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Albert E. Brumley was an American gospel songwriter and publisher, widely regarded as one of the most influential composers in Southern gospel music history.Born in Spiro, Oklahoma, Brumley became fascinated with shape-note singing. He studied at the Hartford Musical Institute in Arkansas under E.M. Bartlett. He worked for the Stamps-Baxter Music Company as a songwriter before founding his own publishing company, the Albert E. Brumley & Sons Music Company, in Powell, Missouri. Brumley penned over 800 gospel songs during his lifetime, many becoming enduring classics.

• Brumley often stated that the inspiration for his most famous song, 'I'll Fly Away', came while he was picking cotton on his father's farm, longing for heavenly relief from earthly toil.
• Despite the immense popularity of his songs, Brumley reportedly lived a relatively modest life, deeply rooted in his rural community and faith.
• He faced the significant challenge of managing the business aspects of music publishing while focusing on his creative output, a common struggle for composers of his era.
• His death in 1977 was due to natural causes, but his musical legacy continues through his publishing company, now run by his descendants, and the countless recordings of his songs.
• Posthumously, Brumley received numerous honors, including inductions into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame (Nashville) and the Southern Gospel Music Hall of Fame.