Bill Gaither (March 28, 1936 - )
(Also credited as William J Gaither)
(Bill Gaither's first group circa 1950) |
Biography
Bill Gaither is one of the most successful and recognized figures in Christian music. He is a singer, songwriter, producer, record label owner and publisher. His influence has impacted the industry on many levels.
Bill grew up on a farm in Alexandria, Indiana. From an early age, he wanted to emulate the professional singers who were his heroes. Bill's first group as a young teenager in 1950 was called the Log Cabin Quartet. Other group members included Bill's brother Danny Gaither, their cousin Moe Gaither and a friend named Harold Little.
In early 1954, Bill played piano for the Spiritual-Aires. Later in 1954, he formed the Pathfinders where he sang lead and played piano for a little over a year. After this foray in the music industry proved not to be successful, Bill returned to school and ultimately became a high school English teacher and part-time church music director. In 1962 he married fellow teacher Gloria Sickal. They have three children.
By the mid-1960s, Bill, his sister Mary Ann Gaither, and his brother Danny Gaither were traveling as the Bill Gaither Trio. Gloria Gaither soon replaced Mary Ann in the trio. The ensuing years yielded unparalleled success including gospel music's first certified gold album (Alleluia) and a musical based on Gaither's songs.
Bill has penned hundreds of songs. He Touched Me, Because He Lives, and The King Is Coming were among Bill's early and most famous compositions. They were recorded by many established and diverse artists such as the Speer Family and Elvis Presley. Many of his best known songs were co-written with Gloria.
In 1980, Bill formed the Gaither Vocal Band with Gary McSpadden, Steve Green and Lee Young. Over the next ten years, the Vocal Band was successful in the emerging contemporary market. The Bill Gaither Trio also continued to perform and release new material during the 1980s. By this point, McSpadden had replaced Danny Gaither in the trio. The final trio recording would come in 1990 (Hymn Classics) with then Vocal Band lead singer Michael English singing the third part.
In the early 1990s, Bill organized a reunion of his long-time heroes in Southern Gospel for an album and video project titled Homecoming. By this point, Bill had shifted to bass in the Vocal Band with Mark Lowry, Michael English and Jim Murray completing the group. The success of the initial video led to the Gaither Homecoming Series with more video releases and numerous tour dates around the world. After the initial video, the Vocal Band released one more contemporary album for the Star Song label, then turned their focus toward a modern Country/Southern sound. Between managing and traveling with the Vocal Band, promoting the Homecoming brand, producing, songwriting and various other business ventures, Bill has remained a busy man well beyond the typical age of retirement.
Bill has received many awards from the music industry over the years, Grammy Awards, Dove Awards and Gospel Music Association's (GMA) Songwriter of the Year on several different occasions. He and Gloria were also named Songwriters Of The Century by the American Society of Composers and Publishers (ASCAP). Bill was inducted into the GMA Hall Of Fame in 1983 and the SGMA Hall Of Fame in 1997.
Awards
Dove Awards
Song Of The Year - "Because He Lives" (co-written with Gloria Gaither) (1974)
Songwriter Of The Year (1969, 1970, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977)
Worship Song Of The Year - "Because He Lives (Amen)" (co-written with Chris Tomlin, Daniel Carson, Ed Cash, Gloria Gaither, Jason Ingram, and Matt Maher) (2015)
GMA Hall Of Fame (1983)
SGMA Hall Of Fame (1997)
Singing News Fan Awards - Favorite Songwriter (2021)
NQC Music Awards - Concert Promoter of the Year (2012)
Solo Discography
(Incomplete)
See also Bill Gaither Trio, Gaither Vocal Band, Gaither Homecoming Series for additional recordings.
2005 Bill Gaither (Gaither Music Group/SHD2646): But For The Grace Of God; I Wish You; The Family Of God; Tho Autumn's Coming On; I Believe, Help Thou Mine Unbelief; Day By Day; We Have This Moment Today; These Things Shall Pass; You Might Forget The Singer But You Won't Forget The Song; Some Things I Must Tell The Children; Make It Real; The Longer I Serve Him; Something To Say.
2015 Icon (Gaither Music Group): The Family Of God; You Might Forget The Singer But You Won't Forget The Song; The Church Triumphant; Tho' Autumn's Coming On; Something To Say; The Longer I Serve Him; It Is Finished; Sinner Saved By Grace; I Believe, Help Thou My Unbelief; Because He Lives; Old Friends; We Have This Moment Today/When Did I Start To Love.
Songwriter's Résumé
(Partial List)
A Little Bit Of Sunshine
A Parade Of Miracles
Abide In Me
All God's Children
All My Hopes
All The Glory Belongs To Jesus
All The Time
All Things Are Possible
Almost Home
Angels Hover Near You
As Flows The River
Because He Lives
Bethlehem Galilee Gethsemane
Between The Cross And Heaven
Born Again
Can't Stop Talking About Him
Center Of My Joy
Child You're Forgiven
Close To Thee
Come All Ye Children
Come Away My Love
Come Holy Spirit
Created In His Image
Dream On
Even So Lord Jesus Come
Every Eye Shall See
Eyes Have Not Seen Ears Have Not Heard
Feeling At Home In The Presence Of Jesus
Free To Go Home
Gentle Shepherd
Get All Excited
Go Ask
God Loves To Talk To Little Boys While They're Fishing
Going Home
Happiness
Have You Had A Gethsemane
Have You Heard The Good News
He Filled My Life With Ecstacy
He Started The Whole World Singing
He Touched Me
Heaven Our Home
He's Still The King Of Kings
His Name Is Life
His Will
Home Of Your Dreams
Hope
I Am Loved
I Believe, Help Thou Mine Unbelief
I Believe In A Hill Called Mount Calvary
I Believe It
I Believe What The Bible Says
I Came To Praise The Lord
I Could Never Outlove The Lord
I Do Believe
I Heard It First On The Radio
I Just Can't Make It By Myself
I Just Feel Like Something Good Is About To Happen
I Lost It All To Find Everything
I Pledge My Allegiance
I Played In The Band And Sang In The Choir
I Will Go On
I Will Serve Thee
I Wish You
I'd Do It All Over Again
If It Keeps Gettin' Better
I'll Meet You On The Mountain
I'll Walk Into That Sunset
I'll Worship Only At The Feet Of Jesus
I'm Almost Home
I'm Free
I'm Gonna Sing
I'm So Glad I Found An Altar Of Prayer
In God's Tomorrow
In The Upper Room
It Is Finished
It Keeps Getting Better And Better
It Will Be Worth It All
It Won't Rain Always
It's Gonna Be A Good Day
It's Just Like My Lord
It's No Wonder
I've Been On The Mountain
I've Been To Calvary
I've Just Come From The Place Of Prayer
I've Just Seen Jesus
Jesus
Jesus And John Wayne
Jesus I Believe What You Said About Heaven
Jesus I Heard You Had A Big House
Jesus Is Lord Of All
Jesus We Just Want To Thank You
Joy Comes In The Morning
Joy In The Camp
Joy, Real Joy
Just Because Of You
King Of Kings
Leave It All On The Altar
Let Freedom Ring
Let The Healing Begin
Let's Just Praise The Lord
Look Up
Lord Send Your Angels
Lovest Thou Me
Loving God Loving Each Other
Manna From Heaven
Mary Was The First One To Carry The Gospel
More Of You
More Than Ever
My Faith Still Holds
My Father's Angels
Next Time We Meet
No Greater Love
Not By Might, Not By Power
Oh How I Love Him
Ole Brother Jonah
On The Authority
Out Of Bondage
Peace Shall Come
Praise Be To Jesus
Praise For The Lord
Praise You
Reaching
Redeeming Love
Rest In You Tonight
Resurrection
Right Place Right Time
Seek And Ye Shall Find
Since Jesus Passed By
Sinner Saved By Grace
Some Things I Must Tell The Children
Something Beautiful
Something Happened To Daddy
Something Worth Living For
Songs That Answer Questions
Tell Me
Tell Me That Name Again
Thanks To Calvary
That Resurrection Morn
That's Worth Everything
The Church Triumphant
The Diff'rence Is In Me
The Family Of God
The Greatest Of These Is Love
The Heavens Declare The Glory Of God
The Joy Of Serving The Lord
The King Is Coming
The Longer I Serve Him
The Old Rugged Cross Made The Difference
The Place Of Prayer
The Stage Is Bare
The World Didn't Give It To Me
Then Came The Morning
Then He Bowed His Head And Died
Then He Said Sing
There's Always A Place At The Table
There's Something About That Name
These Are They
They That Sow In Tears
Things That Last Forever
Think On The Good Things
This Could Be The Dawning Of That Day
This Is The Time I Must Sing
This Same Jesus
Through
Through My Tears
Two Prayers
Until The Day Breaks
Walk Together Children
We Are Persuaded
We Are So Blessed
We Have This Moment Today
We'll Be There
What Did You Say Was The Baby's Name
When God Seems So Near
When I Prayed Through
When Jesus Breaks The Morning
When The Rains Come
Whenever We Agree Together
Why Should I Worry
Why Should I Worry Or Fret
Worthy The Lamb