"Emotional Healings and Gospel Feelings" Great songs of the past. Another Blogger Blog Brought to by Poetry Writes & Other Stuff from Sinbad the Sailor Man
David Norris Phelps (born October 21, 1969) is an American Christian music vocalist, songwriter and vocal arranger, who is best known for singing tenor in the Gaither Vocal Band.[1]
He has also released several solo albums, including four Christmas collections. On January 13, 2008, Phelps appeared on Extreme Makeover Home Edition for the Woodhouse family.
David Phelps was born in Texas,
to Gene and Mary Ella Phelps. Gene is a former accountant/banker who
currently teaches business and finance at a college in Houston. Mary
Ella is a retired English Professor.
He has two older sisters, Sherri
Proctor (who sang backup vocals for him on tour, before dying from
cancer in September 2012[2]) and Kari Lee (a professional trumpeter who tours with the Chicago-based Millar Brass Ensemble).
Phelps grew up in Tomball, Texas near Houston and graduated from Tomball High School in 1988. He attended Baylor University, (where he directed the Baylor Religious Hour Choir) graduating in 1992 with a degree in music and vocal performance.
Phelps is once again, since approximately January 13, 2009, part of the Gaither Vocal Band.
He shares the tenor part with Wes Hampton. Phelps has received Grammy
and Dove Awards and has had several platinum-selling projects. His
recent Classic has aired on PBS.[3]
Personal life
David's wife is Lori Purtle Phelps (also born on October 21, 1969).
They have four children: Callie, Maggie Beth, David Grant and Coby.[citation needed]
Callie, Maggie and Grant can be seen on the Gaither Homecoming videos Christmas in the Country and A Time for Joy. The whole family is featured on the video, The Best of David Phelps from the Homecoming Series. All four children sing on the Classic video, as well.
Source:Wikipedia.org
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David Norris Phelps (born October 21, 1969) is an American Christian music vocalist, songwriter and vocal arranger, who is best known for singing tenor in the Gaither Vocal Band.[1]
He has also released several solo albums, including four Christmas collections. On January 13, 2008, Phelps appeared on Extreme Makeover Home Edition for the Woodhouse family.
David Phelps was born in Texas,
to Gene and Mary Ella Phelps.
Gene is a former accountant/banker who
currently teaches business and finance at a college in Houston.
Mary
Ella is a retired English Professor. He has two older sisters, Sherri
Proctor (who sang backup vocals for him on tour, before dying from
cancer in September 2012[2]) and Kari Lee (a professional trumpeter who tours with the Chicago-based Millar Brass Ensemble).
He attended Baylor University, (where he directed the Baylor Religious Hour Choir) graduating in 1992 with a degree in music and vocal performance.
Phelps is once again, since approximately January 13, 2009, part of the Gaither Vocal Band.
He shares the tenor part with Wes Hampton.
Phelps has received Grammy
and Dove Awards and has had several platinum-selling projects. His
recent Classic has aired on PBS.[3]
Personal life
David's wife is Lori Purtle Phelps (also born on October 21, 1969).
They have four children: Callie, Maggie Beth, David Grant and Coby.[citation needed]
Callie, Maggie and Grant can be seen on the Gaither Homecoming videos Christmas in the Country and A Time for Joy.
The whole family is featured on the video, The Best of David Phelps from the Homecoming Series. All four children sing on the Classic video, as well.
Source: Wikipedia.org
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The lineup of the band changes often, with artists leaving to work on
solo careers, and new ones coming to replace them. Besides Bill
Gaither, singers with the longest tenure in the band include Guy Penrod (1995–2008), Mark Lowry (1988–2001, 2009–13), Michael English (1985–94, 2009–13), David Phelps (1997-2005, 2009-present) and Wes Hampton (2005-present).
The band has released 29 albums (not including compilations), at
least 19 of which have charted. The band has also released 10 DVDs,
which feature many other Christian artists as well. The Gaither Vocal
Band has been honored with 2 Grammys, and 17 Dove Awards.
By the 1980s, Bill Gaither, along with wife Gloria Gaither, were both very successful songwriters.[3] For example, their song, "He Touched Me" was covered by Elvis Presley, after which he even named his album He Touched Me. Presley won a Grammy for the album.[4]
Bill Gaither felt that his trio had reached its peak in the mid-1980s,
but his desire to make another gospel hit kept the trio going.[2]
The original Vocal Band (called the New Gaither Vocal Band) was formed spontaneously, backstage of a Gaither Trio concert. It consisted of Bill Gaither and Gary McSpadden of the trio, along with two of the trio's backup singers, Steve Green and Lee Young. The quartet sang "Your First Day in Heaven" on stage that night.[5]
Their debut album, the self-titled The New Gaither Vocal Band, debuted in 1981.
According to the liner notes of the CD compilation, The Best of the GVB,
the term "Vocal Band" was used instead of "quartet" because it did not
limit Gaither in terms of sound or number of group members.
According to
Steve Green on the Gaither Vocal Band Reunion video, he came up with
the name and convinced Gaither to use it because he, at the time, did
not want to be associated with "quartet music".
The name did indeed
allow for a wide variation in sound, ranging from contemporary, adult
contemporary, inspirational, classic and southern gospel. However, in
terms of group members, the number was limited to four up until 2009.[citation needed]
Lee Young left the group in 1982, and Jon Mohr was hired as the new bass singer. They then recorded the album, Passin' The Faith Along. Later, tenor Steve Green left and Larnelle Harris was hired. This group cut the New Point Of View album before Mohr left.
Widespread popularity
Michael English
was hired as the new lead singer, so McSpadden was moved down to
baritone, and Gaither dropped to the lowest part (Gaither stated that it
was not bass at the time as it was not a true bass part).[citation needed]
At this point the group dropped the "new" part of their name. Although the previous album (New Point of View) had been more contemporary than its predecessors, the album with this version of the group (One X 1)
took it even further.
After this album, Larnelle left and was replaced
by Lemuel Miller. The group did not record an album with Lemuel before
he too left. He was replaced by Imperials alumnus, Jim Murray. This line up cut one album (Wings) before Gary McSpadden left to start his solo career. Mark Lowry was convinced to replace him.
Along with a great voice, Lowry added comedy to the mix. Their Gospel roots project Homecoming
in 1991, caused most Southern Gospel fans to welcome the Vocal Band
with open arms. Jim Murray left and was replaced by Terry Franklin. The
album Southern Classics was released in 1993 with the hit I Bowed On My Knees.
Later Michael English left. He was replaced by Buddy Mullins. Mullins
was only a temporary fill-in, but he was included on the album Testify. Terry Franklin soon left and was replaced by yet another Imperials alumnus, Jonathan Pierce
(formerly known as Jonathan Hildreth, his first and last name—then
changed to his first and middle name).
Strengthened by the popularity of
the Homecoming video series, the Vocal Band added Guy Penrod at lead. After Pierce's departure, Gaither hired David Phelps at tenor. After Lowry's departure, Imperials alumnus Russ Taff sang baritone for a couple of years. Marshall Hall was his replacement. Wes Hampton succeeded Phelps in 2005.
The group has had two number one songs on the Singing News
chart. "Yes, I Know" held the top position from July to October 1997,
as did "I Will Go On" in November 2006.
The group has routinely performs
classic Southern Gospel songs including many written by Bill and Gloria Gaither like "He Touched Me", "I Believe In A Hill Called Mount Calvary", and "Sinner Saved By Grace."
Reunion
In July 2008, the vocal band recorded a reunion DVD at the Gaither Studios—The Gaither Vocal Band Reunion, Volumes 1 and 2. Except for Jonathan Pierce,
Terry Franklin, and Lemuel Miller, the rest of the former and present
members appear and perform.
The two CDs debuted in the top two positions
on Billboard’s Contemporary Christian Album chart, marking not only the
Gaither Vocal Band's first No. 1 on the Christian Album chart, but also
their first No. 1 debut on that chart as well. The DVDs of the same
title debuted in the No. 1 and No. 2 positions on the Music Video charts
as well.[6]
The quintet
In January 2009, Marshall Hall and Guy Penrod left. Gaither brought
back some former members: Michael English as lead vocal, Mark Lowry as
baritone and David Phelps as first tenor. The first album by this
five-member version was Reunited,
released in September 2009.
It was also the first album of the vocal
band ever to feature only songs written by Bill and Gloria Gaither. A
live album called Better Day was released in January 2010. In August 2010, they released the long-awaited album called Greatly Blessed, followed by I Am A Promise, a children's album, released in August 2011. Their most recent album is Pure & Simple, released in September 2012.
In October 2013, it was announced that Mark Lowry and Michael English
would be leaving the group to devote more time to their solo careers.[7]
English's departure was immediate whereas Lowry stayed on through the end of 2013. Their last album as members, Hymns, was released in March 2014[8][9] and was nominated for a Grammy Award the following December.[10]
After their departure, several guests filled-in until two new members
could be found.
In January 2014, it was announced that Adam Crabb (of The Crabb Family) would join the group as the fourth member and lead singer.[11]
Todd Suttles joined the group as the baritone singer one month later.[12]
Following their formation, the new quintet would go on to release a
limited edition album, "The New Edition", which could only be purchased
at concert performances.
In October 2014, the group released their first
album together entitled "Sometimes it Takes a Mountain".[13]
Five months later, that album was followed by a two DVD live
performance release and the release of their second album (a live
performance album) "Happy Rhythm".[14]
Upon release, the DVD's debuted on top of Billboard's Music Video chart
("Sometimes it Takes a Mountain at #1 and Happy Rhythm at #2).[15]
Source: Wikipedia.org
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Though he has been most successful with country audiences, he has
charted more than 120 hit singles across various music genres and
topping the country and pop album charts for more than 200 individual
weeks in the United States alone.
Two of his albums, The Gambler and Kenny, are featured in the About.com poll of "The 200 Most Influential Country Albums Ever".[2]
He was voted the "Favorite Singer of All-Time" in a 1986 joint poll by readers of both USA Today and People.[3]
He has received numerous such awards as the AMAs, Grammys, ACMs and CMAs, as well as a lifetime achievement award for a career spanning six decades in 2003.[4]
Later success includes the 2006 album release, Water & Bridges, an across the board hit, that peaked at No. 5 in the Billboard Country Albums sales charts, also charting high in the Billboard 200.
He has also acted in a variety of movies and television shows, most notably the title roles in Kenny Rogers as The Gambler and the MacShayne series as well as his appearance on The Muppet Show.[5][6]
Kenny Rogers
Kenny Rogers, concert, Chumash Casino Resort hall, Santa Ynez, California, September 27, 2006.
His career began in the mid 1950s when he recorded with a rockabilly
group called The Scholars, who had some success with a single called
"Poor Little Doggie."
Rogers was not the lead singer of the group and
after two more singles they disbanded when their leader went solo.
Now on his own, Kenneth Rogers (as he was billed then) followed the
breakup with his own single, a minor solo hit called "That Crazy
Feeling" (1958).
After sales slowed down, Rogers joined a jazz group called The Bobby Doyle Trio, who got a lot of work in clubs thanks to a reasonable fan following and also recorded for Columbia Records.
Feeling that the Minstrels were not offering the success they wanted,
Rogers and fellow members Mike Settle, Terry Williams, and Thelma
Camacho left the group.
They formed The First Edition
in 1967 (later renamed "Kenny Rogers and The First Edition").
In his First Edition days, Rogers had something of a hippie image, sporting long brown hair, an earring, and pink sunglasses.
When the group split in 1976, Rogers launched his solo career.
Rogers soon developed a more middle of the road
sound, with a somewhat rough but tuneful voiced style that sold to both
pop and country audiences; to date, he has charted more than 60 top 40
hit singles (including upwards of 25 No. 1's) and 50 of his albums have
charted.
After leaving The First Edition in 1976, after almost a decade with the group, Rogers signed a solo deal with United Artists.
Producer Larry Butler and Rogers began a partnership that would last four years.[12]
Rogers first outing for his new label was Love Lifted Me.
The
album charted and two singles "Love Lifted Me" and "While the Feeling's
Good" were minor hits. The song "Runaway Girl" was featured in the
motion picture Trackdown.
Later in 1976, Rogers issued his second album, the self-titled Kenny Rogers, whose first single "Laura (What's He Got That I Ain't Got)", was another solo hit.
The single "Lucille"
(1977) was a major hit, reaching number one on the pop charts in 12
countries, selling over five million copies, and firmly establishing
Rogers' post-First Edition career.
More success was to follow, including the multi-million selling album The Gambler and another international Number 1 single, "Coward of the County", taken from the equally successful album, Kenny.
In 1980, the Rogers/Butler partnership came to an end, though they would occasionally reunite: in 1987 on the album I Prefer the Moonlight and again in 1993 on the album If Only My Heart Had a Voice.
In the late 1970s, Rogers teamed up with close friend and Country Music legend Dottie West
for a series of albums and duets.
Together the duo won 2 gold records
(1 of which later went platinum), 2 CMA Awards, an ACM nomination, two
Grammy nominations and 1 Music City News Award for their two hit albums
"Every Time Two Fools Collide" (#1) and "Classics" (#3), selling out
stadiums and arenas while on tour for several years, as well as
appearing on several network television specials which showcased them.
Their hits together "Every Time Two Fools Collide" (#1), "Anyone Who Isn't Me Tonight" (#2), "What Are We Doin' in Love"
(#1), "All I Ever Need Is You" (#1) and "Till I Can Make It On My Own"
(#3) all became Country standards.
Of West, Rogers stated in a 1995 TNN
interview "She, more than anybody else I ever worked with, sang with
such emotion that you actually believed what she sang.
A lot of people
sing words, Dottie West sang emotions."
In a 1978 press release for
their album "Every Time Two Fools Collide", Rogers credited West with
further establishing and cementing his career with Country Music
audiences.
In the same release, West credited him with taking her career
to new audiences.
Rogers was with West only hours before she died at
age 58 after sustaining injuries in a 1991 car accident, as discussed in
his 2012 biography "Luck Or Something Like It".
Later in 1980 came his partnership with Lionel Richie who wrote and produced Rogers' No. 1 hit "Lady".
Richie went on to produce Rogers' 1981 album Share Your Love, a chart topper and commercial favorite featuring hits such as "I Don't Need You" (Pop No. 3), "Through the Years" (Pop No. 13), and "Share Your Love with Me" (Pop No. 14).
His first Christmas album was also released that same year. In 1982, Rogers released the album Love Will Turn You Around.
The Gibbs originally wrote the song for Marvin Gaye in an R&B style, only later to change it for the Kenny Rogers album.[13]
The partnership with Bee Gees only lasted one album, which was not a
surprise considering that Rogers' original intentions were to work with Barry Gibb in only one song but Barry insisted on them doing the entire album.
"Islands in the Stream", Rogers' duet with Dolly Parton, was the first single to be released from Eyes That See in the Dark in the United States, and it quickly went to No. 1 in the Billboard Hot 100 (it would prove to be the last country single to reach No. 1 on that chart until "Amazed" by Lonestar
did so in 2000), as well as topping Billboard's country and adult
contemporary singles charts; it was certified Platinum by the Recording
Industry Association of America for shipping two million copies in the
United States.
Rogers would reunite with Parton in 1984 for a holiday
album and TV special, Once Upon a Christmas, as well as a 1985 duet "Real Love", which also topped the U.S. country singles chart.[citation needed]
Despite the "Islands in the Stream"s success, however, RCA insisted on releasing Eyes'
title track as the first UK single, and the song stalled at a
disappointing No. 61 there, although it did stay in the top 100 for
several weeks (when it was eventually released in the United States, it
was more successful, charting high on the Adult Contemporary chart and
making the country top 30).
"Islands in the Stream" was issued as a
followup single in Britain and sold well, making No. 7. The album itself
reached No. 1 on the country charts on both sides of the Atlantic and
enjoyed multi-million sales.
"Buried Treasure," "This Woman" and
"Evening Star"/"Midsummer Nights" were also all successful singles from
the album.
Shortly after came the album What About Me?, a hit whose title track, a trio performance with James Ingram and Kim Carnes, was nominated for a Grammy award; the single "Crazy" (not to be confused with the Willie Nelson-penned Patsy Cline hit) topped the country charts. David Foster was to work again with Rogers in his 1985 album The Heart of the Matter, although this time Foster was playing backing music rather than producing, a role given to George Martin. This album was another success, going to No. 1, with the title track making to the top ten category in the singles charts.
The next few years saw Rogers scoring several top country hits on a
regular basis, including "Twenty Years Ago," "Morning Desire," "Tomb of
the Unknown Love", among others. On January 28, 1985 Rogers was one of
the 45 artists who recorded the worldwide charity song "We Are the World" to support hunger victims in Africa.
The following year he played at Giants Stadium.[citation needed]
In January 1987, Rogers co-hosted the American Music Awards at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. In 1988 Rogers won a grammy "Best Country Collaboration with Vocals" with Ronnie Milsap —
"Make No Mistake, She's Mine". In the 1990s Rogers continued to chart
with singles such as "Crazy In Love", "If You Want To Find Love" and
"The Greatest".
His second Christmas album entitled "Christmas in
America" was released in 1989 for Reprise Records. From 1991-94, Rogers
hosted The Real West on A&E, and on The History Channel
since 1995 (Reruns only on The History Channel). He visited Miller's
during this time period. From 1992-95, Rogers co-owned and headlined Branson, Missouri's 4,000 seat Grand Palace Theatre. In 1994, Rogers released his "dream" album titled Timepiece
on Atlantic Records. It consisted of 1930s/40s jazz standards; it was
the type of music he performed in his early days with The Bobby Doyle
Three in Houston.[citation needed]
In 1996 he released an album Vote For Love where the public
requested their favorite love songs and Rogers performed the songs
(several of his own hits were in there).
The album was the first for the
TV shopping channel QVC's record label, onQ Music. The album, sold exclusively by QVC,
was a huge success and was later issued in stores under a variety of
different titles.
It reached No. 1 in the UK country charts under the
title Love Songs (a title also used for various compilations) and also crossed over into the mainstream charts.
In 1999 Rogers scored with the single "The Greatest", a song about
life from a child's point of view (looked at through a baseball game).
The song reached the top 40 of Billboard's Country singles chart and was
a Country Music Television Number One video.
It was on Rogers' album She Rides Wild Horses
the following year (itself a top 10 success).
In 1999, Rogers also
produced a song, "We've Got It All", specifically for the series finale
of the ABC show Home Improvement.
Not on any album, the recording sells for a high sum at auction.[citation needed]
Source: Wikipedia.org
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