Ray Hastings Sets Mark as Organist, 1938

Native of Bainbridge Sets Mark as Organist

Dr. Ray Hastings Completes 26 Years of Service in Los Angeles Church

Bainbridge News & Republican, March 17, 1938

 

Dr. Ray Hastings, a native of this village [Bainbridge, Chenango Co., NY], has recently started his 27th year as organist of Temple Baptist Church in Los Angeles, Cal. 

 

In an article taken from the Los Angeles Evening Star, Dr. Hastings is credited with not only having achieved a unique record in point of years of service, but in the amount of time which he has expended on his organ prelude recitals, averaging 50 each year.

 

Church officials say that, in balancing the program and the selection of compositions, he has devoted 3,600 hours and that, in practicing these numbers, he has given 7,200 hours or a total of 10,800 hours in preparation for his half-hour organ recitals.

 

During his 26 years, he has played 1,200 prelude recitals for a total of 600 hours.  This is in addition to time given to music for the regular church services.

 

Dr. Hastings began his career as a musician when a youngster in Bainbridge and, on two occasions, has returned to his home town for recitals on the organ at the First Presbyterian Church.