Jim Van Hook

Jim Van Hook has played an enormous role in the growth of the church music publishing industry. As founder of Brentwood Music and later as president of Word, he has overseen two of the three largest Christian music companies in the United States. His insight on current conditions of the industry as well as the changes he has observed within our interview with him was fascinating. He grew up in southern Georgia, the son of a preacher who went to Bible school and began playing trumpet at Peabody University where he earned his masters degree in music education. Jim’s NAMM Oral History interview was completed on April 27, 2006.