Jump to content

Gaither Homecoming

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

David Phelps, Gordon Mote, Bill Gaither (left to right) in April 2009

Gaither Homecoming is the name applied to a series of videos, music recordings and concerts, which are organized, promoted and usually presented by Christian music songwriter and impresario Bill Gaither.[1]

Beginnings

[edit]

On February 19, 1992, the Gaither Vocal Band had just wrapped up a recording session in a Nashville, Tennessee, working on an album called Homecoming, which featured many of the great voices of southern gospel music: The Speers, The Gatlins, Jake Hess, The Cathedrals, Howard & Vestal Goodman, Buck Rambo, Eva Mae Lefevre, James Blackwood, Hovie Lister, Jim Hill, and J.D. Sumner & The Stamps. After the session, the artists stayed around to chat, swap stories and sing old standards around the piano.[1] The impromptu session was recorded on video and later published. The recording was so well received that Gaither began a series of professionally produced videos with larger gatherings of gospel musicians.

Format

[edit]

The format for almost all of the videos in the series is very similar. A studio set or concert stage is home to a group of several dozen singers, with the front row featuring artists with longstanding and legendary careers in Southern Gospel music. They would be joined by younger artists, some of them up-and-coming acts in the Gaither Music Group publishing stable. Gaither would lead the group in several songs, with soloists and groups featured in additional songs. Comments by veteran singers, who would reminisce about their careers, are a staple of the series. In later videos, the inevitability of death found its way into the videos, as segments remembering artists who had died since the previous taping were featured.

Most videos also have accompanying CDs which can be purchased in a set or separately.

The videos and CDs regularly top sales charts, even many years after the series' inception and after the death of many favorite artists. The most recent videos, Gaither Homecoming Tour: Live From Toronto and Canadian Homecoming, were first and third, respectively, on Billboard's music video chart, and the companion CDs also hit the CCM charts. [1] More recently, the 2007 recording of "How Great Thou Art" was nominated for a Dove Award.

Concert series

[edit]

In 1996, the video series gave birth to a concert tour, with a format similar to the videos but usually performed "in the round" in arenas. The concert dates are normally on Fridays and Saturdays, usually in separate cities.

In 2004, the Gaither Homecoming concert tour ranked 16th in Pollstar rankings of all tours, beating out pop music heavyweights such as Elton John, Fleetwood Mac and Rod Stewart.[2]

Television series

[edit]

Many of the video series have been repackaged into a series of hour-long or half-hour-long television shows (similar to an infomercial). They can be found on the following Christian or family-oriented cable/satellite channels. (There is also an Internet TV channel – gaither.tv)

In the U.S.

In Canada

Cruises

[edit]

The Gaither Homecoming series has branched out into twice-yearly cruises. One cruise normally sails to Alaska in September, and the other to tropical ports in February.

It was on one of these cruises, in 2006, where regular pianist Anthony Burger, a longtime favorite of the Homecoming series, collapsed on-stage as a result of a heart attack while accompanying Gaither, his wife Gloria and the rest of the Homecoming Friends.

In 2009, for the first time, a Homecoming cruise was recorded for DVD/CD releases. Alaskan Cruise Homecoming and Majesty were released in January 2011.

Videography

[edit]

This is an incomplete list of all the videos. Some of them may not be in the correct order.

  • 1991: Homecoming
  • 1992: A Praise Gathering
  • 1992: Reunion
  • 1993: Turn Your Radio On
  • 1993: Old Friends
  • 1994: A Christmas Homecoming
  • 1994: Landmark
  • 1994: Precious Memories
  • 1995: All Day Singin' with Dinner on the Ground
  • 1995: The Sweetest Song I Know
  • 1995: Revival
  • 1995: Holy Ground
  • 1995: Ryman Gospel Reunion
  • 1996: When All God's Singers Get Home
  • 1996: Sunday Meetin' Time
  • 1996: Sing Your Blues Away
  • 1996: Moments To Remember
  • 1996: Something Beautiful
  • 1996: Homecoming Texas Style
  • 1996: Joy To The World
  • 1996: Joy in the Camp
  • 1997: Back Home Again in Indiana
  • 1997: This Is My Story
  • 1997: Feelin' AT Home
  • 1997: Special Homecoming Moments (certified platinum)
  • 1998: Gaither Homecoming Celebration (recorded live on New Year's; released in January 2012)
  • 1998: Singin' With The Saints
  • 1998: Down By The Tabernacle
  • 1998: Rivers Of Joy
  • 1998: Hawaiian Homecoming
  • 1998: Marching To Zion
  • 1998: Atlanta Homecoming (at the Georgia Dome)
  • 1998: All Day Singin' At The Dome (Atlanta)
  • 1999: Singin' In My Soul
  • 1999: So Glad!
  • 1999: Sweet, Sweet Spirit
  • 1999: Kennedy Center Homecoming
  • 1999: Mountain Homecoming (Blue Ridge Mountains)
  • 1999: I'll Meet You on the Mountain
  • 1999: The Cathedrals: A Farewell Celebration
  • 2000: Good News
  • 2000: Memphis Homecoming
  • 2000: Oh, My Glory!
  • 2000: Harmony in the Heartland
  • 2000: Irish Homecoming (in Belfast)
  • 2000: Whispering Hope
  • 2000: Christmas in the Country
  • 2001: Christmas... A Time for Joy
  • 2001: What a Time!
  • 2001: London Homecoming
  • 2001: Old Friends Quartet: Encore
  • 2001: Gaither Vocal Band: I Do Believe
  • 2001: A Billy Graham Music Homecoming, Vol. 1 & 2
  • 2001: Journey to the Sky (certified gold)
  • 2001: Passin' the Faith Along (certified gold)
  • 2001: Mark Lowry on Broadway
  • 2002: The Best of The Cathedrals
  • 2002: Homecoming Bloopers
  • 2002: Freedom Band
  • 2002: I'll Fly Away
  • 2002: New Orleans Homecoming
  • 2002: God Bless America (at Carnegie Hall)
  • 2002: Let Freedom Ring (at Carnegie Hall)
  • 2003: Going Home (certified platinum)
  • 2003: Heaven [3]
  • 2003: Australian Homecoming
  • 2003: Red Rocks Homecoming
  • 2003: Rocky Mountain Homecoming
  • 2003: A Gospel Bluegrass Homecoming, Vol. 1 & 2
  • 2004: Build a Bridge (at The Potter's House in Dallas, Texas)
  • 2004: Dottie Rambo with Homecoming Friends
  • 2004: We Will Stand (at The Potter's House)
  • 2004: Tribute To Howard & Vestal Goodman
  • 2004: Tribute to Jake Hess
  • 2004: The Best of Mark Lowry and Bill Gaither, Vol. 1 & 2
  • 2005: Church In The Wildwood (certified platinum)
  • 2005: Hymns (certified platinum)
  • 2005: Israel Homecoming (certified platinum)
  • 2005: Jerusalem Homecoming (certified platinum)
  • 2005: The Best of Guy Penrod
  • 2005: A Tribute to George Younce
  • 2005: Ernie Haase & Signature Sound
  • 2005: The Best of Anthony Burger
  • 2006: Canadian Homecoming (certified gold)
  • 2006: Live from Toronto (certified gold)
  • 2006: Christmas in South Africa
  • 2006: Homecoming Christmas – Live From South Africa
  • 2007: South African Homecoming
  • 2007: Love Can Turn The World – Live From South Africa
  • 2007: Amazing Grace (certified gold)
  • 2007: How Great Thou Art (certified gold)
  • 2007: Ernie Haase & Signature Sound: Get Away, Jordan
  • 2007: Gaither Vocal Band and Ernie Haase & Signature Sound...TOGETHER
  • 2008: A Campfire Homecoming
  • 2008: Homecoming Picnic
  • 2008: Rock of Ages
  • 2008: Country Bluegrass Homecoming, Vol. 1 & 2
  • 2008: Ernie Haase & Signature Sound: Dream On (Live from Chicago)
  • 2009: Nashville Homecoming (at the Grand Ole Opry stage)
  • 2009: Joy in My Heart
  • 2009: Gaither Vocal Band: Reunion, Vol. 1 & 2
  • 2009: The Oak Ridge Boys: A Gospel Journey
  • 2010: Ernie Haase & Signature Sound: A Tribute to the Cathedral Quartet
  • 2010: Giving Thanks
  • 2010: Count Your Blessings
  • 2011: Alaskan Homecoming (cruise)
  • 2011: Majesty (Alaskan cruise)
  • 2011: Tent Revival Homecoming (at the Billy Graham Library)
  • 2011: The Old Rugged Cross (at the Billy Graham Library)
  • 2011: The Best of David Phelps
  • 2012: Gaither Homecoming Celebration (filmed in 1998, never-before-seen material)
  • 2013: Gaither Vocal Band: Pure and Simple, Vol. 1 & 2
  • 2013: Women of Homecoming, Vol: 1 & 2
  • 2014: Ernie Haase & Signature Sound: Oh, What A Savior
  • 2014: Cathedrals Family Reunion
  • 2016: Mark Lowry: Dogs Go to Heaven
  • 2016: Circuit Rider
  • 2017: Give the World a Smile
  • 2017: Sweeter as the Days Go By
  • 2020: The Longer I Serve Him
  • 2020: Canton Junction: Great Is Thy Faithfulness
  • 2021: Glorious Church (filmed in 2001, never-before-seen material)
  • 2021: The Collingsworth Family: Just Sing!
  • 2022: The Oak Ridge Boys: Rock of Ages
  • 2022: Ernie Haase & Signature Sound: Something Beautiful
  • 2023: Hallelujah Homecoming
  • 2023: Power in the Blood
  • 2024: The Collingsworth Family: Classics & Hymns

Hall of Honor Series

  • 1994: The Goodman Family: The Journey (Vol. 1)
  • 1994: The Speers Family: A Love Story (Vol. 2)
  • 1994: Hovie Lister & The Statesmen: An American Classic (Vol. 3)
  • 1994: O Happy Day: Old-Time Southern Singing Convention (Vol. 4)
  • 1994: The Cathedrals: Fifty Faithful Years (Vol. 5)
  • 1994: The Best of the Gospel Singing Jubilee: Number. 1-4 (Vol. 6)
  • 1995: Cynthia Clawson: Thank God for The Promise of Spring (Vol. 7)
  • 1995: The Blackwood Brothers: Family Reunion (Vol. 8)
  • 1995: Jus' Jake and a Few Close Friends (Vol. 9)
  • 1995: The Sweetest Song I Know (Vol. 10)
  • 1997: The Gatlin Brothers: Come Home (Vol. 11)
  • 1997: J.D. Sumner & the Stamps: God Still Lives in This Old House (Vol. 12)
  • 1997: The LeFevres: A Song in your Heart at Night (Vol. 13)
  • 1998: The Best of Jessy Dixon: Sanctuary (Vol. 14)
[edit]

An asterisk (*) indicates that the artist is deceased.
Numbers indicate how many videos the artist has appeared in as a featured performer.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b winkler, stephanie (28 August 2009). "August 28, 2009 ~ Gaither Gospel Singers | August 28, 2009 | Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly | PBS". Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly. Archived from the original on 9 Sep 2013. Retrieved 28 November 2023. JONES: There was a time back in the mid-'80s that Bill Gaither felt his trio had peaked, but he wasn't ready to hang it up. He wanted one more shot to make a gospel hit. So he reached out. BILL GAITHER: You know, and I called a bunch of the old timers and I said, ah, we're gonna come in and have fun. We're gonna have the radio days. JONES: And they came to join Bill and his Gaither Vocal Band—big stars from all over the country. Little did they know that this reunion with the Gaithers would turn into a concert series around the world called Homecoming. The themes—patriotism and religion.
  2. ^ "Top40-charts.com". Top40-charts.com. Retrieved 2013-04-20.
  3. ^ Bill Gaither: Heaven at AllMusic. Retrieved August 24, 2015.
[edit]