Bill Gaither is a bridge. As a historian, he is a bridge to the past, and as a Southern gospel singer, he is a bridge between men.
“I would like people to say that I brought people together,” Gaither said.
At age 74, Gaither tends to reflect on his life and the legacy he will leave on the world, but don’t think he spends all his time looking back. The Christian-music icon still tours and will bring his Gaither Vocal Band to the 1stBank Center in Broomfield tonight.
With more than 500 songs, 40 albums and six Grammy Awards in his pocket, Gaither doesn’t rely on his accomplishments to sustain him but rather the making of music and its message.
“There are two reasons I keep touring,” he said. “First, I really believe in the message with all sincerity. Gospel music can make a difference in the world.
“I think that a majority of our nation’s problems are more spiritual than anything else. If we had more gratitude, we wouldn’t borrow so much and be in debt the way we are.
“Second, I love the art form. Oh, and three, the young people I travel with don’t treat me like an old person.”
Gaither’s legacy began in Alexandria, Ind., in 1956 when he started the Bill Gaither Trio with his sister Mary Ann and brother Danny while attending Anderson College.
After graduating, Gaither taught English at his alma mater, Alexandria High School, where he met his wife, Gloria Sickal, who was a substitute French teacher. The two joined forces writing music while still teaching and revived the trio in 1962 as the Gaither Vocal Band, playing churches and school auditoriums with his brother and sister.
“I’ve been blessed, in a way, that success didn’t happen overnight,” Gaither said. “We played small churches, then we were playing at the state Capitol . . .”
Then legendary gospel singer Doug Oldham came across Gaither’s song “He Touched Me” and put it to vinyl. The song won Elvis Presley a Grammy Award in 1972.
And Gaither’s music career took off. Still, the teacher remains in him and his wife. They have given many young musicians such as Sandi Patty, Guy Penrod and Michael English a start in their everchanging band.
“Yes, I’m still a teacher, but in a larger classroom,” Gaither said. “A lot of our songs are teaching-type songs. I can tell people to reach out to one another to give, not just money but their time and energy . . . I like that.”
As a lover of Southern gospel music and his penchant for learning, Gaither saw a need to preserve the roots of the genre, resulting in the highly successful “Homecoming” DVDs.
“I do fancy myself a historian,” he said. “As a kid I grew up listening to Southern gospel music, and I loved the history of it.”
In 1991, Gaither began laying the groundwork for “Homecoming.”
“We thought if we sold 3,000 copies that it would be great,” he said. “We were just blown away by the response.”
The demand was so great that the “Homecoming” DVD series is 12 strong, including one recorded at Red Rocks Amphitheatre.
Through his years, Gaither has seen a seismic evolution in the Christian music industry with the growth of hip-hop, heavy metal and alternative rock, and he’s in support of all the changes in gospel music.
“Martin Luther’s critics of his day said he was trying to bring heavy theology to the street level. Spiritual is spiritual in all its creation. God is the message in rap, rock, country . . . I see it as entry music to the gospel.”
Eliza Marie Somers: 303-954-1629 or lsomers@denverpost.com
GAITHER VOCAL BAND.
Gospel/Christian. 11450 Broomfield Lane. Today. 7 p.m. $29.50-$39.50. 303-410-0700, ext. 301, or
