The
Gaither Homecoming Tour celebrates 10 years with two
Canadian video specials
Over the past ten years, an astounding eight million people
have attended Bill Gaither Homecoming shows in virtually
every U.S. state and Canadian province. For those few
who have never experienced a four-hour Homecoming show
marathon in person, Bill Gaither has, for the first time
ever, turned the video cameras on the tour, producing
two concert videos: Gaither Homecoming Tour Live From
Toronto and Canadian Homecoming. The Air Canada Centre
in Toronto, Ontario, provided the Tour's largest North
American audience, with sixteen thousand sold-out seats,
and the Homecoming Friends pulled out all the stops for
the always-friendly Canadian crowd.
Bill Gaither hosts the two video specials from the comfort of
his home-away-from-home - his bus - as it rolls across
the Canadian countryside. In addition to providing
non-stop entertainment by all the Homecoming Family, the
videos offer a behind-the-scenes look at the tour, from
stops in catering to the floor of the massive arena as
the set is being assembled.
The tour travels in a
caravan of 15-16 private coaches and four semi trucks.
For three days of every week, eight months of ever year,
these coaches transport the artists, their families,
stage crews, sound and light technicians and other
personnel vital to the successful staging of a major
live concert. Other little extras that are hallmarks of
a Homecoming concert are the comedic banter between Bill
and guitarist Kevin Williams and Bill leading the
audience members in hymns between numbers.
Anyone who knows Bill and Gloria Gaither realizes that
family is their number one priority, and the artists,
their loved ones and the crew who comprise the Tour are
indeed one big family, therefore family takes
centerstage in the video specials. Not only does Bill
introduce viewers to the children who have grown up in
the Homecoming Family, such as Landon Ritchie (Charlotte
and Greg Ritchie), Levi and Jakobi Bowman (Becky Isaacs
Bowman and John Bowman), Joy Randle (Lynda Randle),
Madison Easter (Jeff and Sheri Easter) and Karlye Hopper
(Kim and Dean Hopper), but he pays tribute to all the
Homecoming artists and their family in a taped tribute.
That same tribute honors the first family of gospel
music who are now part of the heavenly family: pioneers
Jake Hess, Glen Payne, George Younce, James Blackwood,
Howard and Vestal Goodman, J.D. Sumner, Bob Cain, Brock
Speer, Rex Nelon, Hovie Lister and Bill's brother, Danny
Gaither.
Live From Toronto features the Gaither Vocal Band
debuting several numbers from their new CD, Give It
Away. For many, it will be an introduction to the new
GVB tenor, Wes Hampton, who shines on "I'll Tell It
Wherever I Go," a vintage Jordanaires number. A visibly
moved Guy Penrod gives new meaning to the Kris
Kristofferson-penned gem, "Why Me." Marshall Hall leads
on "Cast Your Bread Upon The Water."
Jeff and a very pregnant Sheri Easter tell the story of
their love in the Don Williams' country classic, "My
Best Friend," while the popular Booth Brothers step out
on their recent hit, "Testify" and "He Saw It All." Russ
Taff is electric on "Trumpet of Jesus," as is Joy
Gardner on "Healer In The House," backed by a choir of
Homecoming Friends directed by her husband, Landy
Gardner of Christ Church Choir fame. As usual, Ernie
Haase and Signature Sound bring the crowd to their feet
with their electrifying performance of "Glory To God In
The Highest" and "This Could Be The Dawning." No one
knows how to do spectacular endings like Bill Gaither,
and when he brings former GVB member, Michael English,
to the stage to reprise his standard, "I Bowed On My
Knees," you wish the night would never end.
Also appearing are comedians Mark Lowry and Jeff Allen,
as well as favorites such as Ivan Parker, The Hoppers,
Larry Ford, Ben Speer, Lynda Randle, Jessy Dixon and The
Isaacs.
Canadian Homecoming is highlighted by a stunning
rendition of Josh Grobin's "You Raise Me Up," by Ladye
Love and Reggie Smith. Jessy Dixon dances into the
audience on "Come Out of the Wilderness," and Ivan
Parker performs the Mercy Me megahit, "I Can Only
Imagine" and is joined by the cast on "I'm Saved." Ben
Speer enlists the Homecoming Family in a demonstrate of
shaped-note singing made famous at the Stamps-Baxter
School, on "When Morning Sweeps The Sky." Lynda Randle
delights with "He Will Carry You," and the Booth
Brothers bring tears with "Through It All." The Gaither
Vocal Band croon another Jordanaires 1949 classic,
"Journey To The Sky," and join Ernie Haase and Signature
Sound on "Holy Highway." Larry Ford's Irish tenor voice
is perfect for "Little Is Much When God Is In It,"
written by a Canadian writer, and Kevin Pauls leads the
audience and cast in "O Canada."
Both Live From Toronto and Canadian Homecoming
are available February 7th at retail outlets, Christian
bookstores, by calling toll-free, 1-800-955-8746, or you
can
order online here on Gaither.com . One hour specials
will be televised on a variety of networks, including
GAC (Great AMerican Country), I (formerly Pax), Daystar,
INSP and others beginning in early February. Check your
local listings for days, times and channels.
