Celebrating a History of Gospel Music from Grandfather Mountain Since 1924
A Community-Based, Non-Profit Foundation
Historic Media
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Singing on the Mountain began in 1924 when Joseph Hartley organized a simple church picnic centered around gospel music and fellowship. Held each year on the fourth Sunday in June at MacRae Meadows, the free, all-day gathering grew into a beloved tradition — welcoming families from across the region to worship in the beauty of God’s creation. Through the partnership of the Hartley, MacRae, and Morton families, the event flourished for decades and featured inspirational voices including Dr. Billy Graham.
After Joseph Hartley’s passing in 1966, the Hartley family — with the support of Hugh Morton and the local community — carried the vision forward. In 2017, the Singing on the Mountain Foundation was established to preserve the mission of glorifying God through music, witness, and the proclamation of the Gospel.
Like many long-standing traditions, the festival faced significant challenges, including the growing complexity of hosting a large, non-ticketed event and the pause caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Though the Hartley family faithfully revived the gathering in 2022, they recognized the need for a new, sustainable model to ensure its future.
The Singing on Grandfather Foundation was established to continue this legacy — preserving the heart of the original gathering while strengthening and sustaining the event for generations to come. Rooted in faith and united in community, the song continues on the mountain.
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Singing on Grandfather is a one-day, admission-free, family-oriented Gospel Music & Worship Festival held each year on the fourth Sunday in June. Rooted in a Christ-centered, non-denominational tradition, the event brings together inspiring gospel music, a dynamic keynote speaker, and a welcoming atmosphere with no alcohol or overnight camping.
Our mission is simple: to share the hope of Jesus Christ through music, community, and encouragement. We invite local churches, families, and friends to bring a chair, a blanket, and a picnic — and join us on the mountain for a joyful celebration of faith and fellowship.
History of Participants
Joseph Larkin Hartley Church Picnic
1924
Rev. Cooke; J.L. Hartley; Rev. Lloyd Sudderth; Rev. John McGuire
1925
Rev. Shelby E. Gragg
1927
Rev. D.W. Haga; Shelby E. Gragg
1926
Prof. William Monroe Francum
1928
Rev. J.M. Heaton
1929
Rev. Roy Jones
1930
Rev. Culp
1931
Rev. Leroy Wood
1932
Joseph Larkin Hartley
1934
Rev. Shelby E. Gragg
1935
Dr, B.B. Doughtery; Rev. Culp
1936
Rev. P.J. Shell (maternal grandfather of Robert & Joe Lee Hartley)
1938
Rev. Shelby E. Gragg
1939
Rev. Roy Jones
1940
Rev. Shelby E. Gragg
1941
Rev. Levi Greene
1942
Rev. Creed Daniels
1943
Rev. K.L.Haga (son of Rev. D.W. Haga, 1926 speaker)
1944
Rev. Freeman
1945
Rev. G.D. Dorsett
1946
Rev. Mack Hodges
1947
Rev. Mack Hodges
1948
Rev. Freeman
1949
Gov. Kerr Scott
1950
Dr. I.G.Greer; Rev. Ed Miller
1951
Judge Jonathan Hayes
1952
Prof. Ben V. Watson
1953
Rev. Wallace Dale Freeman
1954
Ted Malone
1955
Bascom Lamar Lundsford
1956
Rev. Honnicutt (from Lenoir)
1957
Rev. Wallace Dale Freeman
1958
Rev. Jones
1958
Rev. Jones
1959
Joe Emerson; John Parcis
1961
Dr. Billy Graham
1962
Ford Philpot
1963
Gov. Terry Sandford
1964
Rep. James T. Broyhill
1965
Rev. Dean Reese (Ketron Methodist, Kingsport, TN)
1966
Gov. Robert McNair
1967
Oral Roberts
1968
Rev. Frank R. Moore, Leighton Ford
1969
Bobby Richardson (N.Y. Yankees)
1970
Grady Wilson (Billy Graham Evangelistic Association)
1971
Dave Boyer
1972
Norm Evans (Miami Dolphins)
1973
Bob Hope; Johnny Cash; General William Westmoreland, Gov. Holshouser
1974
Roy Acuff
1975
Oral Roberts; Roy Clark
1976
Rev. Bob Harrington (Chaplain of Bourbon Street)
1977
Rev. Jim Moss (Jim Bakker’s PTL Club)
1978
Ben Haden
1979
Dr. Thomas (Tom) Stephens Haggai
1980
Alpha Rex Emmanuel Humbard (Cathedral of Tomorrow)
1981
Rev. Robert Harris (rain storm)
1982
Rev. Robert Harris (last remaining circuit rider in country, lore)
1983
Richard Roberts
1984
Rev. William Franklin Graham III
1985
Dr. Allen Blair (Glad Tidings Radio Program)
1986
Albert Long
1987
Will Campbell
1988
Leighton Ford
1989
Bailey Smith
1990
Arthur Smith
1991
Greg Laurie (Harvest Christian Fellowship)
1992
Franklin Graham
1993
Millard Fuller (Co-Founder of Habitat for Humanity)
1994
Clyde King (N.Y. Yankees manager)
1995
Jim Wilson (Jim Wilson Evangelistic Association & T.W. Wilson’s son)
1996
Jerry Falwell
1997
Steve Brown
1998
Franklin Graham
1999
Dr. David Jeremiah
2000
Zig Ziglar
2001
Clebe McClary
2002
Mike Whitson
2003
Billy Kim (Pres. Baptist World Alliance)
2004
George Hamilton IV
2005
Michael Combs
2006
Carroll Roberson (preacher, teacher, singer, author)
2007
Billy Kim
2008
Rev. Frieda Hartley Hobson
2009
Dr. Greg Mathis
2010
Tim Greene
2011
Coach Jerry Moore
2012
Will Graham (Franklin’s son)
2013
Leighton ford (billy graham brother-in-law)
2014
Aron Wilborn
2015
Andrew Greer
2016
Ann Graham Lotz
2017
Tom Burleson
2018
The Cockman Family
2019
COVID-19 Mandate
2020
COVID-19 Mandate
2021
Rev. David Hughes Hobson
2022
Year of Restructuring
2023
Dr. Gary Chapman
2024
Singing on Grandfather Foundation supports western NC gospel music, honors the legacies of the Hartley & Morton families, and protects the interests of The Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation.
Singing on Grandfather is a tax-exempt, public charity.
Honoring the legacies of the Hartley & Morton families and protecting the interests of The Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation is the primary concern. And, with their direction, leadership and guidance, Owen Gwyn, a NC native, Harris Prevost, who has helped with the event for forty-years, and Rev. Michael McKee along with like-minded, local volunteers, are providing assistance to insure Singing on Grandfather continues. Building on the harmony of the original concept, Singing on Grandfather Foundation will operate as a Father’s Day family picnic welcoming local church participation. Gospel music is a common thread woven among all Christian traditions and the divine power within it binds together the many-membered body of Christ’s living church. Singing on Grandfather is a multi-church body venue providing a praise and worship platform designed to unify all believers in song. Singing on Grandfather Foundation provides the enhanced structural, technical and operational assistance and expertise to insure the successful and sustainable continuation of Singing on Grandfather. In December 2023, The foundation will deliver a Memorandum of Understanding identifying the proposed guidelines and operating procedures to The Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation intended to solidify a working relationship for the 2024 event.