1/13/09 (Alexandria, Indiana) - With mixed emotions and tremendous optimism about the future, Gaither Music Group announces major personnel changes for the Gaither Vocal Band, including the return of some of the group's best-loved alumni.The might need to change the name to the "Gaither All-Star Team". A couple of reactions:
After more than 14 years as the Gaither Vocal Band's lead singer, Guy Penrod will now begin a new journey. Bill Gaither is delighted to announce today that Guy is pursuing a new direction as a solo artist. It is a bittersweet transition as Penrod will miss sharing the stage with his comrades and he will be greatly missed.
Bill Gaither states, "I am losing a lead singer, but I am not losing a friend. I am extremely grateful for the incredible contribution he has made to the Gaither Vocal Band's legacy." Guy Penrod has said in response, "My years with the Gaither Vocal Band have been among the most glorious of my life. Now, though, with the Band continuing in strength and me tackling the new challenge of a solo career, we can all serve our God even more powerfully in the days to come."
As Gaither has stated at various times of transition, "You never replace a group member... you simply find a fresh, new direction." And with that philosophy at heart, Bill Gaither has gone far beyond simply replacing his long-time lead singer. He has completely recreated the Gaither Vocal Band, now expanding the size of the group from four members to five and bringing back an all-star cast of voices from the Vocal Band's rich legacy of talent.
Effective immediately, the new roster for the five-member Gaither Vocal Band will be: Bill Gaither, David Phelps, Wes Hampton, Michael English and Mark Lowry. Mark Lowry will complete all his previously scheduled solo engagements through April 2009 and will appear with the Gaither Vocal Band at every available opportunity during this transition, beginning with the Gaither Caribbean Cruise on February 22.
Marshall Hall, who has sung with the group since 2004, will no longer serve as the group's baritone and will be missed dearly by his friends both on and off the stage. He is a talented singer and producer, as well as an experienced worship leader, who will undoubtedly enjoy a solid future building on the experience gained during his five remarkable years with the Gaither Vocal Band.
The public's overwhelming early response to the January 20th release of The Gaither Vocal Band Reunion DVD, as well as the group's 2009 Grammy nomination, has already begun what could be the group's most unforgettable season yet.
The first live concert of 2009 will take place January 29 in Huntsville, Alabama, and tickets are still available. For more 2009 concert dates visit www.gaither.com and click on the 'Tickets' banner.
- When Guy Penrod first came on the scene he looked like anything but a gospel singer. The long hair, beard and interesting wardrobe really set him apart from the guys you'd normally see in a quartet (though he did have a passing resemblance to Jesus). He looked like he belonged in the Oak Ridge Boys more than the Vocal Band. However, his soaring style and amazing dramatic range quickly won over the Southern Gospel crowd and now it seems like every quartet in the country tries to do GVB material, often with less than successful results because there aren't too many guys who can sing like Guy. He and his wife have a houseful of kids (7 or 8 at last count - I'm not sure) so I'm sure he'll have plenty of things to do in his spare time. I just hope he doesn't find himself in the same boat as other GVB members who went solo and then disappeared from the scene (see Phelps, David or Pierce, Jonathan).
- Getting Mark Lowry back is a great move. Lowry is funny, period. Without him the GVB program and the whole Homecoming Tour program was lacking. He's a decent baritone, but his real talent is comedy and he keeps the crowd in stitches as he plays off of Bill Gaither.
- Michael English was a top star in the gospel music business until May of 1994 when an adultery scandal broke and nearly put English out of the music business altogether (more details on his Wikipedia page). Apparently all is forgiven as Bill Gaither welcomes him back to GVB. He's got a tremendous voice, no question.
- Looks like Marshall Hall got the short end of this deal. The paragraph mentioning his departure is something you often read that includes the line "to spend more time with his family". I don't think this was Hall's idea.
- David Phelps was the tenor for GVB for a number of years, but then made a mistake that others in that group have made - he went solo and promptly fell into a well. I heard an album he did shortly after leaving GVB and his soaring tenor voice was practically unrecognizable. It was as though his producer had decided to take everything that made him a popular singer with GVB and throw it out. It was very disappointing. The effort to become a contemporary Christian music star was pretty much unsuccessful and returning to GVB will rejuvenate his career (though I'm not sure what GVB will do with 2 tenors).
- Wes Hampton is a good tenor, but he's no David Phelps. I wonder how long he'll be happy with this new arrangement.
I was talking with a guy this past weekend who has been on the road with the Gaither show quite a bit in the last few years and he was surprised to see how badly the crowds have fallen off. They're downsizing venues just about everywhere they go. They used to book the Honda Center in Anaheim which probably seats 12-15 thousand, but this past trip booked two concerts within 30 miles of each in venues half that size. I wonder whether these changes are being driven by the need to revitalize the Gaither Homecoming Concerts as much as anything.
When I first attended a Gaither Homecoming Concert some years ago there were a number of veteran stars and groups on the program who have sinced passed on. It was an opportunity for guys like me to see people who were legends in the business business but had stopped touring. Gaither brought a lot of careers back to life. The first Homecoming concert I attended included The Goodmans, James Blackwood, Jake Hess, The Florida Boys, and a number of other legendary artists who have since died or quit touring.
The talent they are bringing on tour lately has not been that interesting. I attended a concert in 2007 only because I got the tickets for $6, and I skipped the concert last November. This change to GVB won't get me back in the arena (or auditorium or sanctuary or maintenance shed - depending on how far they downsize) at $30 a ticket, but it might help them generate a few more sales around the country. It's a pretty dramatic change, and I think dramatic change is just what the Homecoming Tour needs.
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2 comments:
I totally agree with the comment about the Homecoming Concerts not living up to the days when the older artists were there. The last one that I went to, was after Vestal Goodman and Jake Hess had passed away. The whole evening was like a struggle... there was never that "Vestal Moment" (usually right after the intermission) that everyone had been waiting for when the Goodmans would take the stage. The other artists were trying... but no one was able to recreate that kind of expectation.
A lot of people seem to forget that GVB started out as a contemporary christian group, and the "homecoming" project kind of pushed them back into the Southern Gospel Market, where Bill was smart enough to realize that he had a gold mine with these older artists. This newest change just seems to have a feeling of them trying to get back into the CCM market. I think they're really strugling with their own identity as they don't have the older SGM artists around them which drew in the crowds.
I love the Gauthier music moments. I, too , miss many of the wonderful singers that are no longer with us.
But , remember, it is an oppotunity to create new legendary artists and many of them have great voices.
I miss Marshall Hall as well. I always thought he was nervous and hiding something. But he got along great with everyone.
I wish Gauther the best sucess.
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