Gaither Homecoming


Gaither Homecoming is the name applied to a series of videos, music recordings and concerts, which are organized, promoted and usually presented by Christian music songwriter and impresario Bill Gaither.

Beginnings

On February 19, 1991, the Gaither Vocal Band had just wrapped up a recording session in a Nashville, Tennessee, working on an album called Homecoming, which featured many of the great voices of southern gospel music: The Speers, The Gatlins, Jake Hess, The Cathedrals, Howard & Vestal Goodman, Buck Rambo, Eva Mae Lefevre, James Blackwood, Hovie Lister, Jim Hill, and J.D. Sumner & The Stamps. After the session, the artists stayed around to chat, swap stories and sing old standards around the piano. The impromptu session was recorded on video and later published. The recording was so well received that Gaither began a series of professionally produced videos with larger gatherings of gospel musicians.

Format

The format for almost all of the videos in the series is very similar. A studio set or concert stage is home to a group of several dozen singers, with the front row featuring artists with longstanding and legendary careers in Southern Gospel music. They would be joined by younger artists, some of them up-and-coming acts in the Gaither Music Group publishing stable. Gaither would lead the group in several songs, with soloists and groups featured in additional songs. Comments by veteran singers, who would reminisce about their careers, are a staple of the series. In later videos, the inevitability of death found its way into the videos, as segments remembering artists who had died since the previous taping were featured.
Most videos also have accompanying CDs which can be purchased in a set or separately.
The videos and CDs regularly top sales charts, even many years after the series' inception and after the death of many favorite artists. The most recent videos, Gaither Homecoming Tour: Live From Toronto and Canadian Homecoming, were first and third, respectively, on Billboard's music video chart, and the companion CDs also hit the CCM charts. More recently, the 2007 recording of "How Great Thou Art" was nominated for a Dove Award.

Concert series

In 1996, the video series gave birth to a concert tour, with a format similar to the videos but usually performed "in the round" in arenas. The concert dates are normally on Fridays and Saturdays, usually in separate cities.
In 2004, the Gaither Homecoming concert tour ranked 16th in Pollstar rankings of all tours, beating out pop music heavyweights such as Elton John, Fleetwood Mac and Rod Stewart.

Television series

Many of the video series have been repackaged into a series of hour-long or half-hour-long television shows. They can be found on the following Christian or family-oriented cable/satellite channels.
In the U.S.
  • Christian Television Network
  • PBS
  • RFD-TV
  • TBN
  • TCT
  • Total Living Network
  • Heartland
  • UplifTV
In Canada
  • CTS
  • Grace TV
  • Miracle Channel
  • VisionTV

    Cruises

The Gaither Homecoming series has branched out into twice-yearly cruises. One cruise normally sails to Alaska in September, and the other to tropical ports in February.
It was on one of these cruises, in 2006, where regular pianist Anthony Burger, a longtime favorite of the Homecoming series, collapsed on-stage as a result of a heart attack while accompanying Gaither, his wife Gloria and the rest of the Homecoming Friends.
In 2009, for the first time, a Homecoming cruise was recorded for DVD/CD releases. Alaskan Cruise Homecoming and Majesty were released in January 2011.

Videography

  • 1991: Homecoming
  • 1992: A Praise Gathering
  • 1992: Reunion
  • 1993: Turn Your Radio On
  • 1993: Old Friends
  • 1994: A Christmas Homecoming
  • 1994: Landmark
  • 1994: Precious Memories
  • 1995: All Day Singin' with Dinner on the Ground
  • 1995: The Sweetest Song I Know
  • 1995: Revival
  • 1995: Holy Ground
  • 1995: Ryman Gospel Reunion
  • 1996: When All God's Singers Get Home
  • 1996: Sunday Meetin' Time
  • 1996: Sing Your Blues Away
  • 1996: Moments To Remember
  • 1996: Something Beautiful
  • 1996: Homecoming Texas Style
  • 1996: Joy To The World
  • 1996: Joy in the Camp
  • 1997: This Is My Story
  • 1997: Feelin' At Home
  • 1998: Singin' With The Saints
  • 1998: Down By The Tabernacle
  • 1998: Rivers Of Joy
  • 1998: Hawaiian Homecoming
  • 1998: Marching To Zion
  • 1998: Atlanta Homecoming
  • 1998: All Day Singin' At The Dome
  • 1999: Singin' In My Soul
  • 1999: So Glad!
  • 1999: Sweet, Sweet Spirit
  • 1999: Kennedy Center Homecoming
  • 1999: Mountain Homecoming
  • 1999: I'll Meet You on the Mountain
  • 2000: Good News
  • 2000: Memphis Homecoming
  • 2000: Oh, My Glory!
  • 2000: Harmony in the Heartland
  • 2000: Irish Homecoming
  • 2000: Whispering Hope
  • 2000: Christmas in the Country
  • 2001: Christmas... A Time for Joy
  • 2001: What a Time!
  • 2001: London Homecoming
  • 2001: A Billy Graham Music Homecoming, Vol. 1 & 2
  • 2001: Journey to the Sky .
  • 2001: Passin' the Faith Along .
  • 2002: Freedom Band
  • 2002: I'll Fly Away
  • 2002: New Orleans Homecoming
  • 2002: God Bless America
  • 2002: Let Freedom Ring
  • 2003: Going Home
  • 2003: Heaven
  • 2003: Australian Homecoming
  • 2003: Red Rocks Homecoming
  • 2003: Rocky Mountain Homecoming
  • 2003: A Gospel Bluegrass Homecoming, Vol. 1 & 2
  • 2004: Build a Bridge
  • 2004: We Will Stand
  • 2005: Church In The Wildwood
  • 2005: Hymns
  • 2005: The Best of Guy Penrod
  • 2005: A Tribute to George Younce
  • 2005: Israel Homecoming
  • 2005: Jerusalem Homecoming
  • 2006: Canadian Homecoming
  • 2006: Live from Toronto
  • 2006: Christmas in South Africa
  • 2006: Homecoming Christmas – Live From South Africa
  • 2007: South African Homecoming
  • 2007: Love Can Turn The World – Live From South Africa
  • 2007: Amazing Grace
  • 2007: How Great Thou Art
  • 2008: A Campfire Homecoming
  • 2008: Homecoming Picnic
  • 2008: Rock of Ages
  • 2008: Country Bluegrass Homecoming, Vol. 1 & 2
  • 2009: Nashville Homecoming
  • 2009: Joy in My Heart
  • 2010: Giving Thanks
  • 2010: Count Your Blessings
  • 2011: Alaskan Homecoming
  • 2011: Majesty
  • 2011: Tent Revival Homecoming
  • 2011: The Old Rugged Cross
  • 2012: Gaither Homecoming Celebration
  • 2013: Women of Homecoming, Vol: 1 & 2
  • 2016: Circuit Rider
  • 2017: Give the World a Smile
  • 2017: Sweeter as the Days Go By
  • 2020: The Longer I Serve Him
  • 2021: Glorious Church
  • 2023: Power In The Blood
  • 2023: Hallelujah Homecoming
  • 2025: Sweet Hymns Of Fellowship
  • 2025: ''Heavenly Love: A Southern Convention Sing-Along''

    Featured artists

An asterisk indicates that the artist is deceased.

Numbers indicate the number of videos in which the artist has appeared as a featured performer.
  • Aaron Wilburn
  • Acoustix
  • Adam Crabb 3
  • Alicia Williamson
  • Allison Durham Speer
  • Alvin Slaughter
  • Amber Nelon Kistler 7
  • Amy Grant 2
  • Andraé Crouch
  • Angela Primm
  • Ann Downing
  • Anthony Burger
  • Armond Morales
  • The Arnolds Group
  • Autumn Nelon Streetman
  • Avalon
  • Babbie Mason
  • Becky Isaacs Bowman
  • Ben Isaacs
  • Ben Speer
  • Benjy Gaither 4
  • Billy Blackwood
  • The Bishops
  • The Blackwood Brothers
  • Bob Cain+
  • Bonnie Keen
  • The Booth Brothers 14
  • Boots Randolph+
  • Brenda Lee
  • Brock Speer+
  • Buck Rambo+
  • Buddy Greene 31
  • Buddy Mullins 15
  • Calvin Newton 5
  • Carman
  • Candy Hemphill Christmas 17
  • The Cathedrals 9
  • CeCe Winans 2
  • Charlotte Ritchie 35
  • Cherryholmes 3
  • Chonda Pierce 2
  • Chris Blue 2
  • Chuck Wagon Gang 2
  • Cliff Barrows 3
  • Collingsworth Family 5
  • The Crabb Family 7
  • Cynthia Clawson 20
  • Dallas Holm 3
  • Danny Gaither 4
  • David Phelps 30
  • Don Francisco
  • Donnie Sumner 7
  • Dottie Rambo 5
  • Doug Anderson
  • Dove Brothers 2
  • Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver 3
  • Earl Weatherford
  • Ed Enoch 2
  • Ernie Haase 9
  • Ernie Haase & Signature Sound 16
  • Eva Mae LeFevre 11
  • Evie 4
  • Fairfield Four
  • Florida Boys 8
  • Gaither Vocal Band 67
  • Gatlin Brothers 7
  • Gene McDonald 24
  • George Beverly Shea 4
  • George Jones 2
  • George Younce 25
  • Glen Payne 10
  • Gloria Gaither 29
  • Gold City 3
  • Gordon Mote 12
  • Greater Vision 5
  • Greenes and Sons 3
  • Guy Penrod 38
  • Hayes Family 9
  • Henry Slaughter
  • Hoppers, The 21
  • Hovie Lister 8
  • Howard Goodman 17
  • The Isaacs 41
  • Ivan Parker 31
  • J. D. Sumner 18
  • Jack Toney 11
  • Jake Cowley 2
  • Jake Hess 39
  • James Blackwood 10
  • Jamie Grace 2
  • Janet Paschal 26
  • Jason Crabb 14
  • Jeff Allen 4
  • Jeff & Sheri Easter 33
  • Jessy Dixon 46
  • Jim and Melissa Brady
  • Jimmy Blackwood 5
  • Jimmy Fortune 2
  • Joel Hemphill 4
  • John Starnes 7
  • Johnny Cook 2
  • Johnny Minick 11
  • Jonathan Pierce 3
  • Jonathan Wilburn
  • Joseph Habedank 2
  • Joy Gardner 44
  • Karen Peck and New River 11
  • Karen Wheaton 4
  • Katinas, The 2
  • Kelly Nelon 3
  • Ken Davis 4
  • Kevin Spencer Family
  • Kevin Williams 7
  • Kim Collingsworth
  • Kim Hopper 27
  • Kingsmen Quartet 2
  • Larnelle Harris 20
  • Larry Ford 26
  • Larry Gatlin 7
  • Lauren Talley 6
  • Legacy Five 6
  • Lillie Knauls 26
  • Lily Fern Weatherford 5
  • Lynda Randle 31
  • Matthew Holt
  • Mark Lowry 39
  • Marshall Hall 15
  • The Martins 26
  • Mary Tom Speer Reid 11
  • Meadowlark Lemon 2
  • Mel Tunney
  • Michael English 19
  • Michael Sykes 5
  • Mike Allen 22
  • Mylon LeFevre 3
  • Nancy Harmon
  • Naomi Sego
  • Natalie Grant 3
  • The Nelons 12
  • Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
  • Oak Ridge Boys 6
  • Old Time Gospel Hour Quartet
  • The Peasall Sisters
  • Perrys, The
  • Ralph Stanley 4
  • Randy Owen 2
  • Randy Travis 3
  • Reba Rambo-McGuire 3
  • Reggie Smith 33
  • Rex Nelon 16
  • Ricky Skaggs
  • Robbie Hiner 4
  • Roger Bennett
  • Roger McDuff 2
  • Roger Talley
  • Russ Taff 33
  • Sandi Patty 7
  • Sherman Andrus 2
  • Sonya Isaacs 17
  • Speer Family 6
  • Squire Parsons 18
  • Stamps Quartet 6
  • Stan Whitmire 3
  • Statesmen Quartet 2
  • Statler Brothers
  • Stephen Hill 30
  • Steve Green
  • Suzanne Gaither–Jennings
  • Tendero Kochibar
  • The Old Friends Quartet 3
  • Talley Trio 14
  • Tanya Goodman Sykes 26
  • TaRanda Greene 10
  • Taylor Mason 3
  • Terry Blackwood 33
  • Terry McMillan 2
  • Testify
  • Three Bridges 2
  • Tim Duncan
  • Tim Lovelace
  • Tim Parton 3
  • Tim Pettigo
  • Tim Riley
  • Todd Suttles
  • Tramaine Hawkins 2
  • Triumphant Quartet
  • Vestal Goodman 38
  • Voices of Lee
  • Wes Hampton 8
  • Wesley Pritchard 43
  • The Wilbanks
  • Wintley Phipps 6
  • Woody Wright 20
  • Zig Ziglar