William J. Gaither (born March 28, 1936) is an American singer and songwriter of southern gospel and Contemporary Christian music. He has written numerous popular Christian songs with his wife, Gloria. Besides performing solo and with his wife, Gaither has appeared as part of the Bill Gaither Trio, the Gaither Vocal Band, and as a part of his "Homecoming" groups. Bill and Gloria still live in Indiana and have three grown children.
Bill Gaither was born in Alexandria, Indiana, around 35 miles northeast of Indianapolis, in 1936, the son of George and Lela Gaither. He formed his first group, the Bill Gaither Trio (consisting of his sister Mary Ann and brother Danny), in 1956 while a college student at Anderson College. After graduating from Anderson in 1959, he worked as an English teacher. He married the former Gloria Sickal in 1962. After a few years of trying to manage both a music career and his full time teaching job, he quit his teaching job in 1967 and worked full time in the Christian music industry. "He Touched Me," which he recorded in 1964, was his breakthrough song.
Gaither was influenced by southern gospel singers like Jake Hess and Hovie Lister and by groups like the Speers, the Statesmen and the Happy Goodmans.
Gaither and his wife have written many songs, including "The Longer I Serve Him," "Because He Lives," "The King Is Coming," "Something Beautiful," "He Touched Me", "It Is Finished," "There's Something About That Name" and "Let's Just Praise The Lord." His songs have been performed by Christian artists (Carman, Sandi Patty, The Cathedral Quartet, The Speers and The Heritage Singers), country singers (The Statler Brothers) and pop artists (Elvis Presley).
Gloria Gaither often writes the lyrics while Bill writes the music, although composing is usually a collaborative project between the two. As of 2005, they had composed about 600 songs.
Since Gaither first began singing with the Bill Gaither Trio in the 1950s, he has constantly been performing. The Bill Gaither Trio originally consisted of Bill, his brother Danny Gaither and his sister Mary Ann Gaither. In about 1964 Bill's wife, Gloria, took the place of Mary Ann. The trio sang traditional gospel songs along with original compositions by the Gaithers that gave them a more contemporary feel.
Gaither has a high bass voice (or low baritone), and would often sing while playing a guitar with the Bill Gaither Trio. He also plays the piano.
Gaither founded the Gaither Music Company, under which the functions of record company, concert booking (Gaither Management Group), television production, copyright management (Gaither Copyright Management), retail store, recording studio (Gaither Studios, formerly Pinebrook Studios) and telemarketing for the Gaither organization reside. Gaither also runs a retail center called Gaither Family Resources.
Included as part of the company is Live Bait Productions, which is an animation company run by Benjy Gaither, Bill's son.
Record Labels
In the 1980s, Gaither was involved with Paragon Associates, which formed a partnership with Zondervan to buy Benson Records, which is now part of Sony BMG Music Entertainment.
In 1994, Gaither and entrepreneur Leland Boren founded the Brentwood, Tennessee-based Chapel Hill Music Group, which later changed its name to Spring Hill Music Group. It was created as part of the Gaither Music Company to handle in-house productions, including the Gaither Homecoming series.
Industry Influence
Gaither has been a father figure to many younger performers in the Contemporary Christian music industry, while helping to prolong the careers of those who came before him. Mark Lowry, Michael W. Smith, Sandi Patti, Carman, Steve Green, Don Francisco, Amy Grant, Michael English, Jonathan Pierce, Karla Worley, and Cynthia Clawson are all CCM artists who either got their start or became popular while touring with the Gaithers.
He has maintained the Gaither Vocal Band with a variety of singers through the years, including Michael English, Mark Lowry, Wes Hampton, David Phelps, Gary McSpadden, Steve Green, Lee Young, Jon Mohr, Larnelle Harris, Lemuel Miller, Jim Murray, Terry Franklin, Buddy Mullins, Jonathan Pierce, Guy Penrod, Russ Taff and Marshall Hall. Guy Penrod and Mark Lowry were the members of the Gaither Vocal Band with the longest tenure besides Bill Gaither himself. Guy Penrod was with the group from 1995-2008 and Mark Lowry from 1988-2001. It was announced in January 2009 that Mark Lowry was rejoining the group; at the same time the announcement was made that Guy Penrod was leaving in order to pursue a solo career.
Gaither's Homecoming tours, which started in 1991, brought together major stars of the southern gospel and CCM industry, sparking a revival of the genres. The tours have sold more than 1.1 million tickets across the world, and have included such notable venues as the Kennedy Center and Carnegie Hall. Pollstar listed the tour as selling more tickets in 2004 than Elton John, Fleetwood Mac or Rod Stewart. Lynda Randle, The Isaacs, Jessy Dixon and many more have performed on the tours.
(This list excludes books of music and books that are companions to his "Homecoming" series.)
Gaither, Bill and Ken Abraham. It's More than Music: Life Lessons on Friends, Faith, and What Matters Most. Anderson, Indiana: Warner Books. 2003. (ISBN 0-446-53041-7)
Gaither, Bill and Jerry Jerkins. I Almost Missed the Sunset. Thomas Nelson (pub). 1992. (ISBN 0-8407-7573-3).
Gaither, Bill and Jerry Jerkins. Homecoming. Zondervan. 1997. (ISBN 0-310-21325-8)
Gaither, Bill and Gloria Gaither. God Gave Song. Zondervan. 2000. (ISBN 0-310-23123-X)
Discography
Bill Gaither, The Gaithers, Gaither Trio, etc.
1960s Happiness, The Bill Gaither Trio: Bill & Danny Gaither and Sherry Slattery
1970s At Home In Indiana
1970s The King Is Coming
1970s Sings Warm
1970s Allelujah: Praise Continues
1970s The Early Works
1972 Live (2 LPs)
1972 Christmas...Back Home In Indiana
1972 My Faith Still Holds
1973 Especially For Children Of All Ages
1973 Let's Just Praise The Lord
1974 Something Beautiful...An Evening With The Bill Gaither Trio (2 LPs)
1974 Because He Lives
1974 Thanks For Sunshine
1975 I Am A Promise
1975 Jesus, We Just Want To Thank You
1976 Praise
1977 My Heart Can Sing - The Inspiring Songs of Stuart Hamblen
1977 Moments For Forever (2 LPs)
1978 Pilgrim's Progress
1978 The Very Best Of The Very Best
1979 We Are Persuaded
1979 He Touched Me
1980 The Very Best Of The Very Best...For Kids
1981 Bless The Lord Who Reigns In Beauty
1982 He Started The Whole World Singing
1983 Fully Alive
1984 Ten New Songs With Kids...For Kids About Life
1985 Then He Said Sing
1987 Welcome Back Home
1990 Hymn Classics
1992 Best Of The Gaithers...Live!
1993 Old Friends
1994 Oh Happy Day Vol. 1 & 2
1994 Precious Memories
1996 Our Recollections
2000 Bill Gaither Trio, Vol. 1
2000 Bill Gaither Trio, Vol. 2
2000 Bill Gaither Trio, Vol. 3
2000 Bill Gaither Trio, Vol. 4
2005 Bill Gaither (self-titled solo project)
Gaither Vocal Band
1981 The New Gaither Vocal Band - STUDIO
1983 Passin' The Faith Along - STUDIO
1984 New Point Of View - STUDIO
1986 One X 1 - STUDIO
1988 Wings - STUDIO
1989 The Best From The Beginning (early hits collection with one alternate mix/arrangement) - STUDIO
1990 A Few Good Men - STUDIO
1991 Homecoming - LIVE
1993 Peace Of The Rock - STUDIO
1993 Southern Classics - STUDIO
1994 Testify - STUDIO
1995 Can't Stop Talking About Him (hits collection) - STUDIO
1996 Southern Classics: Volume 2 - STUDIO
1997 Lovin' God & Lovin' Each Other - STUDIO
1998 Still The Greatest Story Ever Told - STUDIO
1999 God Is Good - STUDIO
2000 I Do Believe - LIVE & STUDIO
2002 Everything Good - STUDIO
2003 A Cappella - STUDIO
2004 Best Of The Gaither Vocal Band (hits collection with new cuts) - STUDIO
2006 Give It Away - LIVE & STUDIO
2007 Together (with Ernie Haase & Signature Sound) - LIVE & STUDIO
2008 Lovin' Life - STUDIO
2008 Christmas Gaither Vocal Band Style - STUDIO
2009 Gaither Vocal Band Reunion Vol. 1 - LIVE
2009 Gaither Vocal Band Reunion Vol. 2. - LIVE
2010 Reunited - LIVE & STUDIO
2010 Better Day - LIVE & STUDIO
2010 Greatly Blessed - STUDIO
Homecoming Series
1991 Homecoming
1992 Reunion
1993 Turn Your Radio On
1993 Old Friends
1994 A Christmas Homecoming
1994 Landmark
1995 Precious Memories
1995 All Day Singin' & Dinner on the Ground
1995 Revival
1995 Holy Ground
1996 When All God's Singers Get Home
1996 Sunday Meetin' Time
1996 Ryman Gospel Reunion
1996 Sing Your Blues Away
1996 Moments To Remember
1996 Something Beautiful
1996 Homecoming Texas Style
1996 Joy To The World
1997 Back Home Again in Indiana
1997 Joy In The Camp
1997 Feelin' At Home
1997 This Is My Story
1997 Special Homecoming Moments
1998 Singin' With The Saints
1998 Down By The Tabernacle
1998 Rivers of Joy
1998 Hawaiian Homecoming
1998 Marching To Zion
1998 Atlanta Homecoming
1998 All Day Singin' at the Dome
1999 Singin' In My Soul
1999 Kennedy Center Homecoming
1999 So Glad!
1999 Sweet, Sweet Spirit
1999 Mountain Homecoming
1999 I'll Meet You on the Mountain
1999 The Cathedrals: A Farewell Celebration
2000 Good News
2000 Memphis Homecoming
2000 Oh, My Glory!
2000 Because He Lives
2000 Harmony in the Heartland
2000 Irish Homecoming
2000 Christmas in the Country
2000 Whispering Hope
2000 Christmas In The Country
2001 What a Time!
2001 London Homecoming
2001 A Billy Graham Music Homecoming, Vol. 1
2001 A Billy Graham Music Homecoming, Vol. 2
2001 Christmas... A Time for Joy
2002 Freedom Band
2002 I'll Fly Away
2002 New Orleans Homecoming
2002 God Bless America
2002 Let Freedom Ring
2003 Going Home
2003 Heaven
2003 A Gospel Bluegrass Homecoming Vol.1
2003 A Gospel Bluegrass Homecoming Vol.2
2003 Australian Homecoming
2003 Red Rocks Homecoming
2003 Rocky Mountain Homecoming
2004 Build a Bridge
2004 We Will Stand
2004 America The Beautiful: Bill Gaither's Favorite Patriotic Songs
2004 A Tribute To Howard & Vestal Goodman
2004 A Tribute to Jake Hess
2004 He Started the Whole World Singing
2004 Journey to the Sky
2004 Passin' the Faith Along
2005 Church In The Wildwood: Cherished Hymns
2005 Hymns
2005 Israel Homecoming
2005 Jerusalem Homecoming
2005 A Tribute to George Younce
2005 The Best of Guy Penrod
2005 Ernie Haase and Signature Sound
2006 Canadian Homecoming
2006 Gaither Homecoming Tour: Live from Toronto
2006 The Best of Anthony Burger
2006 The Best of Jessy Dixon
2006 Bill Gaither Remembers Homecoming Heroes
2006 Bill Gaither Remembers Old Friends
2006 The Best of Jeff and Sheri Easter
2006 Gaither Vocal Band: Give It Away
2006 Christmas in South Africa
2006 Homecoming Christmas From South Africa
2006 South African Homecoming
2007 Love Can Turn the World-Live From South Africa
