ドイツ改革教会(German Reformed Church)の牧師、ジョシュア・J・エクセル(Joshua J. Excell)の息子であるエドウィンは、煉瓦職人・左官として職業生活を始めた。しかし彼の音楽への愛はつのり、イリノイ州シカゴに行って、ジョージ・ルート(George Root)のもとで勉強した。エクセルは歌の学校を設立するためにアメリカのあちこちを回りつつ、20年間にわたって伝道者サム・ジョーンズ(Sam Jones)と協力しながら開拓伝道を続けた。またシカゴの音楽出版社でも働き、生涯で2,000を超えるゴスペル・ソングを作った。
作品を含む出版物： Sing the Gospel, with T. L. Flood (Chicago, Illinois: E. O. Excell, 1882) The Gospel in Song (Chicago, Illinois: E. O. Excell, 1885) Triumphant Songs (Chicago, Illinois: E. O. Excell, 1889) Triumphant Songs No. 3 (Chicago, Illinois: E. O. Excell, 1892) Triumphant Songs No. 5 (Chicago, Illinois: E. O. Excell, 1896) The Gospel Hymnal (Cincinnati, Ohio: Jennings & Pye, 1899) Make His Praise Glorious (Chicago, Illinois: E. O. Excell, 1900) Famous Hymns, with Daniel Towner (Chicago, Illinois: The Bible Institute Colportage Association, 1907) Make Christ King, with William Edward Biederwolf (Chicago, Illinois: Glad Tidings Publishing, 1912) Carmina Sacra, with William Hackleman (St. Louis, Missouri: Christian Board of Publication, 1914) Joy to the World (Chicago, Illinois: Hope Publishing, 1915) Songs of Evangelism, with George Schuler & William E. Biederwolf (Chicago, Illinois: Glad Tidings Publishing, 1925) The Excell Hymnal, with Hamp Sewell & William Hackleman (Chicago, Illinois: E. O. Excell, 1925)
作詞作品： By Faith the Lamb of God I See Come to the Savior Grace, Enough for Me Hear the Savior Sweetly Saying Hear You Not the Voice of Jesus? Hiding His Love Is All I Need I Am Happy in Him I Need Thee, Gracious One I Was Out on the Ocean Sailing In Looking Through My Tears One Day In Vain I’ve Tried a Thousand Ways Jesus Invited Me to Come unto Him Jesus Is a Friend of Mine Jesus Is Waiting to Save Keep Me at the Foot of the Cross Knocking, Knocking with Pierced Hands Little Bit of Love, A Love of Jesus, Who Can Tell, The I’ve Washed My Robes My Soul Is So Happy in Jesus O Make Me Pure Praise His Holy Name Praise Ye the Father See Jehovah’s Banner Furled Since I Have Been Redeemed To Thee, Our Own, Our Native Land We Shall Stand Before the King We’re Going Home, We’ll Soon Be There What Will You Do? Will You Be Washed in the Blood? Will You Meet Me?
作曲作品： Book Divine Count Your Blessings Escondido Everybody May Know Freehold Gifts of God, The God’s Holy Book Golden Shore, The Good Old-Fashioned Way, The Heaven’s Harbor His Glory Fills My Soul His Love Can Never Fail Hope Set Before You, The I Come to Thee I Do, Don’t You? I Saw One Hanging on a Tree I Will Follow Thee Iconium I’ll Be a Sunbeam In the Shadow of His Wings Jesus Bids Us Shine Let Him In Never Lose Sight of Jesus Offering, The Sarasota Saratoga Scatter Sunshine Some One Who Knows Spend One Hour with Jesus That Old, Old Story Is True That Sweet Story ’Tis for You and Me What Would Jesus Do? Why I Love Jesus Will Your Heart Ring True? Your Best Friend Is Always Near
