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<P><A id=History_and_legal_disputes name=History_and_legal_disputes></A></P>
<H3>Alexander Scourby was the first person to make a complete recording of the
Bible.<SUP class=reference id=cite_ref-0><A
href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Scourby#cite_note-0"><SPAN>[</SPAN>1<SPAN>]</SPAN></A></SUP>
He originally narrated the <A class=mw-redirect title="King James Version"
href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_James_Version">King James Version</A>
for The American Foundation For The Blind over four years, finishing in 1944.
Their original goal was to produce a clean, clear recording for visually
impaired listeners. The American Bible Society distributed it as <I>The Talking
Bible</I>, a set of 169 records with a running time of 84.5 hours.<SUP
class=reference id=cite_ref-1><A
href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Scourby#cite_note-1"><SPAN>[</SPAN>2<SPAN>]</SPAN></A></SUP>
This recording was eventually released to the general public in 1966 and became
a best-seller.<SUP class=reference id=cite_ref-2><A
href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Scourby#cite_note-2"><SPAN>[</SPAN>3<SPAN>]</SPAN></A></SUP>
It is now part of the Library of Congress' National Recording Registry.<SUP
class=reference id=cite_ref-3><A
href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Scourby#cite_note-3"><SPAN>[</SPAN>4<SPAN>]</SPAN></A></SUP></H3>
<P><FONT size=4>Scourby rerecorded the Old Testament in 1972 and the New
Testament in 1974 for the Episcopal Radio and TV Foundation. The actor agreed
for a reduced fee of $15,000 if the proceeds from sales would be used only for
non-profit purposes; the recordings were to be distributed primarily to the
blind and physically handicapped. When tapes appeared on the general market as
the "Authorized Alexander Scourby's Latest Narration," he sued. A 1990 court
ruling<SUP class=reference id=cite_ref-4><A
href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Scourby#cite_note-4"><SPAN>[</SPAN>5<SPAN>]</SPAN></A></SUP>
posthumously awarded the rights to the 1970s recordings to Scourby. The verdict
forced the Foundation, which was not officially part of the Episcopal Church,
into bankruptcy. Eventually these recordings were acquired by Word, Inc., then
</FONT><A title="Thomas Nelson (publisher)"
href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Nelson_(publisher)"><FONT
size=4>Thomas Nelson</FONT></A><FONT size=4> Publishers.<SUP class=reference
id=cite_ref-5><A
href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Scourby#cite_note-5"><SPAN>[</SPAN>6<SPAN>]</SPAN></A></SUP></FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=4>Copyright to at least one of Scourby's Bible recordings is now
held by a small Ft. Lauderdale company called Litchfield Associates.<SUP
class=reference id=cite_ref-6><A
href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Scourby#cite_note-6"><SPAN>[</SPAN>7<SPAN>]</SPAN></A></SUP>
Hendrickson Publishers issued a licensed, DRM-free set of MP3 files containing
the entire KJV in 2003.<SUP class=reference id=cite_ref-7><A
href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Scourby#cite_note-7"><SPAN>[</SPAN>8<SPAN>]</SPAN></A></SUP>
It lists Littlefield as the rightsholder with 1991 as copyright date.</FONT></P>
<P><A id=Scourby_and_Religion name=Scourby_and_Religion><FONT
size=4></FONT></A></P>
<H3><SPAN class=mw-headline>Scourby and Religion</SPAN></H3>
<P><FONT size=4>Although Scourby made voice recordings of over 500 different
books, he considered the Bible to be his most important. He describes why in the
following letter.</FONT></P>
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vAlign=top><FONT size=4>"...it is the one book that has the power to
inspire, encourage, comfort and change the life of the person who hears
it. I know this because during the many years since I narrated the Bible,
numerous people have written thanking me for creating such a beautiful
reading. I have been greatly humbled and moved by the many letters I have
received from people around the world telling me how God used the Bible
narrations to change their lives and the lives of their loved ones,
encourage them in their hour of need, and even healed them as they
listened to the Words of Life.</FONT></TD>
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<P><FONT size=4>While the audience for his Bible recordings tend to be
conservative Protestants, Scourby himself had no religious affiliation. However,
he was baptized in the Greek Orthodox Church and married in an Episcopal
church.<SUP class=reference id=cite_ref-8><A
href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Scourby#cite_note-8"><SPAN>[</SPAN>9<SPAN>]</SPAN></A></SUP></FONT></P></DIV></FONT><DIV CLASS="aol_ad_footer" ID="ccc084b73cb848154113f457ed1973d4"><br/><font style="color:black;font:normal 10pt arial,san-serif;"> <hr style="margin-top:10px"/>What's for dinner tonight? Find <a href="http://food.aol.com/dinner-tonight?ncid=emlcntusfood00000009">quick and easy dinner ideas</a> for any occasion.</font></DIV></BODY></HTML>