Bill and Gloria Gaither told Lowry that, of their many compositions, none have equaled the success of "Mary, Did You Know?" Public figures often don't have private lives precisely because they are public figures. "I want to make sure people don't think I'm some hard-nosed person who doesn't love God because of all this," he says. [1] English and his wife Lisa, who were married for 11 years and had a daughter, divorced. Vestal Goodman died peacefully in her sleep at age 78, near Orlando, Fla., after falling ill with influenza just before the Christmas holidays. He was 18. I want to let the world know that there’s not a hole deep enough that God can’t still be there for you. Starting in the 1980s, he worked as a studio singer, backing up voices such as Carman, Steve Green, Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith, Garth Brooks, Shania Twain, James Ingram, and Phillips, Craig & Dean. The David Phelps and the Gaither vocal group scandal aren’t exactly news. Guy Penrod, the band’s leader, married a woman named Jordan in 2001 and resigned to focus on his ministry. A featured favorite in the Billboard chart-busting Gaither Homecoming Series, the Gaither Vocal Band continues to fill venues across North America with a steady tour schedule every year. "I'm a little dismayed that Michael has been saying that nobody would talk to him," says CCM magazine's Styll. "I love God now more than ever, because I know God stood by me during that time, and God still loves me no matter what.". But her career, like his, was irrevocably damaged, and things just didn't work out. He was also a solo artist and enjoyed a brief stint in contemporary Christian music. He has since been credited with a plethora of successful career moves, and he enjoys spending time with his family. During his solo career, he recorded eight studio albums. But, this time, he will leave the group to pursue a solo career. In addition to Vestal Goodman, Gary McSpadden, Jonathan Pierce, and Stephen Hill, Gaither has lost several other members of its vocal band. I never sang baritone until Bill convinced me I could. They called themselves the Singing Samaritans. David Phelps reflects, "It has literally been a dream-come-true to be a part of the GVB. [3], Penrod reached back into the well of beloved hymns with his 7th solo release. While singing, she was renowned for her distinctive beehive hairstyle, full-length gowns, and white handkerchief. "Can you imagine? Besides Gaither, singers with the longest tenure in the band include Guy Penrod (1995–2008), Mark Lowry (1988–2002, 2009–13), Michael English (1985–94, 2009–13), David Phelps (1997–2005, 2009–17) and Wes Hampton (2005–present). After rising to fame as a member of the Gaither Vocal Band, Bill Gaither encouraged English to pursue a solo career. 1 on the Billboard chart for music videos sold upon its release. "I was leaving the family and leaving home." "You talk about heaven, and that's pretty much it. He left the group in 1982 and joined The Goodmans. I had exhausted every avenue trying to support the drug habit that I had. He says he wanted a divorce, but stayed in the marriage for the sake of his daughter, who is now 10, and also for his career. "I was having a hard time even holding my head up that night because I felt guilty," he says. According to Green on the Gaither Vocal Band Reunion video, he came up with the name and convinced Gaither to use it because he, at the time, did not want to be associated with "quartet music". ", English says he didn't want to sweep anything under the rug. Shortly after their affair became public, she announced that she'd had a miscarriage. He took home six trophies that April night, including artist of the year. The first was Michael English, but there were also duets by Kathleen Battle and Christopher Parkening, and Wynonna Judd and Kenny Rogers. Singing a Christian song, whether you’re living it or not -- to me, it was my only way of staying close to God. "The message is always going to hinder its progress," says Miller, who continues to manage a stable of Christian acts. Contemporary Christian artists play all kinds of music -- such rock varieties as speed metal, grunge and alternative, plus adult contemporary, hip-hop and even reggae. ", "Bill Gaither Announces Gaither Vocal Band Reunion - Live Concert Event! Both his management and Warner Alliance forbade him to divorce, he says. Some may interpret his story as a parable of sin and redemption. ", "Record companies are the ones that build you up as a sex symbol, as this GQ, Christian Michael Bolton kind of guy," English says. They have four children: Callie, Maggie Beth, David Grant and Coby. Since 2009, Phelps has been singing tenor for the famed Southern Gospel group. After graduating from high school, he joined The Singing Americans, where he shortened his name to Mike English, later going back to Michael. Q: This is your first studio album since 2000. It has ruined the reputation of the band, and it has also harmed the artists. The singer was subsequently banned from touring with the group for six months. "My dad was angry," English says. In many ways, English seems to be reveling in his spectacular fall. [6] The show has been awarded an Emmy. In January 2009, Hall and Penrod left. I won't ever fake it. The DVD release was certified platinum by the RIAA.[3]. Gene is a former accountant/banker who currently teaches business and finance at a college in Houston. Before joining the Gaither Vocal Band, Gary McSpadden was a member of the Jake Hess Imperials and recorded three albums with the group. In 1994, he won five Dove Awards, but his label dropped him after he married, and Christian retail and radio banned his music. A live album called Better Day was released in January 2010. After Pierce's departure, Gaither hired David Phelps at tenor. The group has finally rounded out and selected Todd Suttles as the fifth and final member. Now, what should he do? "I know things that would just blow people's minds.". "The best part of my years were wrapped up, tied up in your thang.". Penrod also performed briefly with the Stamps Quartet in 1987, while employed at Opryland.[2]. ", English doesn't see it that way. "My mother was never strict. Aubine English, who owns a music store in Wallace, says that Michael always wanted to "go his own way," and that's probably what brought him to stardom. He is not afraid to be open with the audience about his doubts and insecurities; that makes him very relatable and honest, very real. "It's devastating to the music.". She, too, was married -- and pregnant with English's child. "I kept hearing the words, I'll never amount to anything, and I wanted to make it work. According to a label representative, when English and the label agreed to part ways, both parties agreed not to speak publicly about the split. Warner removed all promotions, marketing, which halted sales of English's records,[1] and Christian radio stations pulled English's songs off the air. After early stints with Southern gospel groups and Bill Gaither’s famed Gaither Vocal Band, he embarked on a successful solo career in the 1990s. When I cannot feel the songs anymore, I am done. His unexpected death has left a hole in the Gaither Vocal Band family. He decided to record another album instead. He's photogenic enough. [2] It was the successor-group of the Bill Gaither Trio. The lyrics mean more to me today than before. Six Things You Should Know About Bill Gaither | The Star [1] He was also a member of the Christ Church Choir (as was another future Gaither Vocal Band member, Jonathan Pierce). Copyright © 2022 - 2023 Heart Eyes Magazine -. "I felt wrong, I was deceiving, and it made me sick. "The general perception is that the Christian music industry shunned Michael English. However, Stephen’s legacy lives on in many of the singers he performed with. While the scandal over the band’s videotaping was unfortunate, Lowry has since written several monologues about popular Christmas songs. He likes to say that some Christians think he now resembles the Devil. Or purchase a subscription for unlimited access to real news you can count on. [6] In 2019, Phelps' song "Catching Santa" from his 2018 album It Must Be Christmas was featured in an advertisement for Google's Pixel smartphone.[7]. ", Several Christian artists, including Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith and Kathy Troccoli, have successfully navigated the crossover into secular music, usually with the support of mainstream record labels. In fact, he spent his first year away from Gaither "living on a houseboat, doing nothing.". The officer pulled out a gun and told me to get out of the car, and I'm thinking, Oh sheesh, not again.' The Gaither Vocal Band is an American southern gospel vocal group, named after its founder and leader Bill Gaither. Lisa English, his ex-wife, refused to talk for this story. Unfortunately, there is no way to list each member, The Gaither Vocal Band has lost another member in the form of Gary McSpadden. In October 2013, it was announced that Lowry and English would be leaving the group to devote more time to their solo careers. Nor is it the faith of his manager, his record label or the rest of the Christian industry. Nashville, Tennessee, native Stephen Hill died unexpectedly Sunday morning while performing in his final concert. Still, he misses singing gospel. It was also the first album of the vocal band ever to feature only songs written by Bill and Gloria Gaither. However, Mullins remained faithful and will continue to tour, write songs, and record. "Greatly Blessed" was their third number one single. Their music was inspired by the Southern gospel music they grew up listening to. Stephen Hill later died of breast cancer. The New English. The David Phelps And The Gaither Vocal Group Scandal ", Lowry added Gaither Homecoming Concerts no longer attract as many people. Hess was a member of Bill Gaither’s “Homecoming” concert series, and his death is not considered a shock, as he was part of Gaither’s Homecoming Christmas Tour. In October 2013, it was announced that English would be leaving the Gaither Vocal Band to devote more time to his solo career. They then recorded the album Passin' The Faith Along. "It helps me see that Christianity, if it's done right, can be a wonderful thing." On August 29, 2002, English married Marcie Stambaugh, a pastor's daughter, in Nashville, Tennessee. Somewhere along his way, English has determined that maybe he isn't entirely responsible for the course his life has taken. Born in 1921 in the Sand Mountain region of Alabama, Goodman aspired to be an opera singer but eventually gravitated toward gospel music. He's let his hair grow and has a goatee. WebDavid Norris Phelps (born October 21, 1969) is an American Christian music vocalist, songwriter and vocal arranger, who is best known for singing tenor in the Gaither Vocal ⦠", Besides the larger market, one of the benefits of crossing over is more artistic freedom, hence the title of his new album, "Freedom.". A native of Greenville, North Carolina, Hill moved to Tennessee in the 1980s and sang in many churches and revivals. The band’s reputation was in danger of going mainstream after the controversy. He was a Southern Gospel group The Imperials member and performed with the Gaither Vocal Band. CAPTION: Michael English on Times Square. Copyright © 2022 - 2023 Heart Eyes Magazine -. Wesley Hampton has been involved in the controversy surrounding the Gaither Vocal Band. He just wanted to step down for a year, work things out on his own. Unfortunately, there is no way to list each member individually, but you can explore the careers of all four men. " The gun charge was eventually dropped, though he did have to pay $54.50 in court costs. He also made regular appearances on TNN's Music City Tonight as a background singer in the mid-1990s. Christmas has come and gone. Today, the Gaither Vocal Band roster is comprised of five power-packed voices, including Bill Gaither, Wes Hampton, Adam Crabb, Todd Suttles and Reggie Smith. He sings "baby" on his new album -- "I've got so many babys on there it's not funny."
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