Collection 709 Oral History Interviews with John Innes
Scope and Contents
Oral history interviews with John Innes, in which he describes his family background; spiritual growth; development of musical talent; education at Moody Bible Institute and Wheaton College; and career as an organist and pianist with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) for over 40 years. Topics discussed include the development of the BGEA’s music team; changes in the BGEA structure and leadership; various BGEA figures, including Billy Graham; George Beverly Shea; Cliff Barrows; Franklin Graham; Don Hustad; Leighton Ford; among others. The time period covered by this interview is 1939-2018.
John Innes was interviewed by Bob Shuster on November 12 and 29, 2018 at the Wheaton College Billy Graham Center Archives offices in Wheaton, IL.
Note: The final 23 minutes of the interview on Tape 2 are missing from the recording due to equipment malfunction.
Dates
- 2018
Conditions Governing Access
There are no restrictions on the use of this collection.
Conditions Governing Use
The copyright to the sound recordings in this collection is held by the Wheaton College Billy Graham Center Archives.
Biographical Information
Full name: John Innes
Birth: September 8, 1937 in Bradford, England
Family
Parents: John and Marjorie Innes
Siblings: Older sister Allison
Marital Status: Married Janet Ellen Richards in 1963
Children: David John (b. 1964), Margaret Ellen (b. 1967), Stephen James (b. 1971), Caroline Elizabeth (b. 1973)
Conversion: Sunday night church service at about age 16
Education
1942-1954 - Bradford Grammar School, Bradford England
1958-1961 - Moody Bible Institute Conservatory of Music, Chicago, Illinois, USA
1961-1963 - Wheaton College Conservatory of Music, B.Mus, Wheaton, Illinois, USA
1964-1965 - Northwestern University, M. Mus, Evanston, Illinois, USA
Career
1954-1958 - Worked in the textile industry in the Bradford area
1958 - Pianist for John Wesley White Crusade in Bournemouth, England
1958-1963 - Minister of Music at Central Avenue Baptist Church in Oak Park, IL
1958-1963 - Part time staff musician, Moody Radio, WMBI, Chicago, Illinois, USA
1963-1964 - Team Musician with the BGEA as pianist/organist for Associate Crusade meetings.
1964-1965 - Music Teacher in the Moody Bible Institute Conservatory of Music Conservatory, teaching music theory, piano, and organ.
1965-1967 - August 1 joined the BGEA as a full-time crusade musician, traveling in the first two years primarily with the Associate Crusades, particularly Leighton Ford’s meetings.
1967-2008 - In 1967, transitioned to take Don Hustad’s role on the Billy Graham Crusades Team.
1986-? - Served as Director of Keyboard Ministries at Forest Baptist Church of Atlanta while continuing to work for the BGEA.
Extent
2 Sound Recordings
253 Minutes
Language of Materials
English
Accruals and Additions
The materials in this collection were given to the Wheaton College Billy Graham Center Archives by John Innes in November 2018.
Accession: 18-47, 18-51
June 16, 2020
Katherine Graber
- Title
- Collection 709 Oral History Interviews with John Innes
- Author
- Katherine Graber
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Roman Script
Repository Details
Part of the Evangelism & Missions Archives Repository