Gospel music icons and ASCAP’s Christian Songwriters of the Century Bill & Gloria Gaither have been writing masterpieces since they met over 60 years ago. Their songs have been recorded by countless performers, inspiring people around the world.
Now, award-winning artists including Ronnie Dunn, Reba McEntire, CeCe Winans, Hillary Scott, Alabama, Lee Ann Womack, and more have created an incomparable album of timeless hits honoring the Gaither legacy with signature reimaginings of their favorite songs: Gaither Tribute, Honoring the Songs of Bill & Gloria Gaither, out August 25 via Gaither Music Group (distributed by Capitol Christian Music Group and Universal Music).
Steve Moore, who executive produced the all-star recording alongside Clarence Spalding, says, “This musical tribute to Bill and Gloria Gaither, two of Gospel music’s most enduring legends, by some of country music‘s legendary talents has been an unbelievable joy and honor for me to be involved with! The newly-inspired interpretations and production by Tony Brown have given these timeless Christian classics an amazing new life that will touch and retouch people’s hearts all over the world.”
“This recording is a special one for all involved,” says Paul Sizelove, president of Gaither Music Group. “Each of these artists selected a song from Bill and Gloria’s renowned catalog and created new renditions of these classics. Tony [Brown] worked with them to create a collection that truly represents the heart and style of each of these talented artists. We are so proud of the art they have created, and what an honor to the Gaither legacy to have these heartfelt recordings from these highly-respected performers.”
The album’s debut track, Ronnie Dunn’s take on “Because He Lives,” was released Friday, May 26. Alabama’s rendition of “Jesus and John Wayne,” featuring The Oak Ridge Boys, was released on June 23. Josh Turner put his spin on “Going Home,” which became available on July 14.
The collaborations of Bill and Gloria have resulted in more than 700 popular gospel songs, including the hymnal standards “Because He Lives” and “He Touched Me.” They have collectively garnered eight GRAMMY Awards and more than a dozen nominations; and they have received more than two dozen Gospel Music Association (GMA) DOVE Awards, earning the title “Songwriter of the Year” eight times.
Bill and Gloria were the first musical artists to be inducted into the Christian Booksellers Association’s Hall of Honor, and they recorded the first inspirational album to achieve gold status by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
Bill and Gloria were named Songwriters of the Century by the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, and they were honored by the Indiana Historical Society in 2006 with the Living Legend Award. The couple are members of the Gospel Music Hall of Fame as well as the Southern Gospel Music Hall of Fame.
In the early ‘80s Bill founded the Gaither Vocal Band, a group that has raised the bar for gospel quartets and touched audiences all over the world for more than 30 years. Together the couple has eagerly shared their stage and helped define the careers of countless young artists.
In 1991, Bill gathered the Vocal Band together with a few of his gospel music heroes to record a song. That recording marked the birth of Gaither Music Group’s Homecoming Video Series, which has grown to more than 150 titles strong.
Gaither Music Group has sold over 40 million DVDs and CDs, and 130 of the Gaither Homecoming videos have achieved precious metal status by the RIAA, with 10 certified multi-platinum, 60 certified platinum and 60 certified gold.
With performances in world-renowned venues such as Carnegie Hall, The Kennedy Center, The Sydney Opera House, the award-winning Homecoming Series airs weekly on television networks all over North America and Europe; and the Homecoming concert tour celebrates more than 25 years of live events that bring gospel music to major arenas around the world.
Gaither Tribute Track Listing:
1. Jesus and John Wayne – Alabama featuring The Oak Ridge Boys
2. He Touched Me / Something Beautiful – Reba & Susie McEntire with Sonya & Becky Isaacs
3. Going Home – Josh Turner
4. It Won’t Rain Always – Jamey Johnson featuring Alison Krauss on strings
5. Because He Lives – Ronnie Dunn
6. I Just Feel Like Something Good Is About to Happen – Ronnie Milsap
7. Gentle Shepherd – Lee Ann Womack
8. I Believe in a Hill Called Mount Calvary – The SteelDrivers
9. There’s Something About That Name – Hillary Scott & The Scott Family
10. The Center of My Joy – CeCe Winans
