Dianne Wilkinson (née Branscum; December 7, 1944 – November 30, 2021) was an American southern gospel singer, songwriter, and pianist. She was nominated in the Songwriter of the Year non-artist category at the 46th GMA Dove Awards.

Dianne Wilkinson
Birth nameDianne Branscum
BornDecember 7, 1944
DiedNovember 30, 2021
GenresSouthern gospel
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter
Instrument(s)vocals, singer-songwriter
Websitehttp://www.diannewilkinson.com

Wilkinson was born Dianne Branscum,[1] in Blytheville, Arkansas, during 1944,[2] to her parents Marvin O. "Buster" and Blanche Branscum (née, Ross), while she has a brother Rev. James Branscum.[3] She is a 1962 graduate of Blytheville High School.[4] She retired from healthcare work from Dyersburg, Tennessee, where she resided with her husband,[5] Timothy, who married on March 11, 1972, at Ridgecrest Baptist Church in Memphis, Tennessee.[6] She was a member of Springhill Baptist Church in her hometown, where she played the piano during their worship services.[3] Dianne died November 30, 2021, in Dyersburg, Tennessee.

She had a long storied career as a southern gospel songwriter for many artists,[7] and she even got a nomination at the 46th GMA Dove Awards, in the Songwriter of the Year non-artist category.[8] She had a close relationship with the Cathedral Quartet, who recorded 16 of her songs—including two of their signature songs, “We Shall See Jesus” and “Boundless Love.” Dianne was inducted into the Southern Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2020.[9][not specific enough to verify]

References

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  1. ^ Broadcast Music, Inc. "Songwriter/composer: Wilkinson Dianne Branscum". Broadcast Music, Inc. Retrieved January 15, 2015.
  2. ^ Terry, Lindsay (2008). "I Began to Paint Word Pictures". I Could Sing of Your Love Forever: Stories behind 100 of the world's most popular worship songs. Thomas Nelson Publishers. pp. 96–97. ISBN 9781418574659. Retrieved January 15, 2016.
  3. ^ a b Terry, Lindsay (2002). "He Sang for His Own Funeral". Stories Behind 50 Southern Gospel Favorites, vol. 1. Kregel Publications. pp. 79–81. ISBN 9780825498404. Retrieved January 15, 2016.
  4. ^ "Blytheville High School Blytheville, Arkansas Class Of 1962". Classmates. Retrieved January 15, 2016.
  5. ^ "Biography". Dianne Wilkinson. Retrieved January 15, 2015.
  6. ^ "weddings". The Courier News. Blytheville, Arkansas. January 14, 1972. p. 8. Retrieved January 15, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ Mount, Daniel J. "An Interview with Dianne Wilkinson". Southern Gospel Journal. Retrieved January 15, 2016.
  8. ^ GMA Dove Award. "Nominees". Gospel Music Association. Archived from the original on January 11, 2016. Retrieved January 14, 2016.
  9. ^ "Southern Gospel Music Association". Retrieved August 6, 2020.
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