Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT) has recorded a collection of religious songs for a Utah-based music publishing company, Prime Recordings. The CD is called "My God is Love" and can be ordered through Christian bookstores or by calling 1-800-377-6788. Hatch plays the piano on the recording, and he wrote the lyrics for the songs which are performed on the CD by a choir and soloists. Hatch's CD received favorable reviews, and two more have been released since. A collection of patriotic songs, "Freedom's Light," was released in September, 1997 and "Like a River" was released in May, 1998. Hatch also released a single in October, 1997 written in tribute to Princess Diana and Mother Theresa called, "Many Different Roads."

However, Senator Hatch is not the only sitting Senator with a recording to his credit. Senator Robert Byrd (D-WV) recorded a collection of classic fiddle favorites called "Mountain Fiddler" (Country Records, 1978). And former Senator Sam Ervin, Jr (D-NC), who chaired the Senate Watergate Committee, recorded an album for Columbia Records in 1973 called "Senator Sam At Home," a collection of folk wisdom accompanied by the harmonica. It also included unique renditions of "Bridge Over Troubled Waters" and "If I Had a Hammer."

You are right that Senator Everett Dirksen had a discography of his own. During his time as Senate Minority Leader, Dirksen held weekly press conferences which made him a national figure and a press favorite. His deep, dramatic voice earned him the nickname, "The Golden Voice of the Senate." His voice was so mellifluous he could have read the ingredients off a cereal box and made it seem like dramatic oratory! Reporters loved his humor, anecdotes, and the poetry he mixed in with his policy pronouncements. He achieved national popularity and all the positive press attention gave him more influence than his position would have predicted, given that Democrats controlled both chambers as well as the White House. The Dirksen Senate Office Building and the Dirksen Congressional Leadership Research Center in Pekin, Illinois are two tributes to Dirksen's legacy.

Dirksen's popularity led to a recording contract. His biggest hit was an album of patriotic readings entitled "Gallant Men," for which he won the Grammy in 1967 (Best Documentary Recording, Capitol Recording #2643.) "Gallant Men" out-sold both Bob Dylan and Elvis Presley's 1967 offerings! Dirksen followed his hit LP with "Everett Dirksen at Christmas Time" (Capitol Recording #2792,) and then an Easter album, "Man Is Not Alone." Capitol Records also issued a series of successful 45's with cuts from each of the albums. A second collection of patriotic narratives called "America" was done for Bell Records. Dirksen died shortly after its completion, so the album was never released. Copies are available, however, from the Dirksen Center in Illinois.