The suggestion to write a song emphasizing the word “touch” was made to William J. Gaither by evangelist Dr. Dale Oldham. “He Touched Me” was Gaither’s fifty-fourth song in a catalog that would eventually surpass 700. Gaither wrote the song in 1963, and the Bill Gaither Trio recorded it in 1964.
It may come as a surprise to some of you to learn the recording by Gaither’s own trio was not the first.
Earlier in 1964, Dr. Oldham’s son Doug Oldham recorded “He Touched Me.” It was the opening track on his 1964 album Songs That Touch The Heart. Aside from the color and one word in the title, the album’s cover was identical to Oldham’s previous release Songs That Lift The Heart.
Check out the original recording of “He Touched Me” below:
According to Hymnary.org, “He Touched Me” has been published in at least 20 hymnals over the years. The number of recordings is likely in the thousands considering that so many amateur groups have recorded the song as well as virtually every professional Southern Gospel artist. Several artists have released more than one version over the years including a considerable number by Gaither himself as part of the Bill Gaither Trio, the Gaither Vocal Band, and the Homecoming video series.
Below is a list of artists who have recorded “He Touched Me.” This list is a mere fraction of the total but is long enough to show the song’s vast impact.
- Anchormen (1992 In Concert; ???? Lifting The Standard)
- Anthony Burger (2004 A Tribute To Bill And Gloria Gaither)
- Apostles (1999 Vintage Gospel)
- Bill Gaither Trio (1964 He Touched Me; 1966 Sincerely; 1969 He Touched Me; 1974 Something Beautiful…An Evening With The Bill Gaither Trio; 1978 Classics; 1978 The Very Best Of The Very Best; 1980 Live Across America)
- Blackwood Brothers (1967 With A Song On My Lips And A Prayer In My Heart; 1977 Bill Gaither Songs; 1981 The Joy Of Knowing Jesus; 1984 He Touched Me; 1989 The Unforgettable Pat Hoffmaster with the Blackwood Brothers; 2007 Live In Cape Coral)
- Blackwood Quartet (1998 Classic Collection)
- Blackwood Singers (1968 On Higher Ground; 1971 Super Hits Of…)
- Blue Ridge (1991 Live)
- Blue Ridge Quartet (1969 And That’s Enough; ???? Hits Forever)
- Booth Brothers (2009 Live At Oak Tree; 2012 The Booth Brothers – A Tribute to the Songs of Bill & Gloria Gaither)
- Browns (2008 A New Day)
- Calvarymen Quartet (???? Gospel Singing Calvarymen Style)
- Carroll Roberson (???? His Hand In Mine)
- Cathedral Quartet (1968 I Saw the Light; 1976 The Best Of The Cathedral Quartet)
- Christian Davis (2006 Make It Real)
- Couriers (1971 God Spoke; 1976 Ovation – Live; 2004 Couriers Live)
- Cumberland Quartet (1981 Sing The Glory Down)
- Danny Gaither (1957 Songs By Bill Gaither As Sung By His Brother Dan)
- Darrell Luster (1996 Somewhere Listening)
- Dixie Echoes (1968 Exciting & Inspiring; 1968 He Touched Me; 2003 The Old Fashioned Way)
- Dixie Melody Boys (1974 Excited; 1978 Best Of The Dixie Melody Boys; 1992 Gonna Praise The Lord Live; 2001 Request Time; 2005 Historic Journey Volume 6)
- Doris Akers (???? All God’s Children: Doris Akers Sings The Best Of Bill & Gloria Gaither)
- Doug Oldham (1964 Songs That Touch The Heart; 1967 Doug Oldham With Jake Hess And The Imperials Sings Twelve Songs By Bill Gaither; 1970 Have You Heard…God Loves You!; 1971 Sings The Best Of Bill Gaither)
- Down East Boys (1994 Remembering When)
- Downings (1969 Sheltered In The Arms Of God; 1975 Praise Him! Live; 1996 The Downings Vol 2)
- Driven Quartet (2011 Crucified With Christ)
- Elvis Presley (1972 He Touched Me)
- Ernie Haase And Signature Sound (2003 The Ground Is Level; 2008 The Early Years; 2020 Something Beautiful)
- Florida Boys (1973 Sing Gospel Hits: Volume II; 1985 We All Are One)
- Gaither Homecoming Series (1992 Reunion; 2001 A Billy Graham Homecoming Volume Two)
- Gaither Vocal Band (1999 God Is Good; 2004 Best Of The Gaither Vocal Band; 2009 Reunited; 2009 Reunion Volume One)
- Galileans (1968 Introducing The Galileans; 1970 Make It Happen)
- Gary McSpadden (1990 All Time Favorites)
- Gold City (1983 Hymns Sung By The Gold City Quartet)
- Gospel Brass (1986 Solo Flight)
- Gospel Harmony Boys (1967 Leisure Time)
- Gospel Lads (???? Jesus Is Alive)
- Heaven Bound (1997 Quartet Style)
- Henry And Hazel Slaughter (1967 We’ve Come This Far By Faith; 1972 Live; 1976 In Retrospect)
- Henry Slaughter (1983 Precious Memories – Featuring The Keyboards Of Henry Slaughter)
- Homeland Harmony Quartet (1966 He Touched Me)
- Homeland Quartet (1989 The Tradition Lives On)
- Hopper Brothers 2.0 (2015 Hopper Brothers 2.0)
- Imperials (1965 Happy Sounds; 1969 Love Is The Thing; 1970 Believe It; 1972 The Imperials 1968-1972; 1978 Live; 1983 First Day In Heaven; 1984 Old Fashioned Faith; 1996 Legacy: 1978-1989 Volume 1; 1998 Gospel Music Hall Of Fame Series)
- Inspirations (1971 Our Inspiration)
- Ivan Parker (2015 Threads Of Mercy)
- J D Sumner And The Stamps (1968 Music, Music, Music; 1974 Sing Golden Gospel Hits; 1977 Elvis’ Favorite Gospel Songs)
- Jack Holcomb (1969 Dearest To My Heart; 196? Shepherd Of Love)
- Jake Hess (1969 Spiritual Reflections; 1984 Gospel Classics Sung By Jake Hess – Volume One; 1996 Terry & Jake; 1998 Nothing But Fine: 40 Years And Counting)
- James Blackwood (1983 Traditionally)
- Jimmy Swaggart (197? Someone To Care; 1972 Camp Meeting Organ)
- John Hall (1970 If God Is Dead)
- John Mathews Family (1972 All God’s Children Gotta’ Sing!)
- Jubilee Quartet (1969 There’s An Answer Through Faith)
- Keystone Quartet (1970 Shine! In The 70’s)
- Kingdom Heirs (1986 Heirlooms; 1987 Favorites; 1996 Feelin’ At Home; 2001 The Classic Collection)
- King’s Heralds (1986 Try A Little Kindness; 2006 Anthology Volume 1)
- Kingsmen Quartet (1969 Standing Room Only; 1972 Its Time To Ring The Bell; 1992 Walking With Jesus; 2002 Honoring The Heritage Volume 1)
- Lesters (1975 The Lester Family Sings)
- London Parris And The Apostles (1973 Why Me)
- Lundstroms (1974 Livin’ Happy)
- Mark Trammell Quartet (2017 Great Moments)
- Masterpeace (1998 MasterPeace)
- Masters V (1986 Have A Little Faith)
- Melody Boys Quartet (1993 New Tradition)
- Messengers (1973 Going Places)
- Music City Singers (196? The Gospel In Song)
- Old Time Gospel Hour Quartet (2004 Classics)
- Palmetto State Quartet (1983 Sings The Gospel)
- Pine Ridge Boys (???? Daddy Sang Bass)
- Plainsmen (1974 Both Sides Of The Plainsmen)
- Premiers Quartet (1968 Singing Southern Style)
- Rebels (1967 Love Is The Key)
- Rhythm Masters (1970 Daddy Sang Bass)
- Roger McDuff (1968 Sincerely Yours)
- Ronnie Booth (2008 A Gospel Tribute To The King)
- Sego Brothers And Naomi (1968 Sing Weapon Of Prayer And Other Gospel Favorites)
- Senators (1974 Sing Gospel)
- Singing Americans (1986 Concert Series III)
- Smitty Gatlin Trio (1969 Smitty Gatlin And The Friends)
- Soul’d Out Quartet (2003 Free Today)
- Songfellows Quartet (1966 Meeting Tonight; 2011 The Bible Told Me So)
- Speer Family (1965 On Concert Tour; 1973 He Touched Me; 1974 A Tribute – The Songs of Bill and Gloria Gaither)
- Squire Parsons And Redeemed (1990 Reunion!)
- Statesmen (1968 Standing on the Promises; 1971 Put Your Hand in the Hand; 1981 Sweet Beulah Land; 1983 He Touched Me)
- Talleys (1971 More Than Enough)
- Teddy Huffam And The Gems (1974 He Touched Me)
- Thrasher Brothers (1972 Come Alive)
- Three Bridges (2012 Twelve)
- Toney Brothers (???? 10th Anniversary)
- Various Artists (1968 America’s Gospel Classics; 1972 The Dove Awards 1971; 1986 All Night Singin’ With The Gospel Greats)
- Vicksburg Quartet (1966 Songtime At The Old Country Church; 1973 The Vicksburg In Nashville)
- Vocal Edition (1997 Room At The Cross)
- Weatherfords (1965 Great Gospel Songs By The Famous Weatherford Quartet; 1971 Something Beautiful)
- Whisnants (1988 We Win)
- Wills Family (???? Wills Family Inspirational Time)
- Woodsmen (???? Timeless)
Earl Weatherford brought Bill Gaither to Akron to look at some of the songs Bill had written. Bill brought the original paper that he had written “He Touched Me” on.The Weatherfords actually were the first to record the song. Because the Imperials were also on the same label, the label decided to hold back the Weatherfods version so they could promote the Imperials version.
If the Weatherfords were the first to record the song, why would Bill Gaither himself say otherwise?
The Doug Oldham recording was released in 1964…the Imperials recording was released in 1965. I’m content I have represented the facts accurately, considering the source of the information.
Steve Weatherford has said the Weatherfords version was recorded before the Imperials, but I can’t recall of he said they were the first ever to record, or just first between them and the Imperials. Perhaps that is where the confusion came in.