GVB: August 2014

Friday, August 8, 2014

Singing with David

I have given some thought to "Singing With David." I remember years ago I asked Russ Taff what it was like singing with David, someone interrupted and I never got an answer. When Russ was with the GVB he often could not hide his emotions when David "did his thing." Russ was very animated, let his emotions out.

All this fine material out with David, Wes, Michael, Mark and Bill, in my opinion the finest gospel music, ever. There have been many fine groups, fine quartets. The Cathedrals, and many groups had individual personalities, Vestal, JD, and some of the others were ICONS and generated their own charisma, their own personalities, and that came across when they sang.

This GVB, I think, took it all to a new level. Personality, charisma, talent, harmony, and genuine respect for the talent that each possessed. David, a voice, second to none, a real gift, how was it to sing, with him.

I figured it out. Like a baseball team or most athletic teams, the main word here, team. When Babe Ruth stepped up to the plate, all eyes were on him, the crowd, the opposing team, and his own team. Everyone wanted to see the Babe, hit a home run. No jealousy, just respect, and I think that is how they look upon David .... a home run hitter.

In At The Cross, when David heads out to those "heights" .... there is anticipation, Wes, Mark and Michael are poised, ready for what is coming, David is going to ............. hit a home run. When he does, Wes is applauding, Michael, shaking his fist, David, a broad grin ... Bill, proud, very proud.

They were, I say were, they are, no longer. I am sure they are still good, different, but good. Bill had a tough time replacing that group .... when you lose a Michael English and a Mark Lowery, each a star in his own right, you cannot replace them, you have to start over, new group, new energy ..... they will find their own identity, but ....... there will never be another group ..... like the last one .... of the GVB.

Watch the expressions as David gets ready to hit it out of the park ......

Above ...............

The video above is one of the early ones when Bill was putting his idea ... in to reality. I do not know the whole history. It was Bill, Gloria, his wife, and Danny his brother. Danny had a gorgeous voice, full of warmth, but apparently he got to where he could not sing, anymore.

I think the look on Gary's says a lot .. I do know any of their history ........

In the above, Gary McSpadden, I think, filled in for his brother and was with the group for a while. This is one of the earlier videos when they started getting together ..... Bill and Gloria wrote this one ..... one of their best ....................

ABOUT

This is my own site and has nothing to do with the Gaithers. I am posting this because I thoroughly enjoy their music ministry and want to share it. In my opinion, the group, consisting of David Phelps, Michael English, Bill Gaither, Mark Lowry and Wes Hampton, has produced some of the most beautiful, melodious, emotional music that I have heard. There are many other greats, and great groups, many have "pegged" a 98 or a 99. This group has hit and in some cases exceeded ..... 100.

I loved to hear Danny Gaither, George Younce, Glenn Payne, Vestal Goodman and others, and some of their renditions will appear in these posts.

I love music, no all, but much, I don't think that anyone has hit a "home run" like David has.

I met him years ago, he was very gracious. I told him that his CD's should carry a WARNING label .... not to be listed to in moving automobiles. In my case, when he hits one of those "home runs" .... my arms head to the heavens, not good, shen driving. He laughed.

These are all presented for your enjoyment.