Missionary, Music, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

LDS Composer Celebrates Milestone

Updated on March 10, 2020
by Janene Nielsen

North Texas Latter-day Saint composer Newell Kay Brown celebrates the 50^th anniversary of “I Hope They Call Me on a Mission” in 2019.

North Texas Latter-day Saint Composer Newell Kay Brown, 2019.

Joining the initial Lone Star Latter-day Saint Voices podcast, Brown expressed his surprise at the enduring success of his composition.

“I [have been] surprised at the variety people who were interested in the music. I have everything from movies to comedians […] it’s caught on. People like it, and I can’t do a thing about it,” the composer and lyricist joked.

“I Hope They Call me on a Mission” was written in response to a 1969 invitation from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to produce a composition about missionaries for its new children’s songbook.

“I welcomed the invitation. I sat down at my desk and jotted down some lines. They sounded pretty good so I took those lines and went over to the piano and for some reason the rhythm came out like it did. [My wife] thought it sounded all right so I sent it on. And that was it.”

While the rhythm of “I Hope They Call Me on a Mission” is often said to celebrate the cowboy culture of the American West in the early 20^th Century, Brown says it was purely serendipitous.

“I think of that rhythm and a western beat—I had no intention at the time I composed it for that. That was just a jaunty, loping sort of accompaniment.”

Brown credits his faith with much of the inspiration for his music:

“All I can say is that I prayed every night and morning that I could be inspired with a good melody or a good harmonization or a good orchestration, and I do believe the Lord has a hand in helping you that way.”

As the premier guest on Lone Star Latter-day Saint Voices, a podcast dedicated to conversations with members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in North Texas, Brown discusses his lifelong pursuit of music and gives advice and encouragement to hopeful and budding composers. You can listen to this podcast at https://lonestarldsvoices.podbean.com/e/lone-star-latter-day-saint-voices-newell-kay-brown-interview/