Gerre Hancock

HANCOCK, Gerre. b. Lubbock, Texas, 21 February 1934; d. Austin, Texas, 21 January 2012. He was an organist, professor, choir trainer, and composer, known especially for his book Improvising: How to Master the Art, which is largely based on hymn tunes. His father, Edward Ervin Hancock (1902-1965) was Lubbock County Superintendent of Schools, and his mother, Flake (née Steger) Hancock, was a pianist for several churches. Gerre began playing the piano at age four and took lessons from his mother. Thereafter his piano teacher was Mrs Bill Casey, and then, from 1946 to 1950, Mary Dunn (1888-1972) (Lubbock Avalanche Journal). The Hancocks were members of First Baptist Church, Lubbock, where...