Janice Kapp Perry
Janice Kapp Perry is a renowned composer of religious music, whose songs are often sung in Mormon worship.
Although she was born into a musical family, she did not begin composing until she was nearly 40 years old. Sports were more important to her. She competed on many city league softball teams and regularly played volleyball and racquetball. At age 38, she broke her ankle playing basketball. At the same time, their television broke. She was asked to write original music for her ward’s roadshow. Since convalescing with the television was no longer an option, she agreed to the assignment. Perry began entering and winning Church song-writing contests. She also began writing songs upon request. Now many of her compositions are favorites in Mormon families. A few are the children’s songs, “Love Is Spoken Here,” “I’m Trying to Be Like Jesus,” and“I Love to See the Temple”.
Perry sang for 5 years with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and sang some of her own music.
She had a remarkable experience when her niece, who was dying of cancer, asked her to set a poem written by Prophet and President Gordon B. Hinckley to music. She received his permission to write music to “What Is This Thing That Men Call Death?” but did not receive a reply to her request to publish it. When he passed away she thought the song would never be published. He had signed the consent, however, two days before he died. She received his letter the day after his death, and the next day, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir asked for her permission to sing the song at his memorial service.
Perry and her husband are the parents of five children and were foster parents to many young adults. They live in Provo, Utah.
Hymns of Janice Kapp Perry on Mormon Channel
Follow Janice Kapp Perry
Recent Posts
Asher Reynolds’ Passionate Rendition of “Remember Me” from the Disney Movie “Coco”
Having to say goodbye to a loved one because of death is never an easy experience. Someone once shared these pearls of wisdom, “Goodbyes are not forever, they are not the end; it simply means I’ll miss you until we meet again.” And someone has also said, “When someone...
Aretha Franklin – “The Queen of Soul” with Gospel Roots
Latter-day Saint Musicians pauses for a moment this weekend to pay tribute to a true legend of the music world. Aretha Louise Franklin, dubbed “The Queen of Soul” by the end of the 1960s and throughout the remainder of her life, was a phenomenal singer, songwriter,...
Music in the Key of Life – The Influences of Music
Music is the universal language. A person need not understand the language in which a song is sung to appreciate the message that the song intends to convey. Music has played a part in the events of man’s everyday life since his earliest days. At times music has also...
Some Interesting Facts about Some of the Favorite LDS Hymns
Wherever Mormons gather - in a Sacrament meeting, a baptism, a fireside, General Conference, or a devotional – music is guaranteed to be a part of the service. President Dallin H. Oaks, First Counselor in the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of...
Are You Looking for LDS Sheet Music for That Special Song? – Try These Sources
Music is an integral part of Latter-day Saint worship services and can be found wherever Mormons gather – in a Sacrament meeting, a baptism, a fireside, or a devotional. President Russell M. Nelson has taught, “Through music, we raise our voices in powerful praise and...
Isabel Oakeson and Easton Shane Perform an Amazing Medley of Songs from “The Greatest Showman”
The mother, Amy Allred Oakeson, likes musicals. The father, Gary Oakeson, likes bluegrass. Isabel Oakeson, the daughter, loves pop. So, they came up with the idea to combine all three favorites into an amazing music video using songs from the blockbuster film, The...