Inducted 2003

Otis McCoy is one of the pioneering giants in Southern Gospel Music history who had an enduring impact on it as a singer, songwriter, instructor and music publisher. 

McCoy had an innovative teaching style and tutored many of the industry's most well-known artists. He was certified to teach in musical theory, harmony, voice, brass instruments and composition. McCoy was also a "Sacred Harp" singer of great renown and was one of few people who could typeset and print it. 

He sang lead for the Vaughan Radio and Homeland Harmony Quartets-two of the industry's most well-known gospel singing groups. McCoy also served as manager and music editor of the Tennessee Music and Printing Company, one of gospel music's leading producers of shaped-note singing instructional materials. He published "Church Hymnal," regarded as having the most varied collection of gospel hymns in one songbook.

McCoy also wrote hundreds of gospel songs, most notably "Keep On The Firing Line" and "Heaven Bound Train."