Jimmy Swaggart

Jimmy Lee Swaggart (March 15, 1935 - July 1, 2025)

Jimmy Swaggart was born on March 15, 1935 in Ferriday, Louisiana to Pentecostal preacher Willie Leon "Sun"/"Son" Swaggart and Minnie Bell Herron. Swaggart was six months plus a few days older than his famous cousin Jerry Lee Lewis and only a few days shy of being one year older than his other famous cousin Mickey Gilley. He married fifteen-year-old Frances Anderson in 1952 at the age of seventeen. Three years later, Swaggart became a traveling evangelist.

After a few lean years, Swaggart began to attract a following during the 1960s. He was ordained by the Assemblies Of God denomination in 1961 and also began recording gospel music albums. By the end of the decade, he had launched a church called Family Worship Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana that ultimately affiliated with Assemblies Of God. He also started a radio program called The Camp Meeting Hour.

An accomplished pianist and singer/communicator, Swaggart launched a television program and purchased AM radio station WLUX (now WPFC) in the early 1970s. He also started a magazine called The Evangelist. Swaggart made his first appearance on the Singing News monthly airplay chart in April of 1971 at #20 with "This Is Just What Heaven Means To Me." In July of 1972, Swaggart reached the number one spot on the chart with "There Is A River." Months later the same song returned to the top spot (February 1973) and then did it again a few months later (July & August 1973). Swaggart would return to the top of the chart over a decade later with "Gone At Last" (January 1986). Another popular song that didn't quite make it to the number one spot was a live recording of "I've Never Been This Homesick Before" which was characterized by Swaggart's impromptu calls of "Sing it, John!" to John Starnes who sang the lead part on the choruses.

Swaggart's weekly telecast expanded during the 1970s to multiple stations across the country. The Jimmy Swaggart Telecast was launched and syndicated across the United States in 1973. It was expanded from its original 30-minute length to an hour in 1979. By that point, the term "televangelist" had been coined to describe preachers like Swaggart who were primarily using television to deliver their messages.

In 1981, a daily telecast was added called A Study in the Word. It was carried on CBN Cable, TBN, and the PTL Network. Swaggart's popularity exploded in the years that followed. He was conducting more than a dozen crusades each year which were then packaged and broadcast on the weekly program. Millions of dollars were donated annually to Jimmy Swaggart Ministries by viewers, peaking in 1987 with a reported 150 million dollars in donations.

Two widely publicized scandals resulted in Swaggart stepping down as head of the ministry in the early 1990s.

The SonLife radio network was launched in 1995, and Swaggart returned to recording gospel music with an album titled The Windows Of Heaven Are Open in 1996. In 2005, Swaggart's notes were used to create The Expositor s Study Bible. A television network, also branded SonLife, was launched in 2010 with all programming done in-house at Swaggart's Family Worship Center. In addition to preaching programs, the 24-hour network featured a variety of programs including a live show hosted by his wife Frances and programs hosted by his son Donnie and grandson Gabriel.

In 2022, Swaggart released a historic hymns album with his cousin Jerry Lee Lewis titled Jimmy Lee & Jerry Lee: The Boys From Ferriday. The album featured some of the final recordings by Lewis before his death that same year.

Awards

Singing News Fan Awards:
Favorite Musician (1974)

SGMA Hall Of Fame (2025)

Solo Discography

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1958 Some Golden Daybreak (Jim Records LP-101): Some Golden Daybreak; The Joy That Came To Me; I've Got A Longing To Go; Closer Dear Lord To Thee; Let Me Tell You About Jesus; Jesus And Me; What A Day That Will Be; Jesus Took My Burdens; He Bought My Soul; Heavenly Road; Jesus Use Me; Stranger.

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1972 In The Shelter Of His Arms (Jim Records LP-103): In The Shelter Of His Arms; I'll Never Be Lonely Again; Friendship With Jesus; In The Sweet Bye And Bye; Vacation In Heaven; Led By The Master's Hand; There'll Be An Answer Bye And Bye; Just A Closer Walk With Thee; Tell My Friends; Feeling Mighty Fine (Reissued with alternate cover).

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1972 I've Got Nothing To Lose (Jim Records/LP-104): I've Got Nothing To Lose; I Saw Jesus In A Vision Last Night; In The Garden; If We Never Meet Again; I'm Bound For That City; When I Wake Up In Glory; Where Could I Go; God's Valley Of Peace.

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1972 Someone To Care (Jim Records LP-108): Someone To Care; On The Sunny Banks; He Touched Me; At The End Of The Trail; The Most Important Thing; One More Valley; The King And I; Keep Walking; His Hand On My Shoulder; Take Up Thy Cross.

1973 This Is Just What Heaven Means To Me (Jim Records LP-111): This Is Just What Heaven Means To Me; Jesus My All In All; I'm Working A New Road; Who Am I; If God Is Dead Who's This Living In My Heart; In The Garden; Amazing Grace; The Old Rugged Cross; Pass Me Not.

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1972 Camp Meeting Organ (Jim Records LP-113): His Hand In Mine; Where The Roses Never Fade; Yes I Know; Jesus Use Me; He Touched Me; The Old Account Was Settled; I'll Never Be Lonely Again; Friendship With Jesus; Some Golden Daybreak; Are You Washed In The Blood.

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1972 There Is A River (Jim Records/LP-114): There Is A River; Sheltered In The Arms Of God; Blessed Assurance; The Old Account Was Settled; What A Friend We Have In Jesus; Build My Mansion; How Long Has It Been; When We All Get To Heaven; If That Isn't Love.

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1972 God Took Away My Yesterdays (Jim Records/LP-102): God Took Away My Yesterdays; He Holds My Hand; I Was There When It Happened; Meeting In The Air; Peace In The Valley; Where The Roses Never Fade; The Great Speckled Bird; I Want To Praise The Lord.

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1972 At An Altar Of Prayer (Jim Records/LP-106): At An Altar Of Prayer; The Great Speckled Bird; Around God's Throne; I See A Crimson Stream; I Wouldn't Take Nothing For My Journey Now; Just A Rose Will Do; The Little Wooden Church; My Home Up Above; Those Shining Lights; Jesus Is The One.

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1972 The Golden Gospel Piano Of Jimmy Swaggart (Jim Records/LP-107): The Man Whom I Have Worked For; Life's Evening Sun; I'll Fly Away; Sweet Hour Of Prayer; Will The Circle Be Unbroken; Unworthy; Precious Memories; Glory Land March?; Farther Along; The Old Rugged Cross.

1972 Down The Sawdust Trail (Jim Records LP-110): Sweet Sweet Spirit; Down The Sawdust Trail; Rock Of Ages; Our Lord Is Coming Back To Earth Again; Crown Of Thorns; A Song In My Heart; God Will Provide; I'm On My Way; Had It Not Been.

1972 Camp Meeting Piano (Jim Records/LP-112): He Looked Beyond My Faults; Come And Dine; In The Sweet Bye And Bye; Whosoever Meaneth Me; When I See The Blood; The Healer; Leaning On The Everlasting Arms; He Was Nailed To The Cross For Me; Since Jesus Came Into My Heart; Oh How I Love Jesus.

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1972 The Sacred Strings Of Jimmy Swaggart (Shiloh Records LP-6000): Near The Cross; Dear Jesus Abide With Me; That Glad Reunion Day; The Last Mile Of The Way; Where We'll Never Grow Old; Do You Know My Jesus; How Beautiful Heaven Must Be; The Promised Land; Balm In Gilead; His Eye Is On The Sparrow.

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1973 Holy (Jim Records/LP-118): Holy; Now I Have Everything; Camping In Canaan Land?; Without Him; No One Ever Cared For Me Like Jesus; What Will My Answer Be; The One Who Died For Me; The Man Whom I Have Worked For.

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1973 Songs From Mama's Songbook (Jim Records): I Know A Man Who Holds Tomorrow; I Saw A Man; Each Step Of The Way; I Met The Master; I'm God's Own Child; I'm Saved By Love Divine; The Best Of The Trade; Treasures On The Other Side; Tell Me His Name Again.

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1974 You Don't Need To Understand (Jim Records/LP-109): You Don't Need To Understand; At The Crossing; He Accepted Me; From The Altar Of Repentance; How Great Thou Art; The Last Mile Of The Way; Something Within Me; Remind Me Dear Lord; There's A Way To Cross Over; Going Home.

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1974 Jesus Will Outshine Them All (Jim Records LP-115): Jesus Will Outshine Them All; Glory To His Name; Just Over In The Gloryland; I've Had A Vision Of Jesus; The Healer; He'll Understand And Say Well Done; It's Different Now; Oh I Want To See Him; The Eastern Gate; Oh How I Love Jesus.

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1974 Touching Jesus (Jim Records/LP-119): Touching Jesus; Life's Railway To Heaven; The Blood Will Never Lose Its Power; King Jesus; Come Into The Ark; Every Hour And Every Day; Heaven (This album also features Dwain Johnson).

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1974 I'm Nearer Home (Jim Records/LP-105): I'm Nearer Home; I've Never Loved Him Better Than Today; Jesus The Nazarene; At The Roll Call; Suppertime; The Answer's On The Way; In My Father's House; Heaven; God Will Provide For His Own; One By One.

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1974 Jesus Is The Sweetest Name I Know (Jim Records/LP-116): Jesus Is The Sweetest Name I Know; Let Jesus Fix It For You; Praise God I'm Free; Thank You Lord For Saving My Soul; Won't It Be Wonderful There; Fill My Cup Lord; I Know The Lord Will Make A Way For Me; I'll Fly Away; Only Believe; Where He Leads I'll Follow.

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1974 Someday (Shiloh Records/LP-10000): Whosoever; Jesus Will Be What Makes It Heaven For Me; Hide Thou Me; I Shall Not Be Moved; A Song Holy Angels Cannot Sing; Someday; Remind Me; Prisoner Of Love; Only Jesus Can Satisfy Your Soul.

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1975 Hallelujah (Jim Records/LP-120): Hallelujah; Glory Glory; Everybody Will Be Happy Over There; Haven Of Rest; Let The Lower Lights Be Burning; There'll Be Shouting On The Hills Of Glory; Wasted Years; Have Faith In God (This album also features Dwain Johnson).

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1975 When I Say Jesus (Jim Records/LP-121): When I Say Jesus; Jesus Lifted Me; Come And Dine; Sunlight; Nothing Between; A Song Holy Angels Cannot Sing; In My Heart There Rings A Melody; My Sins Are Gone; Battle Hymn Of The Republic; Heaven For Me (This album also feature Dwain Johnson and the Jimmy Swaggart Singers) (Reissued in 1984 with alternate cover).

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1976 The Name Of Jesus (Jim Records/LP-122): All In The Name Of Jesus; Friendship With Jesus; Instrumental Reprise; Jesus On The Mainline; He Was Nailed On The Cross For Me; He Washed My Eyes With Tears; We Shall See The King; Chorus Reprise; This Little Light Of Mine; Lift Up The Name Of Jesus; Vocal Reprise. (This album also features Dwain Johnson, Phil Johnson, the Phil Johson Singers, and The Imperials).

1976 Only Jesus (Jim Records/LP-123): Only Jesus; This Is Like Heaven To Me; He Keeps Me Singing; He Is Lord; Falling In Love With Him; Come And Go With Me; Send The Light; It Took A Miracle.

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1977 We'll Talk It Over (Jim Records): We'll Talk It Over; I Shall Not Be Moved; Yes I Know; I Feel Like Travelin' On; Softly And Tenderly; He'll Be With Us This Day; Living Upon The Mountain?; The Hallelujah Side; My Journey Gets Sweeter Every Day; How Beautiful Heaven Must Be.

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1978 Somewhere Listenin' (Jim Records/LP-128): I'll Be Somewhere Listening; I'm Gonna Love Him; Congratulations Are In Order; Unclouded Day; Wonderful Words Of Life; Come Holy Spirit; Joy Unspeakable; In The Shadow Of The Cross; I Love My Saviour; An Empty Mansion.

1979 Looking For A City (Jim Records/LP-130): Looking For A City; O Say But I'm Glad; Let Me Touch Jesus; No Not One; Royal Telephone; Mercy Rewrote My Life; Praise Him; We'll Never Grow Old; Just A Little While; Harvest Time.

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1980 Homeward Bound (Jim Records/01-136): Leavin On My Mind; I See Jesus; Heaven's Jubilee; It's A Privilege; Let Me Lose Myself And Find It Lord In Thee; It's Over Now; Gone; I'll Be Satisfied; I Was On My Way; Reach Out And Touch The Lord.

1983 Just the Mention Of Your Name (Jim Records 01-141): Jesus Just The Mention Of Your Name; I Owe It All To Jesus; Jesus Now More Than Ever; Learning To Just Believe; Only For His Eyes; The Potter; More Of You; Headin' Home.

1998 Tell Me His Name Again (Jim Records 02-173): Tell Me His Name Again; I Will Praise Him; He Took My Sins Away; God Took Away My Yesterdays; The Healing Waters; It Took A Miracle; If That Isn't Love; Meeting In The Air; Sheltered In The Arms Of God; No Other Name.

1999 He Was Nailed To The Cross For Me (Jim Records 02-175): He Was Nailed To The Cross For Me; Tis So Sweet To Trust In Jesus; Thank You, Thank You Jesus; I Know Who Holds Tomorrow; Oh The Blood Of Jesus; At The Cross; Are You Washed In The Blood; I Know My Lord's Gonna Lead Me Out; Amazing Grace; Showers Of Blessings.

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2022 Jimmy Lee & Jerry Lee: The Boys From Ferriday: The Old Rugged Cross (Jerry Lee); I ll Fly Away (Jimmy Swaggart); It Is No Secret (Jimmy Swaggart & Jerry Lee); Precious Lord (Jimmy Swaggart); Jesus Hold My Hand (Jimmy Swaggart & Jerry Lee); I Come To The Garden Alone (Jerry Lee);

Farther Along (Jimmy Swaggart); Lily Of the Valley (Jimmy Swaggart & Jerry Lee); Since I Laid My Burdens Down (Jimmy Swaggart). (Duet album with his cousin Jerry Lee Lewis).