Bill Gaither and the Homecoming Friends

Bill Gaither's Southern Gospel Revival

Gospel music pioneer Bill Gaither will elevate his audience to spiritual heights Friday, February 9 at the Frank Erwin Center. The “Give it Away Tour 2007” will feature the sounds of southern gospel and contemporary Christian music. Gaither, a seasoned professional, founded his first gospel group, the Bill Gaither Trio, in 1956 while he was still a college student. Since this milestone he has written more than 600 American Gospel classics, along with his wife, Gloria Gaither. Among the titles are: “Because He Lives,” “Something Beautiful,” “It Is Finished,” and “Let’s Just Praise The Lord.”

The “Give it Away Tour 2007” spotlights a uniquely American form of Christian music: southern gospel. Lyrically, most songs have a clear evangelistic or testimonial slant. Few southern gospel songs are sung “to” God but rather “about” God. The Homecoming draws on a tradition that Gaither calls “…Southern singing conventions.” The performers come together like a large family gathered around a parlor piano and take turns supporting each other, trading off on solos and partnering up to form various duos, trios, or quartets.

Fans will hear the musical influences of singers like Jake Hess and Hovie Lister, as well as Gospel groups such as the Speers. Don’t miss your chance to be a part of Gaither & the Homecoming Friends’ soulful revival. Accompanying Gaither on this tour will be his vocal band, Joy Gardner, Gordon Mote, Jeff and Sheri Easter and more.