MOUNT VERNON, Mo. (ABP) — Southern gospel music singer and songwriter Dottie Rambo, 74, was killed when her tour bus ran off a highway near Mount Vernon, Mo., May 11. She was en route to an engagement in Texas after performing in Illinois.
Rambo wrote more than 2,500 songs, including We Shall Behold Him, He Looked Beyond My Fault (and Saw My Need) and I've Never Been This Homesick Before.
Rambo broke into the music business at 17 when she attracted the attention of then-Louisiana governor Jimmie Davis. The governor, who was also a singer, funded publication of Rambo's songs.
The music artist garnered a number of awards throughout her music career. In 1968, her song, It's the Soul of Me, captured a Grammy for the Best Soul Gospel Performance. Rambo was among the first white gospel performers to use African-American backup singers.
The Country Christian Music Association named her its Songwriter of the Century in 1994, gave her its Pioneer Award in 2003, and named her Songwriter of the Year in 2004. Whitney Houston's recording of Rambo's I Go to the Rock garnered a Dove Award in 1999.
Rambo was inducted into the Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame twice — as a solo performer and with her group, The Rambos.
The singer/songwriter also performed for television, regularly appearing in the 1960s broadcast, “Gospel Singing Jubilee.”
Her 80th project — Sheltered, a CD of fan favorites — is due for release this summer.
Rambo is survived by a daughter, Reba Rambo-McGuire; a sister, Nellie Slaton of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; two brothers, Jerry Luttrell of Madisonville, Ky., and Freddie Luttrell of Sturgis, Ky.; three grandchildren; and a great-grandchild.