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| Evangeline Otto McPherson |
Evangeline was born on September 26, 1926. Named after Evangeline Booth of Salvation Army fame, she was the youngest of three
daughters of Rev. and Mrs. Richard Otto, a Congregational minister in Montana.
When Evangeline was ten years of age, the family moved to Oakland, California. At age thirteen she visited Angelus Temple
in Los Angeles, California, to participate in her sister Verna's wedding who was attending LIFE Bible College; Sister McPherson
officiated at her wedding. After hearing Aimee Semple McPherson preach for the first time, Evangeline returned home with
the decision to go to LIFE Bible College when she graduated from High School.
In 1944, on her 18th birthday, she was on her way to the Oakland auditorium to hear Sister McPherson only to learn that she
had passed away that morning.
In January 1945, she arrived in Los Angeles and entered LIFE Bible College. While there, her special talents and interest
in music became evident. The doors opened for her to become active in all that the music department had to offer. Evangeline
worked as Music Department secretary for Minister of Music James Boersma. She gained experience by singing in the choir and
participating in all of the Sacred Operas written by Sister McPherson. Soon, she was given her own live radio show on Sunday
nights at 11:00 p.m. with Paul Mickelson accompanying her on the Kimball organ. Evangeline became known to thousands as "The
Girl With the Singing Heart."
In 1948, she married musician Ralph Carmichael. Sacred Records was formed and had the distinction of being the first religious
record company to record with an orchestra. Ralph was orchestra director, and Evangeline was the first female artist. The
Carmichaels had one daughter they named Carol Celeste. The couple separated in 1963.
For the next 25 years, Evangeline's musical talents were involved in the field of entertainment, doing television and radio
commercials, television series and specials. The list is impressive and long, a few of which were Sonny and Cher, Red Skelton,
Donnie and Marie, and Andy Williams.
Many of the 115 movies on which she worked are still being shown on TV and Cable TV. Some of the more familiar are: "Annie;"
"Cabaret;" Dr. Doolittle;" "The Great Race;" "Mash;" "New York, New York;" "Sound of Music;" and "Sweet Charity."
Through the years Evangeline devoted herself to her daughter and two lovely granddaughters. Upon retirement she found profound
pleasure singing in the Hollywood Presbyterian Church choir where she made many wonderful friends.
In 1996, Evangeline attended the funeral of a friend from Angelus Temple.
Dr. Rolf McPherson was there participating in the service. He had lost his wife three years previous. Rolf and Vangie immediately
fell in love and were married on January 31, 1997. Together they remain very devoted to Angelus Temple and its outstanding
heritage.
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