Bill Gaither & The Homecoming Friends

Bill Gaither is "Lovin' Life"

Gospel music fans everywhere are “Lovin’ Life” as Bill Gaither and his Homecoming Friends bring their inspirational music and message across America with the Gaither Homecoming “Lovin’ Life” Tour 2008. Year after year, Bill Gaither showcases the very best talent in the world of Gospel music, entertaining both young and old, and winning the hearts of new fans with every performance. The Gaither Vocal Band, along with other Homecoming artists, will share their classic and timely Gospel sounds with live audiences in more than 32 cities. Bill Gaither has been recording Gospel music for nearly two decades, and throughout that time, has performed to packed houses worldwide and consistently ranked at the top of the list for most concerts tickets sold worldwide, in any music genre. According to Pollstar, the Gaither tour sold more tickets in 2004 than Elton John, Fleetwood Mac and Rod Stewart.

The Gospel Music Hall of Famer has written more than 700 songs, including hymnal standards such as “Because He Lives,” “The King Is Coming,” “Something Beautiful,” “He Touched Me,” “It Is Finished,” “There’s Something About That Name” and “Let’s Just Praise The Lord.” He has recorded more than 40 albums, won five Grammy Awards with more than a dozen Grammy nominations, and is the eight time Gospel Music Association’s Songwriter of the Year. Gaither also produced the first inspirational album to achieve gold status, Alleluia: A Praise Gathering for Believers, and in 2000 Gaither and his wife Gloria were named Christian Songwriters of the Century by ASCAP.

Gaither was born in Alexandria, Indiana in 1936. While in college, Gaither founded his first group in 1956, the Bill Gather Trio. After college, he pursued a career in teaching, but after a few years of juggling teaching, writing, singing, recording and publishing, he quit and worked full time in the Christian music industry. In 1962, Gaither married his teaching colleague Gloria Sickal, who would eventually become his songwriting partner. In the early ‘80s, Bill and a few of his friends were harmonizing around the piano and were pleased enough with their sound to try it out on an audience at the next Bill Gaither Trio concert. After the hearing positive response from the audience at that concert, the Gaither Vocal Band was born!

On October 17, Gaither will join a cavalcade of singers, musicians and comedians to provide an evening of music, celebration and laughs.