In 1974, a rock recording of “The Lord’s Prayer” became just the second Top 10 single in the history of the Hot 100 performed by an active nun. The surprise hit, by Sister Janet Mead, was released in the U.S. on A&M Records. The recording by the Australian Catholic nun arrived more than a decade after the performer Jeanine Deckers known as “the Singing Nun,” earned a #1 hit in 1963 with “Dominique.”
Sister Mead recorded her song in 1973 and it reached #3 in her native Australia, where it had originally been released as the B-side. (The A-side featured her cover of a Donovan song, “Brother Sun, Sister Moon.”) The single, with “The Lord’s Prayer” as the A-side, was released in the U.S. by A&M Records, where it ultimately reached #4 on the Hot 100. The single went on to sell in excess of a million copies in the U.S., earning Gold certification.
Mead had taught music in local schools including St. Aloysius College in Adelaide and offered rock music during services at St. Francis Xavier’s Cathedral. In the music trade magazine, Record World, an advertisement described her as “an accomplished musician whose rock masses are highly regarded in her own country.”
Mead was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Inspiration Performance, losing to Elvis Presley for his album, How Great Thou Art.
Related: 11 Surprising 1970s Radio Hits
Sister Mead died on Jan. 26, 2022, of cancer in Adelaide, Australia. She was 83.
Mead’s obituary on Legacy.com noted that she recorded several albums but preferred to stay out of the spotlight and focus on her religious calling and her work as a teacher. In 2004, she was named South Australian of the Year for her work helping the homeless.
Adelaide’s rock’n’roll nun has been called to higher duties. Sister Janet Mead made going to church bearable. You can bet they’re rocking in heaven. #Adelaide pic.twitter.com/CboXOMztvz
— Michael Smyth (@MichaelSmyth_) January 27, 2022
Related: Musicians we lost in 2022
Listen to the 1963 hit from “the Singing Nun”
[easy_sign_up title=”Sign up for the Best Classic Bands Newsletter”]
