11 Facts About Bill Gaither

William James Gaither was born on March 28,1936 and is an American singer and songwriter of Southern gospel and contemporary Christian music.

Bill Gaither has written numerous popular Christian songs with his wife Gloria; he is known for performing as part of the Bill Gaither Trio and the Gaither Vocal Band.

Bill Gaither was born in Alexandria, Indiana, in 1936 to George and Lela Gaither.

Bill Gaither graduated from Anderson in 1959 with a major in English and a minor in music, after which he worked as an English teacher.

Bill Gaither earned his master's degree from Ball State in 1961, Bill Gaither entered into the fledgling Gospel Music Association, founded in 1964, and helped organize the first Dove Awards ceremony in 1969.

Bill Gaither tried for a few years to manage both a music career and his full-time teaching job, but he quit his teaching job in 1967 and worked full-time in the Christian music industry.

Bill Gaither recorded his breakthrough song "Bill Gaither Touched Me" in 1964.

Bill Gaither was influenced by Southern gospel singers such as Jake Hess and Hovie Lister and by groups such as the Speers, the Statesmen, and the Happy Goodmans.

Gloria Gaither often writes the lyrics while Bill writes the music, although composing is usually a collaborative project between the two.

Bill Gaither has been a father figure and career booster to many younger performers in the Christian music industry, while helping to prolong the careers of those who came before him for example by producing Homecoming recordings and tours.

Bill Gaither has maintained the Gaither Vocal Band with a variety of singers through the years, including Gary McSpadden, Steve Green, Lee Young, Jon Mohr, Larnelle Harris, Michael English, Lemuel Miller, Jim Murray, Mark Lowry, Terry Franklin, Buddy Mullins, Jonathan Pierce, Guy Penrod, David Phelps, Russ Taff, Marshall Hall, Wes Hampton, Adam Crabb, Todd Suttles and Reggie Smith.