First, I have to point out that I was not a Southern Gospel music fan. I’ve always been a church-goer and became a Christian later in high school, but I always listened to either CCM (Contemporary Christian Music) or hymns. Not old-school Gospel. But in the past few years, a friend of mine at church turned me on to this stuff via the music of Bill and Gloria Gaither and the Homecoming concerts. Now I’m hooked, that music is so good. To me the style is still a little hokey, but those tunes are so inspiring and filled with truth, and they are presented with such a good heart and conviction.
So as I always do when I make a new discovery, I go do my homework. Turns out that Bill Gaither has almost single handedly rescued this genre and brought it back. The Gaither Homecoming series of concerts are as popular as anything out there by Elton John, Santana, or anything else on secular Top 40. Bill and his wife Gloria have written over 600 songs many of which are Christian standards to this day: “He Touched Me”, “Because He Lives”, “The King Is Coming”, “I Believe In A Hill Called Mount Calvary”, “The Old Rugged Cross Made The Difference” and many more. Bill Gaither has mentored the careers of Steve Green, Sandi Patty, Larnelle Harris, Michael English, Amy Grant, Carman, Don Francisco, and many other CCM artists.
Bill Gaither has always been an ardent fan and champion of classic Southern Gospel music artists such as The Statesmen, The Blackwood Brothers, The Happy Goodmans, The Speer Family, The Imperials, The Cathedrals, Dottie Rambo, JD Sumner and The Stamps, The Oak Ridge Boys, and many other acts from the Golden Age of Gospel (roughly 1940-through the early 1970s approx.). Bill himself sang with the Gaither Trio: Bill, brother Danny, and sister MaryAnn (later replaced by Bill’s wife Gloria) for many years.
In 1981, Gaither formed the Gaither Vocal Band, a revolving door of some of Gospel’s finest new singers. Members have included Steve Green, Larnelle Harris, Michael English, Mark Lowry, Jonathan Pierce, Guy Penrod, David Phelps and Russ Taff. The GVB is often held as the greatest Gospel quartet of this modern era. They sing Gospel (standards and Gaither tunes) blended with inspirational, country and pop sounds. The current line up is:
Bill Gaither – bass/baritone
Marshall Hall – baritone
Guy Penrod – lead/tenor
Wes Hampton – high tenor
(The GVB has always been great; Bill Gaither really knows how to find great singers. My personal favorite lineup is the late 90’s GVB of Gaither/Lowry/Penrod/Phelps)
In 1991, as the GVB was wrapping up a session, Bill Gaither gathered some his old friends in Gospel around the old piano and had an impromptu sing-along. Now 15 years later, the Gaither Homecoming series of television shows, concert tours, CDs and video/DVDs is a huge seller. Bill Gaither is commonly held as leading the resurgence of Southern Gospel music. The genre is more popular today than it ever has been. There are regional quartet conventions. The Gaither Homecoming concerts are sellouts everywhere, even in secular markets. Gaither songs have found there way into modern hymnals everywhere. Gaither Studios and Productions based out of Alexandria IN, hosts a wide ranging of recording and video opportunities.
Now Southern Gospel is flourishing like never before. Groups and artists like Ernie Haase and Signature Sound, The Hoppers, The Crabb Family, The Martins, Jeff and Sheri Easter, Russ Taff, Jessy Dixon, The Talleys, and many others all have performed and recorded with the Gaither Homecoming concerts, and they are as popular as ever also.
I’ve you’re yearning for the truth of God and “One Good Song” (another Gaither tune, BTW), I’d encourage you to check Bill Gaither’s Homecoming Tour, any number of CDs by the Gaither Vocal Band and/or the Homecoming Friends series. You will be in for a treat. There are local TV broadcasts of these shows on your regional channels from time-to-time. This is a great way to get your feet wet with this music. I’m a convert, and I am not by nature a Southern Gospel fan, mind you.
