A true r follower of Christ than Bill Gaither would be hard to find in this world, I suspect. This is my second article about this giant talent of Christian/gospel music (known as CCM). If I were to write 25 articles about him (don’t get excited), they wouldn’t be too many for he is a modern-day saint in many people’s book. Some observations I have made and some data I have read have to do with the simplicity and authenticity of his persona. It is certainly a persona modeled after Christ’s teachings and doings. I think we all could learn a lot from Bill Gaither. The following are some observations I have made via my "aquaintance" with Mr. Gaither:
~I like that you don’t see Mr. Gaither pushing the others out of the way in order for him to be the main singer in his Homecoming gospel music series.
~I like that he and his wife still live in the same small Indiana house in which they brought up their 3 children (or did as of 2006).
~I like that he sometimes gets emotional during the taping of a gospel music song or program and sheds a tear or two. (He stands up or throws something to "de-emphasize" it.)
~I like that he pardons others. He has sung once again with fellow singers who have in the past been involved in scandals due to some sort of moral “misbehavior.”
~I like that Mr. Gaither is a giver in this world. He helps to support an organization that provides for needy, elderly gospel singers. Additionally, Gaither has given much money to charities and to many of his friends, workmates, acquaintances, and others. His generosity is legendary (as was Elvis’s).
Bill Gaither was born in Alexandria, Indiana, a small town of some 6 thousand-plus souls. This town helped to instill in him a good work ethic and set of moral values. As a mere schoolboy he enjoyed gospel music fully, especially quartets like The Statesmen. He was an English teacher for 7 to 8 years in the Anderson school system in Indiana before devoting himself full time to Christian music. This devotion included singing, composing, and producing. He and his wife, Gloria, have now written/composed more than 600 gospel songs. Gaither enjoys his work very much and say he has been “very blessed.”
He started out by founding The Gaither Trio, which included his brother, Danny, and sister, Mary Ann, in the beginning. Later, his sister was replaced by his wife Gloria. Bill Gaither wrote the bestseller “He Touched Me” in 1963. It was recorded by Elvis Presley, among many other singers. In 1969 Gaither received the first of many Dove music awards he was to win. The Gaithers founded the Homecoming gospel music series as a result of the first Homecoming video filmed in Nashville in February, 1991. A long list of gospel music’s most famous vocalists and musicians (some say "royalty") participated in this now-historic reunion.
Three-time Grammy winner Gaither has been generous not only with money but in several non-monetary ways. He emphasizes giving in one’s life in order to achieve fulfillment. His grandfather, he says, once told him there were principally givers and takers in this world and one had to make up her/his mind as to which one would be.
The Gaithers were awarded the title “Christian Songwriters of the Century” in 2000 by the ASCAP. In 2002 they were inducted into the International Gospel Music Hall of Fame. Gaither’s biography, It’s More than the Music, was published in 2003. Since then, there have been other books.
Being Bill Gaither is about being real—genuine and authentic, according to most reports and information available to Internet readers. He is quite the same person and mentor whether in a public or private venue. Who said nice guys finish last? Also, if it weren’t for people like Bill Gaither, I ask, where would this ship of a world be?
