25 Facts About Gary McSpadden

Gary McSpadden was an American pastor, singer, songwriter, record producer, television host and motivational speaker.

Gary McSpadden had musical roots in quartet music and Southern gospel with The Statesmen, the Oak Ridge Boys, the Imperials, the Bill Gaither Trio, and The Gaither Vocal Band.

Gary McSpadden went on to produce television programs, including the "Jubilee" concert series filmed at Silver Dollar City in Branson, Missouri.

Gary McSpadden produced and starred in several live music shows in the Branson area during the 1990s and 2000s.

The family later moved to Lubbock, Texas where Gary McSpadden's father was pastor of Faith Temple.

In 1962, at the age of 18, Gary McSpadden caught the attention of Hovie Lister, manager of The Statesmen, and sang with the group while lead singer Jake Hess was on medical leave.

From 1964 to 1967, Gary McSpadden sang with Jake Hess and the Imperials.

Gary McSpadden began his solo career in 1979 with his album Higher Purpose.

Gary McSpadden sang with the Gaither Vocal Band until 1988 when he left to devote more time towards his solo career.

Gary McSpadden has recorded more than 30 albums, 16 of them solo.

In 1967, Gary McSpadden left the music ministry to pastor a large non-denominational church with his father in Fort Worth, Texas.

Gary McSpadden pastored Faith and Wisdom Church in Branson, Missouri, teaching faith, wisdom and obedience to the Bible.

In 1976, he and his father Boyd Gary McSpadden aired a series of programs in Fort Worth, Texas from the church they pastored.

Years later, Gary McSpadden was an occasional guest on The PTL Club with Jim Bakker.

In January 1999, Gary McSpadden began to host a new live music show at Silver Dollar City called Gospel Jubilee.

In 2003, Gary McSpadden starred in a live show with his brother-in-law Dino Kartsonakis titled the "Easter Spring Spectacular".

In 2004, Gary McSpadden moved his live music show to the Americana Theater in Branson and changed the name to Southern Gospel Sundays.

Gary McSpadden continued to host a variety of current Christian artists at the new theater.

Today The Gary McSpadden Show focuses totally on the gospel with teachings from various messages.

Gary McSpadden produced many Dove Award-winning recordings for the Bill Gaither Trio, the Cathedrals, The Gaither Vocal Band, Terri Gibbs, and the Talleys, Lulu Roman, and others.

Gary McSpadden died on April 15,2020, at the Cancer Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he had been hospitalized for some weeks, having been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer earlier in 2020.

Gary McSpadden was transferred there from Cox Hospital in Springfield, Missouri, and before his death he suffered some severe complications including a stroke.

Gary McSpadden was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in Nashville, TN, on April 21,2020, near his parents, with a large memorial service at his Faith and Wisdom Church in Branson, MO.

Gary McSpadden was inducted into the Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame in 1998,1999 and 2000.

Gary McSpadden was inducted into the Texas Gospel Music Hall Of Fame in 1989.