Thomas S. Cobb (1876–1942)

He and his parents, one sister, and four brothers were all members of the church of Christ and had musical talent. When Thomas was eighteen years old, he was asked to lead singing for a meeting. So nervous that he could not hold the songbook still, he placed it on a table and directed with both hands. This meeting made a deep impression in his life so that he developed his interest in music through study with Franklin L. Eiland, with whom he produced many songs. In 1906, Cobb received his first post-graduate diploma from the Western Normal and College of Music in Dallas, TX. Later, he studied under and taught with other prominent men, such as J. B. Vaught, H. N. Lincoln, and B. C. Unseld, becoming a very versatile teacher, author, composer, publisher, and song leader. While serving as Vice-President, Secretary, and one of the largest stockholders of the Quartet Music Company of Ft. Worth, TX, in 1911 he published one of the greatest, shortest, clear-cut, simplified, and progressive theories of music, his Elementary Theory of Music. Cobb also edited hymnals for the Quartet Company including The Harvester and The Gospel in Song, both with John Thomas.

In 1935, G. H. P. Showalter asked Cobb to work with the Firm Foundation, and for them he and Showalter co-edited many hymnbooks, such as Select Songs, Wonderful Songs in 1938, and Our Leader in 1941.