Gaither Vocal Band
| Gaither Vocal Band | |
|---|---|
 Gaither Vocal Band, 2009 | |
| Background information | |
| Also known as | New Gaither Vocal Band (1981–84) |
| Genres | Christian, southern gospel, contemporary Christian |
| Years active | 1981–present |
| Labels | Spring Hill Music Group |
| Associated acts | Larnelle Harris, Russ Taff, Steve Green, Ernie Haase & Signature Sound |
| Website | Gaither Vocal Band |
| Members |
Bill Gaither David Phelps Wes Hampton Adam Crabb |
The Gaither Vocal Band is an American southern gospel vocal group, named after its founder and leader Bill Gaither. As of January 2014, it consists of David Phelps, Wes Hampton, Adam Crabb, and Bill Gaither. Although the group started out recording contemporary Christian music, it became known for southern gospel after the popularity of the Gaither Homecoming videos.[1]
The lineup of the band changes often, with artists leaving to work on solo careers, and new ones coming to replace them. Besides Bill Gaither, singers with the longest tenure in the band include Guy Penrod (1995–2008), Mark Lowry (1988–2001, 2009–13), and Michael English (1985–94, 2009–13).
The band has released 27 albums (not including compilations), at least 19 of which have charted. The band has also released 10 DVDs, which feature many other Christian artists as well. The Gaither Vocal Band has been honored with 2 Grammys, and 16 Dove Awards.
History
Beginnings
The Gaither Vocal Band is named after gospel legend and leader, Bill Gaither.[2] It was the successor-group of the Bill Gaither Trio. By the 1980s, Bill Gaither, along with wife Gloria Gaither, were both very successful songwriters.[3] For example, their song, "He Touched Me" was covered by Elvis Presley, after which he even named his album He Touched Me. Presley won a Grammy for the album.[4] Bill Gaither felt that his trio had reached its peak in the mid-1980s, but his desire to make another gospel hit kept the trio going.[2]
The original Vocal Band (called the New Gaither Vocal Band) was formed spontaneously, backstage of a Gaither Trio concert. It consisted of Bill Gaither and Gary McSpadden of the trio, along with two of the trio's backup singers, Steve Green and Lee Young. The quartet sang "Your First Day in Heaven" on stage that night.[5] Their debut album, the self-titled The New Gaither Vocal Band, debuted in 1981.
Lee Young left the group in 1982, and Jon Mohr was hired as the new bass singer. They then recorded the album, Passin' The Faith Along. Later, tenor Steve Green left and Larnelle Harris was hired. This group cut the New Point Of View album before Mohr left.
Widespread popularity
Michael English was hired as the new lead singer, so McSpadden was moved down to baritone, and Gaither dropped to the lowest part (Gaither stated that it was not bass at the time as it was not a true bass part).[citation needed] At this point the group dropped the "new" part of their name. Although the previous album (New Point of View) had been more contemporary than its predecessors, the album with this version of the group (One X 1) took it even further. After this album, Larnelle left and was replaced by Lemuel Miller. The group did not record an album with Lemuel before he too left. He was replaced by Imperials alumnus, Jim Murray. This line up cut one album (Wings) before Gary McSpadden left to start his solo career. Mark Lowry was convinced to replace him. Along with a great voice, Lowry added comedy to the mix. Their Gospel roots project Homecoming in 1991, caused most Southern Gospel fans to welcome the Vocal Band with open arms. Jim Murray left and was replaced by Terry Franklin. The album Southern Classics was released in 1993 with the hit I Bowed On My Knees.
Later Michael English left. He was replaced by Buddy Mullins. Mullins was only a temporary fill-in, but he was included on the album Testify. Terry Franklin soon left and was replaced by yet another Imperials alumnus, Jonathan Pierce (formerly known as Jonathan Hildreth, his first and last name—then changed to his first and middle name). Strengthened by the popularity of the Homecoming video series, the Vocal Band added Guy Penrod at lead. After Pierce's departure, Gaither hired David Phelps at tenor. After Lowry's departure, Imperials alumnus Russ Taff sang baritone for a couple of years. Marshall Hall was his replacement. Wes Hampton succeeded Phelps in 2005.
The group has had two number one songs on the Singing News chart. "Yes, I Know" held the top position from July to October 1997, as did "I Will Go On" in November 2006. The group has routinely performs classic Southern Gospel songs including many written by Bill and Gloria Gaither like "He Touched Me", "I Believe In A Hill Called Mount Calvary", and "Sinner Saved By Grace."
Reunion
In July 2008, the vocal band recorded a reunion DVD at the Gaither Studios—The Gaither Vocal Band Reunion, Volumes 1 and 2. Except for Jonathan Pierce, Terry Franklin, and Lemuel Miller, the rest of the former and present members appear and perform. The two CDs debuted in the top two positions on Billboard’s Contemporary Christian Album chart, marking not only the Gaither Vocal Band's first No. 1 on the Christian Album chart, but also their first No. 1 debut on that chart as well. The DVDs of the same title debuted in the No. 1 and No. 2 positions on the Music Video charts as well.[6]
The quintet
In January 2009, Marshall Hall and Guy Penrod left. Gaither brought back some former members: Michael English as lead vocal, Mark Lowry as baritone and David Phelps as high tenor. The first album by this five-member version was Reunited, released in September 2009. It was also the first album of the vocal band ever to feature only songs written by Bill and Gloria Gaither. A live album called Better Day was released in January 2010. In August 2010, they released the long-awaited album called Greatly Blessed, followed by I Am A Promise, a children's album, released in August 2011. Their most recent album is Pure & Simple, released in September 2012.
In October 2013, it was announced that Mark Lowry and Michael English would be leaving the group to devote more time to their solo careers.. [7] In January 2014, it was announced that Adam Crabb (of The Crabb Family) would join the group as the fourth member. A prospective fifth member is still being sought, and will be announced later in 2014. [8]
Members (past and present)
| 1981–1982
(Under the Name "The New Gaither Vocal Band") |
|
|
|---|---|---|
| 1982–1983 |
|
|
| 1983–1984 |
|
|
| 1985–1987
(Under the Name "The Gaither Vocal Band") |
|
|
| 1987 |
| |
| 1987–1988 |
|
|
| 1988–1992 |
|
|
| 1992–1994 |
|
|
| 1994 |
| |
| 1994–1995 |
|
|
| 1995–1997 |
|
|
| 1997–2001 |
|
|
| 2001–2004 |
|
|
| 2004–2005 |
|
|
| 2005–2009 |
|
|
| 2009–2013 |
|
|
| 2014- |
|
Discography
Awards
Grammys
- 1991: Best Southern Gospel, Country Gospel or Bluegrass Gospel for Homecoming
- 2008: Best Southern, Country, Or Bluegrass Gospel for Lovin' Life
GMA Dove Awards
Southern Gospel Album of the Year
- 1992: Homecoming
- 1994: Southern Classics
- 1999: Still the Greatest Story Ever Told
- 2000: God Is Good
- 2001: I Do Believe
- 2007: Give It Away
- 2009: Lovin' Life
- 2010: Reunited
- 2010: Greatly Blessed
Southern Gospel Song of the Year
- 1993: "Satisfied"
- 1994: "I Bowed On My Knees"
- 1999: "I Believe in a Hill Called Mount Calvary"
- 2001: "God Is Good All The Time"
- 2002: "He's Watching Me"
- 2007: "Give It Away"
- 2011: "Better Day"
References
- ↑ "Gaither Vocal Band". Retrieved 1 November 2011.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "August 28, 2009 ~ Gaither Gospel Singers | Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly". PBS. 2009-08-28. Retrieved 2012-08-13.
- ↑ Bill Gaither Biography Allmusic.com
- ↑ Bush, John. "He Touched Me - Elvis Presley : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2012-08-13.
- ↑ "Gaither Vocal Band". United Singers International. Retrieved 16 May 2011.
- ↑ "The Gaither Vocal Band Receives Early Valentines". The Judy Nelon Group. Retrieved 9 February 2011.
- ↑ "Gaither Vocal Band Announce Departure Of Mark Lowry And Michael English". Retrieved November 12, 2013.
- ↑ "The Gaither Vocal Band Welcomes Adam Crabb!". Retrieved January 10, 2014.
External links
| |||||||||||||||||