Gaither Vocal Band

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Gaither Vocal Band (January, 1981-present) is a Southern Gospel Music group. It was formed in 1981 on the spur of the moment before a concert, and quickly gained recognition in with songs like "Alpha And Omega" and "Passin’ The Faith Along." The addition of lead vocalist Michael English and comedian/baritone Mark Lowry gave the group a unique blend of powerful vocals and entertainment value. With their gospel roots project Homecoming in 1991, most Southern Gospel fans welcomed the Vocal Band with open arms. A follow-up recording called Southern Classics cemented their relationship with fans.

Strengthened by the popularity of the Homecoming video series, the Vocal Band added Guy Penrod at lead and David Phelps at tenor in the 1990s. After Lowry’s departure, The Imperials alumnus Russ Taff sang baritone for a couple of years. When Taff returned to solo work, Marshall Hall was his replacement. Wes Hampton succeeded Phelps in 2005.

During the 1990s and into the first few years of the 21st century, the Gaither Vocal Band mastered the art of mixing classic Southern Gospel with Country and Inspirational styles. This gave the group a broad fan base that reached beyond the typical domain of Southern Gospel. Despite the immense popularity of the Gaither Vocal Band, they’ve only had one number one song on the Singing News chart. "Yes, I Know" held the top position from July to October of 1997. Other popular tunes by the Gaither Vocal Band include "Let Freedom Ring", "Count On Me", "The Baptism Of Jesse Taylor", and "When Jesus Says It’s Enough. "The group routinely performs classic Southern Gospel songs including many written by Bill Gaither and/or Gloria Gaither like "He Touched Me", "I Believe In A Hill Called Mount Calvary", and "Sinner Saved By Grace."