THOMPSON, WILL LAMARTINE (1847-1909)

Will L. Thompson was known as the “Bard of Ohio” for his respected musical talents. He wrote many successful secular and sacred songs and he edited and published numerous collections, but it is said of him that his greatest joy was writing and performing simple gospel songs about his Lord. He provided Christian hymnody with two such enduring songs that have been mightily used by God: a testimony song for Christians, “Jesus Is All the World to Me,” and an invitation song that has been influential in directing non-Christians to the Savior, “Softy and Tenderly.”