In the field of gospel music, the story of the birth of the Gaither Vocal Band has become the stuff of legends. But it did happen...in January, 1981...in Florida. That's when Bill Gaither brought his experimental quartet-featuring Gary McSpadden, Steve Green, Lee Young and himself-to the microphone to sing "First Day In Heaven." For the thunderous applause that followed, the quartet had no encore. So they sang "First Day In Heaven" again.
Thus was born a new quartet for which Bill sought an original name. He wanted a phrase that would express what the group was, hence, the Gaither Vocal Band. "The longer I live with the name, the more I like it," says Bill, who has liked it through two decades, 17 projects and eleven personnel changes. Like the group's concert debut, the Vocal Band's first three projects were greeted with praise, each being nominated for the Gospel Music Association's Dove Award.
The roster of past and present members of the Vocal Band reads like a "Who's Who of Gospel Music": Lee Young, Steve Green, Gary McSpadden, Jon Mohr, Larnelle Harris, Michael English, Jim Murray, Terry Franklin, Buddy Mullins, Jonathan Pierce, Mark Lowry, Guy Penrod, David Phelps, Russ Taff, Marshall Hall and newest member, Wes Hampton.
While the accolades abound, Bill insists that the Gaither Vocal Band is just four guys having a good time around a microphone.
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