Otis Leon McCoy (1897 – 1995)
Inducted in 2003

Otis McCoy is one of the pioneering giants in Southern Gospel Music history who had an enduring impact on it as a singer, songwriter, instructor and music publisher.

McCoy had an innovative teaching style and tutored many of the industry’s most well-known artists. He was certified to teach in musical theory, harmony, voice, brass instruments and composition. McCoy was also a “Sacred Harp” singer of great renown and was one of few people who could set “Shaped Note” type-setting by hand.

He sang lead for the Vaughan Radio and Vaughn Office/Saxaphone Quartet.   McCoy also founded the Homeland Harmony Quartet. He also initiated and managed the  Tennessee Music and Printing Company, for the Church of God Publishing Company.  This company was one of gospel music’s leading producers of shaped-note singing instructional materials.

McCoy also wrote hundreds of gospel songs, most notably “Keep On The Firing Line” and “Heaven Bound Train.”