As Gaither has stated at various times of transition, “You never replace a group member… you simply find a fresh, new direction.”
And with that philosophy at heart, Bill Gaither has gone far beyond simply replacing his long-time lead singer. He has completely recreated the Gaither Vocal Band, now expanding the size of the group from four members to five and bringing back an all-star cast of voices from the Vocal Band’s rich legacy of talent.
Effective immediately, the new roster for the five-member Gaither Vocal Band will be: Bill Gaither, David Phelps, Wes Hampton, Michael English and Mark Lowry.
Bill Gaither states, “I am so excited about the sound that this particular group creates together. There are few groups, if any, that have the advantage of having two fine tenors like Wes Hampton and David Phelps at one time! Their sound together is like liquid gold… truly stunning.
"Together, they will share the demands of the high tenor part and offer a sound we’ve never heard from any previous Vocal Band."
He added, “This line-up has energy and vocal power that will blow your mind. And the most exciting part is… their hearts are in this. This announcement grew out of unexpected change, but I’ve learned to pay close attention when God starts shaking things up. He always has plans that are better than our own.”
During the transition, David Phelps, Michael English and Mark Lowry are committed to fulfilling their previously scheduled solo appearances. Gaither said he supports that decision fully and looks forward to any and all opportunities they have to join the Vocal Band until those solo appearances have been completed.
