American songwriter, pianist, entertainer, publisher, author, teacher, and political candidate.
Born August 13, 1913 in Carterville, Georgia, USA.
Died May 25, 1993 (aged 79) in Canton, Georgia, USA.
Began his singing career, age 5, in father Dee Abernathy's gospel group The Atco Quartet. From the age of 12 to 32 he did not sing after throat surgery.
He was half of "Lee Roy & Shorty" (aka "The Happy Two") with C.M. (Shorty) Bradford. In the 1930s, he founded the Modern Mountaineers.
Abernathy became the pianist for the Homeland Harmony Quartet in 1947. He also performed with the Rangers Quartet, Jubilee Quartet, Miracle Men, Happy Two, and Abernathy All Star Quartet.
A 1983 album, Command Performance - A Tribute To Lee Roy Abernathy, paid tribute to Abernathy as a songwriter.
Abernathy is a member of the Gospel Music Hall of Fame and the Southern Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame.