Inducted 2004

Born October 18, 1843 Benjamin Carl Unseld was a well known teacher of Gospel Music. 

Prior to teaching Gospel Music, he was an instructor at the prestigious New England Conservatory of Music in Boston. Unseld taught at Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee, and helped train Fisk's Jubilee Singers for their European trip. 

He also was the first principal of the Virginia Normal School of Music and insisted that round notes be taught there in addition to traditional gospel shaped notes. Through this, the graduates of the school had a well-rounded music education. At the time of his death, he was known as Uncle Ben and the musical father of nearly all the successful normal teachers of the South. 

He put music to the writings of such greats as James Rowe and Fanny Crosby; his most popular musical piece was written by A.S. Kieffer titled "Twilight Is Falling." 

From 1913 until his death in 1923, he was editor of the "Musical Visitor" published by the Vaughan Music Company and Principal of the Vaughan School of Music as well.