O What a Savior

“O What a Savior” is a Southern gospel song penned by the Free Will Baptist musician Marvin P. Dalton in 1948. A song which emphasizes the fact that God commended His love towards us when we were sinners by sending Christ to die for us and save us from sin is “What A Savior” . The text was written and the tune was composed both by Marvin P. Dalton, who was born in 1906. The song was first published in 1948 in Guiding Hand by the Stamps Quartet Music Co. A songwriter who produced many famous gospel songs, Marvin and his wife Audrey lived in Tulsa, OK, for many, many years. His two most famous songs were “Looking For A City” and “What A Savior,” sometimes entitled “O (or Oh) What a Savior,” both of which have been recorded by many Southern Gospel artists. “What A Savior” was recorded by The Cathedrals, and “Looking For A City” was recorded by Jimmy Swaggart. Other songs by Dalton, who at one time was a Free Will Baptist minister, include “All Upon The Altar,” “We’ll Tour the Golden City,” and “He Will Deliver Us.” One of his very best friends was John Marion Watson, lead singer of the gospel singing quartet, The Temple Quartet, out of Evangelistic Temple in Tulsa, OK. Watson was also a very accomplished song writer in his own right, penning such classics as “There He Stands.” Marvin Dalton died in 1987. Among hymnbooks published during the twentieth century by members of the Lord’s church for use in churches of Christ, “What A Savior” appeared in the 1971 Songs of the Church, the 1990 Songs of the Church 21st C. Ed., and the 1994 Songs of Faith and Praise all edited by Alton H. Howard; the 1978 Hymns of Praise edited by Reuel Lemmons; the 1978/1983 Church Gospel Songs and Hymns edited by V. E. Howard; and the 1992 Praise for the Lord edited by John P. Wiegand; in addition to Hymns for Worship and Sacred Selections. In more recent hymnbooks among us it may be found in the 2009 Favorite Songs of the Church and the 2010 Songs for Worship and Praise both edited by Robert J. Taylor Jr. In earlier versions of Hymns for Worship, Dalton’s name is given correctly, but in newer printings of the Revised edition, it is listed as “Marvin P. Walton.” Perhaps this will be corrected in the future.