|
If you enjoy the Gaither Homecoming Series, you'll love
our broad selection from Amazon of concerts and videotapes, plus other
Southern Gospel favorites ranging form the Goodmans to Signature
Sound...click here to go to our Seniors' Gospel Music selections...
Make
a New Year's resolution:
Put the Gaither Homecoming
on your 'must see'
list
By
Daniel Hines
Editor/Publisher
Today's Seniors Network
Our
interview with Bill Gaither was preceded by what has become a
too-familiar part of our life--the playing of his music at a Memorial
Service for a just-deceased family member.
In this instance, it was a service for Brooksie Tharp, the 78-year-old
Mother of my wife, Brooks. The
matriarch of the family, she was the touchstone that acted as a a source
of strength for her children and grandchildren, and who offered a
special love for her great grandchildren, aged six and four.
Now
she was gone, and it was time to select songs to set the proper mood for
the service. As was done
nearly 11 years earlier for my first wife's death, the music of Bill
Gaither and the Gaither Vocal Band was chosen.
That Bill and Gloria Gaither should be able to reach so many people
was on my mind as we started the interview, and asked Bill what it feels
like to have been such a source of strength to people around the world.
"Gloria
and I receive literally thousands of e-mails, letters or have people
come up to us at a concert to tell us how the music has touched their
lives at a particularly difficult time," he said.
"We
realize that God has blessed us and our goal is to serve God."
The
Gaithers have received so many awards that it would be impossible to
list them. For some people,
this might lead to exaggerated self-importance.
Not so for Bill Gaither, who showed Christian kindness even when
we asked him for his impression of some of the new praise music.
"People
are a combination of senses based on experience, emotion and
faith," he mused. "The
greatest song writer of all was David and all of his Psalms are based
upon an actual experience that leads to praising God.
"Many of the songs today cut off the experience that makes the
praise possible and needed," he continued.
"I hope that people don't forget the reason for the
praise."
Bill
is not immune from tragedy himself.
His brother and former lead signer of the Gaithers, Danny, died
recently. We asked him what
influence Danny had on his life.
"Danny
was always the voice," Bill responded.
"He was the one that could sing.
I could go along, and had a certain gift for production, but
Danny was the real talent. I
will miss him."
Even
though he was tired, Bill took the time from the telephone interview to
allow my wife, Brooks, to thank him for the comfort his music had
provided at the Memorial service. We
had no idea of how much more Bill's musical and production skills would
affect us that evening when the Gaither Homecoming Series and Christmas
special was staged before more than 14,000 people in St. Louis' Savvis
Center.
Performing
in the round, a host of artists who are a part of the Homecoming series,
offered songs of praise and worship that blended new and old songs
(including a moving love song sung by Bill to wife Gloria) and
transformed the crowd from an audience to participants in a giant
worship service.
The
quality of the musicians was, as might be expected, outstanding.
These are Gospel music's best.
We have seen and heard many performers at The Opry, in concerts across
the nation and even in Nashville churches.
But, we have never seen such a moving performance that proved
that these were more than just performers.
The songs of praise that they offered were testimonies to their
strong convictions.
The ability of Bill Gaither, supported by his wife, Gloria (whom he calls
the greatest lyric writer he has ever seen) to have the insight, energy
and talent to develop the Homecoming Series truly is a gift that he has
used to bring glory to God and to bring his message to millions of
people around the world.
This
makes the Homecoming Series a 'must-see' event for any believers, fans
of Christian music, or even someone who can appreciate musical genius.
|
Now,
keep up to date with daily feeds of newly posted stories about America's
Seniors...click on the box to the left