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Virginia Ann (Sanders) Downing (June 12, 1945 - )


Paul & Ann Downing

Paul & Ann Downing

The Downings

Biography

Southern Gospel singer and songwriter Ann Downing was born Virginia Ann Sanders in Pittsboro, Mississippi on June 12, 1945. She showed an early interest in gospel music, which was encouraged by her family. As a teen, she began singing with a local group called The Songsters based in Tupelo, Mississippi. After the Oak Ridge Boys heard them sing, they suggested she audition for the Speer Family, and she began her professional career shortly after graduating from high school. She sang soprano with the Speers for the next five years.

It was during this time that Ann met bass singer Paul Downing. The two eventually married and in 1969 formed the mixed group the Downings. Following the disbanding of the Downings in 1977, Ann discovered her talent for songwriting. She has penned hundreds of songs which have many recorded by many solo artists as well as groups.

Ann and Paul eventually decided to reform the Downings, but Paul passed away in 1992 before realizing that ambition. In spite of personal tragedy, Ann continues to sing, write songs, and speak to various groups about coping with life's issues. She also has appeared regularly on the Gaither Homecoming Series since that series began.

Awards

Dove Awards Female Vocalist Of The Year (1970)
Singing News Fan Awards: Favorite Female Singer (1973)
Southern Gospel Music Association Hall Of Fame (2018)

Solo Discography

hi-res
197? Personally (Discovery Downing Records): A Hammer, Three Nails, A Rugged Cross; Where Are You Going; Jesus Will Outshine Them All; You’ve Gotta Have Love; Loneliest People In My Town; Everything Will Be New; Let Me Give To The World; Will There Be Any Stars In My Crown; Get All Excited; I Must Tell Jesus. (Personally appears to have been re-issued as I Must Tell Jesus or vice versa with the songs in a different sequence.)

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1979 I Must Tell Jesus (Koala Records/AW-14114): Get All Excited; Everything Will Be New; Will There Be Any Stars; Let Me Give To The World; I Must Tell Jesus; Where Are You Going; Jesus Will Outshine Them All; The Loneliest People In My Town; You Gotta Have Love; The Hammer Three Nails And The Old Rugged Cross (featuring Ann Downing).

1989 4 (Custom Records): Through The Blood; Highest Praise; Long Winding Road; More Than Wonderful; Ordinary People; Blessed Assurance Medley Through It All; To Be Like Jesus.

1992 Treasured Gifts (Welcome Home Records): Farther Along; Peace In The Valley; His Eye Is On The Sparrow; Without Him; Until Then; Who Am I; Love Lifted Me; It Took A Miracle; Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus; Holy, Holy, Holy.

1995 Sheltered (White Field Music): Gettin' Ready Today; Mercy Called Me By Name; There's Just Something About My Praise; Sheltered In The Arms Of God; Only A Matter Of Mercy; Healing Hand Of God; Nothing's Too Big For My God; Broken Vessel; Bound For The Kingdom; I Must Tell Jesus.


1996 The Longer I Serve Him The Sweeter He Grows (Daywind Records): Let's All Go Down To The River; I'd Rather Have Jesus; Til The Storm Passes By; Written In Red; Thinking About Home; The Old Rugged Cross Made The Difference; The Longer I Serve Him; Little Is Much; My House Is Full; Holy Ground.

1997 Let's Talk (Daywind Records): Trust And Obey; Then I Remember; Let's Talk About What God Can Do; Someone Like Me; Precious Blood Of Jesus, Cover Me; Oh Me Of Little Faith; God Is Greater; I've Found Living Water; Get The Bride Ready; Downings Medley.

1999 Ocean Of Grace (White Field Music): Until We Fly Away; Climbing Jacob's Ladder; The Healer Is Here; It Took The Blood; Long And Winding Road; Run And Tell; No Stone Unturned; Doing What He Said; That's Why There's Grace; No Less Than Faithful.

2000 My Homecoming Memories (Custom Records): I’ve Been With Jesus; Grace And Glory; Loving God, Loving Each Other; I Thank My Savior For It All; Look For Me; Go Ask; I Believe In A Hill Called Mount Calvary; Singing With The Saints; It Won’t Rain Always; Sitting At The Feet Of Jesus.

2001 Movin’ In Me (Song Garden Records): You’re Movin’ In Me; Praise Be To Jesus; I’ve Got A Feeling; Trustworthy God; Windows Of Heaven; On The Sunny Banks; After All These Years; Leave It There; Whoever Trusts In The Lord; I Quit.

2003 Tell Me Again Live (Scarlett Song Records): Gettin' Ready Today; He'll Deliver You Through; How Precious Are Your Thoughts; Precious Blood Of Jesus, Cover Me; This World Doesn't Own Me Any More; Sheltered In The Arms Of God; Scarlett's Story; Tell Me Again; Climbing Jacob's Ladder; Little Children; I've Got Confidence; You Give; Through The Blood.

2004 God Looking In (Scarlett Song Records): God Looking In; Come Out Of The Darkness; He Already Knew Me; Earth Has No Sorrow; Love Grows Here; Stay Close To Me; He's Working Through My Circumstances; Are You Tired; Bring Me Back; I Must Tell Jesus; Above All Else.

2006 All About The People (Scarlett Song Records): All About The People; Get The Bride Ready; Trustworthy God; Secret Place; I've Got A Feeling; Loving God, Loving Each Other; After All These Years; The Longer I Serve Him; On The Sunny Banks; Movin' In Me; I Quit; Do You Know My Jesus; I Will Understand.

2007 Yuletide (Crossroads Records): Joy To The World; It Came Upon A Midnight Clear; Spirit Of Christmas; Sleigh Ride; The First Noel; Unspeakable Joy; Santa's Medley; I'll Be Home For Christmas; It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year; Silent Night.

2010 Traveling Light (Custom Records): Traveling Light; The Wesley Brothers; All Is Well; The Blessing Of No; The Secrects Of My Heart; I Didn't Come To This Valley To Stay; When I Leave It In Your Hands; The Earth Is Full Of The Glory Of The Lord; He Will Be; Take Heart; I Know You.

2012 Sing Your Way To Joy (Gospel Heritage Records): A Little Goes A Long Way; Make Room; I Will Sing; There's Still A Cross; A Higher Place; Bring On The Joy; It's Not The End; You Know The Valley, Too; Pray For Power; Sing Your Way To Joy; If We Never Meet Again.

2013 Statements Of My Faith (Scarlett Song Records): I Stand Amazed In The Presence; God Leads His Children Along; How Firm A Foundation; And Can It Be; There Is A Fountain; Footsteps Of Jesus; He Giveth More Grace; Blessed Assurance; Lead Me Calvary; He Hideth My Soul; All That Thrills My Soul.

2016 Because He Loved Me (Custom Records): Extraordinary Faith; Run To The Shepheard; Be Still; Sounds Like A Job For God; King Of Glory; I Am The Way; His Light Has Led Me All The Way; Come Into His Presence; You Don’t Really Know God; Because He Loved Me.

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2021 Step By Step (Custom Records): Step By Step; I Will Understand; The Called Out Church?; Jesus Paid It All; It Matters To Him; It's My Desire; In Jesus' Name; I Know That I Know; Your Garden Of Peace?; I Love Him Too Much.

Songwriter's Résumé

(Partial List)

Bring On The Joy
Delivered Again
He Will Be
I Am The Way
Peace
Stay Close To Me

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