only as a songwriter, but also as a faithful warrior for God, and I love her.” – Larry Gatlin

“ I believe Dottie Rambo is the Deborah of our day-a prophetess, a leader and a mighty woman.” – Pat Boone

“ Dottie Rambo is one of the most gifted and anointed songwriters in the history of Christian music. Who can forget the powerful lyrics and gripping message of "We Shall Behold Him" and "Behold The Lamb"?” – Pastor John Hagee

“ As a young Christian, I was exposed to the writing of Dottie Rambo. I was deeply inspired then, and I still am. She has an incredible ability to communicate profound spiritual truth through simple, touching and heartfelt lyrics and melodies that appeal to the heart of the common man.” – Ray Bolz