1. Rudolph Atwood was an American Christian music pianist, known primarily for his years as accompanist on the long-running Old Fashioned Revival Hour radio program led by Charles E Fuller from 1937 to 1968 on the Mutual Broadcasting System and later on the ABC Radio Network.
Rudy Atwood made many recordings accompanying the program's quartet and choir and made appearances playing the piano at various churches and concerts until his death in 1992.
Rudy Atwood was known as "the most imitated pianist in gospel music", for his improvisations and arrangements of traditional hymns.
Rudy Atwood was born in 1912 in Marion, Illinois, to a Baptist family.
Rudy Atwood was often called upon to preach at the Country Church and he was eventually ordained by the church's board.
Rudy Atwood continued playing piano at the Country Church of Hollywood until 1938.
Rudy Atwood played the piano for the entire 32-year run of the Old Fashioned Revival Hour, until Fuller's death in 1968.
Rudy Atwood wrote of the broadcast's theme song, "Heavenly Sunshine", "A thrill reaches to my toes each time I play [it]", and the familiar piece was his most-requested number during concerts.
Rudy Atwood continued to play on the successor program, The Joyful Sound, when David Hubbard succeeded Fuller.
Rudy Atwood was known as "the most imitated pianist in gospel music" for his improvisations and arrangements of traditional hymns.
Rudy Atwood's performances included New York City's Madison Square Garden with Jack Wyrtzen, Constitution Hall in Washington, DC, Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado with Ralph Carmichael conducting an orchestra, Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto with Fuller speaking, and the Hollywood Bowl.
Rudy Atwood became staff pianist in 1968 at the Church of the Open Door in Los Angeles, where his family attended, playing at the large Youth for Christ rallies held at the church on Saturday nights.
Rudy Atwood was pianist at Perry Hall Baptist Church in a suburb of Baltimore, Maryland, from 1971 to 1973.
Rudy Atwood wrote in his autobiography that wherever he played in a church, he felt that music should be an integral part of worship.
Rudy Atwood's music is still heard on rebroadcasts of the Old Fashioned Revival Hour, aired on the Fundamental Broadcasting Network and streamed on the internet, and during music programming segments on the Bible Broadcasting Network.