Fred Swann, 91, was organist for Crystal Cathedral
When Fred Swann perched himself on a bench in front of an organ console for the first time as a 5-year-old, his feet didn't come close to reaching the pedalboard.
By age 10, Swann was playing the organ for Sunday services at the Braddock Street Methodist Church in Winchester Virginia, where his father was pastor.
Before his cancer-related death Nov. 13 at his home in Palm Desert, Swann had become a master of the console, playing the organ for congregations at the most iconic churches and concert venues in the country and around the world. He was 91.
Swann was a familiar figure over the years as the organist at the Crystal Cathedral, now the Christ Cathedral, where he played the Hazel Wright Organ — one of the world's largest organs.
“His passing is a huge loss for all of us,” said John McElliott, president of Karen McFarlane Artists, the management firm that represented Swann. “But we are also very lucky to have had his influence and inspiration … just an incredible musician. The things he did in his career are just amazing.”
Swann, born July 30, 1931, in West Virginia, was part of the music ministry at the Riverside Church in New York City from 1952 to 1982, serving as director of music and organist for 16 of his 30year tenure at the legendary upper-Manhattan church.
From 1982 to 1998, Swann was the organist music director at the Crystal Cathedral, where he played during services and Rev. Robert Schuller's “Hour of Power” television broadcasts.
In a 2014 interview with Diapason, an international journal devoted to the organ, harpsichord, carillon and church music, Swann talked about the experiences of being on television every week.
“Eventually, I got over being nervous about cameras peering over my shoulder,” Swann said. “And occasionally, I'd look up and see a cameraman standing on top of the organ console getting ready to shoot something. It was all very enjoyable.”
After the Diocese of Orange purchased the Crystal Cathedral in 2012, transforming the Garden Grove property into the Christ Cathedral, a Catholic center for worship, Swann was enlisted as chief consultant to the committee for restoring it organ, lovingly called just “Hazel.”
“I will always treasure our times together, and our mutual love for Hazel and organ music,” Bishop Kevin Vann, an organist himself, said. “Fred's playing during the Crystal Cathedral era made Hazel the most widely heard pipe organ in the world, for which we are eternally grateful.”
Swann will be remembered as a great friend to the Diocese for his generous assistance, the bishop said. Swann last played Hazel for Diocese leaders during a special ceremony in February.
Swann was later featured in “Hazel is Back: Restoring an Icon,” a documentary about the restoration effort.
Swann was born in Virginia, the fifth of six children.
In his interview with the Diapason, Swann talked about his fascination with the family's piano as a young child.
He took piano lessons from the organist at his father's church and recalled arriving early for a lesson one day and hearing the organ being played by his instructor.
“I was hypnotized watching things popping in and out, lights were flashing, her hands and feet were flying,” Swann recalled. “And I thought, “Oh my! That looks like fun. I've got to do that!”
At age 10, the organist at his father's church died suddenly and since there was nobody else who could play, Swann became the church organist, kicking off a decades-long career sitting in front of the console.
The celebrated organist also served three terms as president of the American Guild of Organists, a national organization with chapters around the country, and he chaired the Organ Department of the Manhattan School of Music.
From 2007 to 2018, Swann also was artist teacher of the organ and university organist at the University of Redlands.
“In all of those places and throughout his entire career, he's been a true gentleman. So, giving and caring for people,” McElliott said. “Everybody just loved Fred. I can't think of anyone who has had such a major impact on the American organ world than Fred.”