Gaither Vocal Band

Founded in the early '80s by renowned Christian music leader Bill Gaither, Gaither Vocal Band is one of America's leading southern gospel vocal groups. While Gaither remained the only original member of the ensemble, many well-regarded CCM/gospel singers have passed through the band's ranks, including Russ Taff, Guy Penrod, Wes Hampton, Michael English, Mark Lowry, and David Phelps. The GVB's uplifting spiritual songs have won a large following throughout the years, with acclaimed studio albums like Homecoming (1991), Lovin' Life (2009), and That's Gospel, Brother (2021), earning multiple Dove and Grammy Awards. Gaither Vocal Band was formed by contemporary gospel legend Bill Gaither in 1981 with Gary McSpadden, Lee Young, and Steve Green. The group has recorded for Star Song, Benson, and Chordant, receiving many awards. The Gaither Vocal Band released two volumes of Southern Classics and 20 Inspirational Favorites, as well as the live recording Back Home in Indiana and 1999's God Is Good. By this time, David Phelps had joined the group, and I Do Believe was issued in fall 2000. Lowry left the band in 2002 and was replaced by Russ Taff. Everything Good appeared that same year, followed by A Cappella (2003), Give It Away (2006), Lovin' Life (2008), Reunited (2009), and Better Day and Greatly Blessed, both of which arrived in 2010. Anchored by long-time member Wes Hampton, who joined in 2005, they have remained active, touring regularly and releasing such albums as 2013's Dove Award-winning Pure and Simple, 2014's Sometimes It Takes a Mountain, and 2015's Grammy-nominated Hymns. In 2016, the Gaither Vocal Band delivered Better Together, which earned them a Grammy nomination for Best Roots Gospel Album. David Phelps departed the group in 2017, and new tenor Reggie Smith made his debut on the full-length We Have This Moment, released in October of that year. In 2019, the group issued the studio LP Good Things Take Time, which included gospel classics like "Child of the King" and "Revive Us Again," as well as a handful of new originals. The group earned a Southern Gospel Recorded Song of the Year Dove award for "My Feet Are on the Rock" from 2021's That's Gospel, Brother. Later that year, they issued All Heaven and Nature Sing, with Let's Just Praise the Lord appearing in 2022. Two new Homecoming series recordings, Power in the Blood and Hallelujah Homecoming, arrived the following year. ~ John Bush, Rovi