Bill Gaither: More Than the Music 

MORE THAN THE MUSIC
Bill says, “I’ve done a lot of different things in my time. I taught school for a little bit, wrote a couple of songs, and sang with some great, great singers, but one of things I’ve having the most fun in doing these days is my podcast.” The show More Than The Music is hosted by Bill and was launched by Gaither Music Group (GMG) in April. It features one-on-one talks with guests who have inspired Bill in some way in his 50 years within the music industry. 

“One of the best things about living as long as I’ve lived is the number of incredible people I’ve had the privilege of meeting. Athletes, musicians, leaders, comedians, and longtime friends have taught me and inspired me in so many ways,” shares Bill. Upcoming episodes will feature author/songwriter Rory Feek, author and former broadcast journalist Mort Crimm, country music supergroup Alabama, Anderson University President John Pistole, former NBA player and coach Paul Westphal, musician and songwriter Larry Gatlin, and more. The first season will be presented by the Game Show Network (GSN). Bill is thankful that God has given him so many wonderful friends. He says, “God called me to be poet which allows me to have balance with a wide range of people.” If God called him to be a prophet (more of a black and white view) he probably would not be able to mesh so well with people from very different walks of life.  

The podcast marks the latest in a long line of successful recordings and ventures by the GMG label. The brand has become a household name to millions around the world. The podcast is a new chapter for GMG that will be another way to reach fans both old and new.

BILL’S CAREER
Bill was raised in Alexandria, Indiana. As a boy, he grew up with a love for music. In college, he founded his first group, The Bill Gaither Trio, in 1956. He began teaching English in 1959 because his musical aspirations couldn’t support him full-time. In 1962, Bill married Gloria Sickal, who became the best writing partner he could have found anywhere. They spent the first five years of their married life juggling full-time teaching jobs, writing, singing, recording and publishing until music became their full-time career in 1967. The collaborations of Bill and Gloria have resulted in more than 700 popular gospel songs, including the hymnal standard “Because He Lives,” “The King Is Coming,” “Something Beautiful,” “He Touched Me,” “It Is Finished,” “There’s Something About That Name,” “Let’s Just Praise The Lord,” and “Loving God, Loving Each Other.” Bill and Gloria have collectively won eight Grammy Awards and more than a dozen nominations, and they have received more than two dozen Dove Awards from The Gospel Music Association, earning the title of Gospel Music Association’s “Songwriter of the Year” eight times. 

They still operate their business from Bill’s hometown of Alexandria, Indiana, and they dwell in the same home in which they raised their family. They live a lifestyle focused on investing their resources into eternal things. “Our calling is not just making music… but communicating the reality of Christ,” shares Bill. That might mean birthing a song about Him or simply offering a cup of cold water to someone who needs it. Gloria and Bill have never claimed to have God figured out but do know that if He could use two imperfect people like them to communicate His Truth to the world, He can use everyone sitting in the audience, working on their staff or singing with them. Bill shares, “If we have done anything right over the years, I hope we have built bridges where people could connect with God and with each other. That is what started us writing and what will keep us going for the rest of our lives.”

Gaither Music Group (GMG) is home to some of gospel music’s top-selling artists from a variety of music genres including the Gaither Gospel Series, The Oak Ridge boys, Randy Travis, Alabama and Alan Jackson. The label has developed an audience across the globe, selling over 40 million DVD and CD units worldwide, with 133 of the Gaither Homecoming videos and CDs reaching RIAA precious metal status. There are over 1.5 million people who have subscribed to the Gaither TV YouTube channel, and its products topped the Billboard Year-end Chart of Music Video Sales labels for 2018.