Gospel singer Joyce ‘Dottie’ Rambo dies at 74

updated 7:47 p.m. ET May 11, 2008

MOUNT VERNON, Mo. - Joyce “Dottie” Rambo, an influential gospel singer and songwriter, died early Sunday when her tour bus ran off the highway and struck an embankment. She was 74.

Seven other people on the bus were injured in the wreck about two miles east of Mount Vernon on Interstate 44, the Missouri Highway Patrol said. They were hospitalized in Springfield with moderate to severe injuries, according to the patrol.

It was unclear whether the crash was related to the severe storms and tornadoes that hit the region on Saturday. Storms also swept through the area later in the night, according to the National Weather Service.

Rambo, of Nashville, Tenn., was on her way to a Mother’s Day performance in Texas, according to her Web site.

“She was a giant in the gospel music industry,” said Beckie Simmons, Rambo’s agent. “Dolly Parton recorded some of her songs.”

Rambo was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame last year and the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame in 2006.

Rambo has had more than 2,500 published songs, including gospel classics such as “He Looked Beyond My Fault and Saw My Need” and the 1982 Gospel Music Association Song of the Year, “We Shall Behold Him.”

Print this Email this Blog this  IM this

MORE FROM MUSIC

Music Section Front

DeVotchKa creates ‘big drunken tuba party’ Jordan Knight is glad to be a New Kid again Fans rain criticism down on Radiohead Scarlett Johansson, Joe Cocker have new CDs 'American Idol' concert tour will start July 1 Women leading the next British Invasion Metallica, Sevendust, others join Ozzfest Newsweek: Duffy's Welsh blue-eyed soul Newsvine: Check out Casey Dienel/White Hinterland Obama leads field in unsolicited campaign songs Music Section Front   Add Music headlines to your news reader: