AccuRadio Song Of The Day-Gaither Vocal Band

Artist:Gaither Vocal Band

Song:I Believe in a Hill Called Mount Calvary

Album:Best of the Gaither Vocal Band

Bill Gaither is probably the most successful Southern Gospel artist and this is because he produces so much content that it's hard to avoid him. The Gaither Vocal Group (GVB) is an offshoot of The Bill Gaither Trio which started in 1956. Gaither has been very careful in balancing appealing to his existing fanbase and being contemporary enough to attract new fans. I guess I should call them followers since we are talking about religious music. The Gaither Vocal Band was formed backstage at a 1981 Bill Gaither Trio concert. The original group was Gaither and Gary McSpadden of the trio and backup singers Steve Green and Lee Young. It was decided to call them Gaither Vocal Band so they could vary the number of members. Gaither also thought the term "quartet" was archaic in gospel music. For most of its history, GVB has had four members though currently it has five. McSpadden was the original lead singer. But after Michael English replaced him in 1985, McSpadden left to go solo in 1988. Mark Lowry replaced him and remained until 2001. After English left in 1994, Guy Penrod replaced him and remained until 2009. I Believe in a Hill Called Mount Calvary was written by Bill and Gloria Gaither and it appears on the 1997 album Lovin' God & Lovin' Each Other. The members at the time were Jonathan Pierce formerly of The Imperials, Penrod, Lowry and Gaither. Pierce would soon leave and was replaced by David Phelps. This 2CD budget comp is a good intro to GVB's music. After Penrod left in 2009, English and Phelps returned and Gaither turned GVB into a quintet. Adam Crabb of The Crabb Family is the current lead singer. GVB's latest album was released in 2022. Gaither also produces GVB reunions and of course there are videos available for purchase. So Gaither Vocal Band is a real cash cow. Here's Gaither Vocal Band performing I Believe in a Hill Called Mount Calvary. I think this was from when Phelps, English and Lowry returned to the group.