Anyone who has followed the Gaither Vocal Band and Homecoming concerts over the past 10 years knows the name of David Phelps. Phelps is known by many in music circles to possess the finest tenor voice of any singer going today. David Phelps, a Texas native, was a vocal performance major at Baylor University. He then embarked on a solo career and worked as Artist in Residence First Baptist Church, Hurst TX in the early to mid 1990s. After failed attempts at a solo career, God granted David a miracle when the tenor slot of the famed Gaither Vocal Band opened up. Alongside lead tenor Guy Penrod, baritone/comedian Mark Lowry, and bass Bill Gaither, Phelps’ tenor soared and his name became very well-known in a short amount of time. Bill even called him “the best first tenor I have ever heard in my life” (on the live DVD I Do Believe). Indeed, Phelps power and range in the high tenor register was heretofore unheard of, especially Gospel or contemporary settings. Here was an operatic-style tenor singing Gospel music. The Gaither Vocal Band has always had great tenor singers from Steve Green to Larnelle Harris, Terry Franklin, and Jonathan Pierce, so Phelps carried on that tradition.
Phelps also is a wonderful quartet singer. In particular, on the GVB projects, he and Penrod blend very well together. (Try to catch Mark Lowry singing “Mary Did You Know?” on one of the Gaither Christmas specials with Phelps and Penrod backing him up) Phelps’s control of the upper register is a beautiful and highly cherished asset in the Gather Vocal Band sound (the GVB is basically a modern Gospel quartet with a twist).
David Phelps was in the Gaither Vocal Band from 1997 to 2005. During that time, he won numerous Dove Awards, and garnered much critical acclaim. He also pursued an intermittent solo career. His first solo, David Phelps (2001) featured two songs that would be career benchmarks for Phelps. “End of the Beginning” (written by Phelps) tells the story of a man who witnesses the Gospel to a fellow traveler during a plane flight. The Gospel is brought home powerfully in this story, and it is Phelps signature song. The other on this album is “No More Night” (by Walt Harrah, which references Isaiah 60) and talks about how in heaven, those who believe will have no more fear of night, pain or darkness. This song is a vocal tour-de-force, with Phelps hitting notes of unparalleled power, clarity and expression.
Phelps left the Gaither Vocal Band in 2005 to pursue a solo career full-time (he is succeeded by Wes Hampton in the GVB). He tours the country, and releases recordings to this day. Phelps’ latest is Legacy of Love (2006).
