“What A Day That Will Be” was written by Jim Hill in 1955.
At the time, Hill was singing tenor with The Golden Keys, a part-time/weekender group based in Ohio. The Golden Keys sang the song first, but another quartet was the first to record it.
The Homeland Harmony Quartet (circa 1956)
In Atlanta, there was a group closely affiliated with the Church Of God denomination called the Homeland Harmony Quartet. Their sound was defined by the distinctive vocals of their tenor Connor Hall and a young bass singer named Rex Nelon. The Homeland Harmony Quartet heard “What A Day That Will Be” and were the first to record it. Their version was released in 1957 on Liberty Records single #5015.
Click HERE to hear the very first recording of “What A Day That Will Be” by the Homeland Harmony Quartet!
In the years that followed, “What A Day That Will Be” was recorded by numerous artists. The song is so popular that it is still included in many modern hymnbooks.
The following list of artists who have recorded the song (from our sister site, SGHistory.com), is not a complete listing of every artist to record “What A Day That Will Be,” but as you can see, it is rather lengthy!
- Anchormen (???? Old Time Singing)
- Apostles (2000 Southern Classics; 2011 Hymns Melodies And Spiritual Songs)
- Beene Family (2006 Timeless)
- Bill Gaither Trio (1960 Presenting The Gaither Trio Of Indiana)
- Blackwood Brothers (1967 With A Song On My Lips And A Prayer In My Heart)
- Blackwood Quartet (1998 Classic Collection)
- Blue Ridge (1995 Take Courage; 1996 Southern Style)
- Bradys (2010 Acoustic Treasures)
- Brian Free And Assurance (2002 Timeless Hymns & Classics)
- Called Out Quartet (2008 Classics)
- Cathedral Quartet (1979 Smooth as Silk; 1980 Special)
- Chosen Few (1993 The Classics)
- Chuck Wagon Gang (2011 The Best Is Yet To Be)
- Clayton Inman (???? Life Is Good)
- Couriers (1971 Re-visit Vanzants)
- Crystal River (2013 Crystal River)
- Daryl Williams Trio (1998 Souvenirs)
- Dennis Gwizdala (2006 Favorite Hymns Of The Church)
- Dixie Melody Boys (1963 Jesus Use Me)
- Dixie Melody Boys Band (1992 Larry DeLawder – Favorite Instrumentalist)
- Doug Oldham (1970 Have You Heard…The King Is Coming!)
- Down East Boys (2003 Remember The Time; 2008 The Collection Volume One)
- Erwins (2004 He Is To Me)
- Florida Boys (1959 12th Anniversary; 1967 Singing Through Life)
- Freemans (2006 Live 2)
- Gaither Homecoming Series (1993 Turn Your Radio On; 1997 Feelin’ At Home; 1997 This Is My Story; 2003 Heaven; 2008 Homecoming Picnic)
- Gold City (1981 Sing Golden Nuggets; 1986 Your Favorite Hymns)
- Gold City and Kingsmen Quartet (1992 Kings Gold)
- Gospel Harmony Boys (1961 It’s Gospel Harmony Time)
- Gospelaires (1960 What A Day That Will Be)
- Harvesters (1959 Room At The Cross)
- Heartland Boys Quartet (1994 Nothing’s To Big)
- Henry And Hazel Slaughter (1974 The Joyous Excitement Of Henry and Hazel Slaughter; 1982 Songs From Our First 30 Years)
- Homeland Quartet (1990 Down Home Days)
- Hoppers (1962 Gospel Favorites)
- Inspirationals (???? Don’t You Want To See Daybreak)
- Inspirations (2004 What a Day)
- Jake Hess (1984 Gospel Classics Sung By Jake Hess – Volume Two; 1996 Terry & Jake)
- J D Sumner And The Stamps (1968 Best Of The Stamps; 1977 16 Greats)
- Jimmy Swaggart (???? Some Golden Daybreak)
- Joseph Habedank (2015 Take Time To Be Holy)
- Junior Blackwood Brothers (1964 His Grace Reaches Me)
- Keystone Quartet (1968 I Believe)
- Kingdom Heirs (1976 Old Fashion Gospel; 1988 Classics)
- King’s Heralds (2002 Revival Southern Style)
- Kingsmen Quartet (1991 Classic Hymns; ???? Bob Poole’s Gospel Favorites)
- Laymen Quartet (1976 Up To Date An Down To Earth)
- LeFevre Quartet (2006 Requests Volume 2 – Hymns)
- Liberty Quartet (2004 Timeless Treasured Hymns)
- London Parris And The Apostles (1975 What A Day)
- LordSong (2007 Classics)
- McKameys (???? What A Day That Will Be)
- Melody Masters Quartet (196? Praise Ye The Lord)
- Oak Ridge Boys (1966 Songs We Wished We’d Recorded First)
- Old Paths (2005 Life Again)
- Perfect Heart (1991 Live!)
- Pine Ridge Boys (???? Jesus Is Coming Soon)
- Plainsmen (1960 Songs And Hymns By The Plainsmen Quartet)
- Prophets (1960 Glory Glory Amen; 1969 Sweeter As The Days Go By)
- Rebels (1983 Lord Of Lords; ???? Peace In The Valley)
- Rhythm Masters (???? 45RPM Single; 19?? Rhythm Masters Sing The Old And The New)
- Rick Strickland (1993 When I’m Weak, He Is Strong)
- Sego Brothers And Naomi (1964 One Day Late…)
- Singing Americans (1994 Golden Hits)
- Singing Cookes (2011 I’ll Be There)
- Smitty Gatlin Trio (1969 Smitty Gatlin And The Smitty Gatlin Trio)
- Songfellows Quartet (1960 The Full Sound; 2011 Mercy River)
- Sons Of Harmony (1963 Songs Of Harmony)
- Speer Family (1961 All Night Singing (Speer Family Style); 1972 The Speers In Concert; 1982 Tribute; 1983 The Speers Live; 1991 Spectacular Hits; 1996 75th Diamond Jubilee; 1997 The Speer Family Collection)
- Squire Parsons And Redeemed (1983 Family Reunion)
- Stamps Quartet (1964 What A Day That Will Be)
- Statesmen (1959 Get Away Jordan; 1971 Put Your Hand in the Hand; 1979 Gospel Gems; 1984 The Cross Makes The Difference)
- Steve Sanders (1968 I’m Happy Now)
- Trio (2003 Havin’ A Good Time)
- Thrasher Brothers (1968 For Goodness Sake)
- Triumphant Quartet (2009 Lyric & Melody)
- Vicksburg Quartet (1968 His Name Is Wonderful)
- Weatherfords (1961 Gospel Favorites)
- Willie Wynn And The Tennesseans (1975 Presenting)
- Wills Family (???? Keep A Happy Heart)
- Woodsmen (???? What A Day)
(A big thanks to John Crenshaw for his assistance with this article!)
What A Day That Will Be is such a classic that is similar to songs like He Touched Me and I’ve Been to Calvary that it could be assumed Bill wrote it. Which makes me wonder, what else did Jim Hill write? Anything close to What A Day’s caliber even if it didn’t reach it’s popularity?
“What A Day That Will Be” is by far his most popular song.
Hill did write other songs that were recorded by his Golden Keys as well as other artists. Some titles include “Each Step I Take,” “For God So Loved,” “No One Ever Cared So Much,” and “I’ll Make it to Heaven.”
Ok, thanks! I am very familiar with No One Ever Cared So Much which IMHO is a superior song to What A Day. I know an Each Step I Take but there appear to be several with that title.
I like the songs that the musical arrangement are simple and projected the message in simplicity and truth.
The Gospel of Jesus Christ is simple. It is really not hard to figure it out. It is us humans that often through our arrangements that make it hard to be understood.
pardon my crudeness. But sometime we are like a dog who is laying off his turf: we like to go around letting others know we have been here through our arrangements. of music and the like.
There are so many classics that have been written and recorded in Southern Gospel Music.
But one thing that has endured it is the simplicity.
Jesus Loves Me
Had it Not Been
He’s Still Working On Me
He Touched Me
Because He Lives
Who Am I
Beulah Land
The Lighthouse
Who Am I
What A Day That Will Be
King Jesus
Jesus is Coming Soon
I Bowed On My Knees and Cried “Holy”
If That Isn’t Love
He Looked Beyond My Fault and saw My Need
I’ll Fly Away
There are many others that can bless your soul, just by simply being sung without fancy arrangement, Just let the song minister to us.
That was what I treasured in a lot of the songs of years gone by, that we do not see being done today.