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Biography
Multiple issues|refimprove = February 2011|primarysources = February 2011|original research = February 2011Infobox musical artist | name = Gaither Vocal Band| image =| caption =| image_size =| background = group_or_band| alias = New Gaither Vocal Band (1981–1982)| origin =| genre = Christian music|Christian , southern gospel , contemporary Christian music|contemporary Christian | years_active = 1981–present| label = Spring Hill Music Group| associated_acts = Ernie Haase & Signature Sound , Larnelle Harris , Russ Taff , Steve Green | website = URL|1= http://www.gaither.com/artists/gaither-vocal-band/|2=Gaither Vocal Band| current_members = Bill Gaither (gospel singer)|Bill Gaither Mark Lowry Michael English (singer)|Michael English David Phelps Wes Hampton | past_members = The Gaither Vocal Band is a Grammy award -winning Christian music vocal group, headed by Bill Gaither (gospel singer)|Bill Gaither . They originally recorded contemporary Christian music , but after the popularity of the Gaither Homecoming videos, the group has become known for southern gospel .cite web|title=Gaither Vocal Band|url= http://vovtz.wordpress.com/gaither-vocal-band/|accessdate=1 November 2011
Group history
The Gaither Vocal Band was formed in the early 1980s on the spur of the moment, backstage before a Bill Gaither Trio concert. Just four members—Gaither and Gary McSpadden of the trio, and Steve Green and Lee Young, who were backup singers— singing quartet standards around a piano. Then, they decided to take it on stage singing, “Your First Day in Heaven.”cite web|title=Gaither Vocal Band|url= http://www.singers.com/gospel/gaithervocalband.html|publisher=United Singers International|accessdate=16 May 2011 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.
At this point the New Gaither Vocal Band became new, but dropped the "new" part of their name. Due to baritone becoming high for Bill and lead becoming high for Gary McSpadden, Bill Gaither dropped to the lowest part (Bill stated they never called it bass at the time as it wasn't a true bass part). McSpadden was moved down to baritone and Michael English (singer)|Michael English was hired as the new lead singer. 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 The Imperials|Imperials alumnus, Jim Murray. They cut one album ( Wings ) before Gary McSpadden left to devote more time to his solo career. Mark Lowry was tapped to replace him. Although Lowry admittedly didn't have the natural ear for the baritone part, or the experience, he added a great voice along with his comedy and soon made their sound more smooth. 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. Despite being only a temporary fill-in, Mullins did record the album "Testify" with the group, in place of Michael English, who had initially planned to record that album with the group. 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 (singer)|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. Other popular tunes by the Gaither Vocal Band include "Temporary Home," "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 and Gloria Gaither like "He Touched Me", "I Believe In A Hill Called Mount Calvary", and "Sinner Saved By Grace."
Recent times
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.cite web|title=The Gaither Vocal Band Receives Early Valentines|url= http://www.gospelmusicupdate.com/_news/gvbgrammybillboard.shtm|publisher=The Judy Nelon Group|accessdate=9 February 2011
In January 2009, Marshall Hall and Guy Penrod left. Gaither brought back some 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 (Gaither Vocal Band album)|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.
In August 2010, they released the long-awaited album called Greatly Blessed .
Members (past and present)
Line-ups in eras>
1981–1982(Under the Name "The New Gaither Vocal Band")
LineData = width:1 at:01/07/1981 color:album layer:back # The New Gaither Vocal Band at:01/07/1982 color:album layer:back # Passin' the Faith Along at:01/07/1984 color:album layer:back # A New Point of View at:01/07/1986 color:album layer:back # One X-1 at:01/07/1988 color:album layer:back # Wings at:01/07/1990 color:album layer:back # A Few Good Men at:01/07/1991 color:album layer:back # Homecoming at:01/07/1993 color:album layer:back # Peace of the Rock at:01/07/1993 color:album layer:back # Southern Classics at:01/07/1994 color:album layer:back # Testify at:01/07/1995 color:album layer:back # Southern Classics, Vol. 2 at:09/09/1997 color:album layer:back # Lovin' God & Lovin' Each Other at:01/07/1998 color:album layer:back # Still The Greatest Story Ever Told at:18/05/1999 color:album layer:back # God Is Good at:24/10/2000 color:album layer:back # I Do Believe at:13/08/2002 color:album layer:back # Everything Good at:30/09/2003 color:album layer:back # A Capella at:21/09/2004 color:album layer:back # The Best of the GVB at:24/01/2006 color:album layer:back # Give It Away at:15/04/2008 color:album layer:back # Lovin' Life at:30/09/2008 color:album layer:back # Christmas Gaither Vocal Band Style at:08/09/2009 color:album layer:back # Reunited at:01/07/2010 color:album layer:back # Better Day at:10/08/2010 color:album layer:back # Greatly Blessed
