"There'll Be Peace in the Valley for Me" is a 1939 song written by
Thomas A. Dorsey, originally for
Mahalia Jackson.[1][3] It was copyrighted by Dorsey under this title on January 25, 1939, though it often appears informally as "Peace in the Valley".[1][2]
The song closed
Elvis Presley's third and final appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show on January 6, 1957. Introducing the segment,
Sullivan noted Presley chose the selection because he felt "keenly" about
the recent crisis involving refugees fleeing Hungary after an invasion by the Soviet Union, and that immediate aid was needed to support them. Elvis recorded a studio version of the song exactly a week later in West Hollywood. It was released by RCA Records as the title cut on an Extended Play Album (EPA) in time for the Easter holiday, and included on his Christmas album, issued by RCA in October.
Other recordings
Eventually, the song became a country-pop favorite and was recorded by:
In 1950, it was one of the first songs recorded by a young
Sam Cooke, during his tenure as lead singer of
the Soul Stirrers.
After the success of Red Foley's interpretation,
Jo Stafford recorded the song for her 1954 gospel album Garden of Prayer.
"Peace in the Valley" was sung by Eddie Clendening, portraying Elvis Presley, in the Broadway musical Million Dollar Quartet, which opened in New York in April 2010,[7] and on the original Broadway cast album.[8]
^MDQ Merchandising LLC (2010). “Song List” and “Performing Credits”. In Million Dollar Quartet (p. 5) [CD booklet]. New York City: Avatar Studios; and Chicago: Chicago Recording Company.