In The Gaithers and Southern Gospel, Ryan P. Harper examines songwriters Bill and Gloria Gaither's Homecoming video and concert series--a gospel music franchise that, since its beginning in 1991, has outperformed all Christian and much secular popular music on the American music market. The Homecomings represent "southern gospel." Typically that means a musical style popular among white evangelical Christians in the American South and Midwest, and it sometimes overlaps in style, theme, and audience with country music. The Homecomings' nostalgic orientation--their celebration of "traditional" kinds of American Christian life--harmonize well with southern gospel music, past and present. But amidst the backward gazes, the Homecomings also portend and manifest change. The Gaithers' deliberate racial integration of their stages, their careful articulation of a relatively inclusive evangelical theology, and their experiments with an array of musical forms demonstrate that the Homecoming is neither simplistically nostalgic, nor solely "southern." Harper reveals how the Gaithers negotiate a tension between traditional and changing community norms as they seek simultaneously to maintain and expand their audience as well as to initiate and respond to shifts within their fan base. Pulling from his field work at Homecoming concerts, behind the scenes with the Gaithers, and with numerous Homecoming fans, Harper reveals the Homecoming world to be a dynamic, complicated constellation in the formation of American religious identity.

In The Gaithers and Southern Gospel, Ryan P. Harper examines songwriters Bill and Gloria Gaither's Homecoming video and concert series--a gospel music franchise that, since its beginning in 1991, has outperformed all Christian and much secular popular music on the American music market. The Homecomings represent "southern gospel." Typically that means a musical style popular among white evangelical Christians in the American South and Midwest, and it sometimes overlaps in style, theme, and audience with country music. The Homecomings' nostalgic orientation--their celebration of "traditional" kinds of American Christian life--harmonize well with southern gospel music, past and present. But amidst the backward gazes, the Homecomings also portend and manifest change. The Gaithers' deliberate racial integration of their stages, their careful articulation of a relatively inclusive evangelical theology, and their experiments with an array of musical forms demonstrate that the Homecoming is neither simplistically nostalgic, nor solely "southern." Harper reveals how the Gaithers negotiate a tension between traditional and changing community norms as they seek simultaneously to maintain and expand their audience as well as to initiate and respond to shifts within their fan base. Pulling from his field work at Homecoming concerts, behind the scenes with the Gaithers, and with numerous Homecoming fans, Harper reveals the Homecoming world to be a dynamic, complicated constellation in the formation of American religious identity.

The classic chronology of Southern Gospel favorites featured on the video series from Bill and Gloria Gaither continues with Volume 3 of the Homecoming Souvenir Songbook and over 90 more songs. Spiral bound.

With the comfortable warmth of a fireside chat, renowned gospel musician Bill Gaither invites us to relax with old friends such as The Happy Goodmans, The Cathedrals, Jake Hess, The Speer Family, The Blackwood Brothers, and others to hear stories of southern gospel music as seen through the eyes of its performers. A heartwarming journey from the 1930s to today.

(Piano/Vocal/Guitar Artist Songbook). This folio celebrates the Gaithers' long career in Christian music with 30 of their best-loved songs, including: Abide in Me * Because He Lives * He Started the Whole World Singing * I Am Loved * I Will Praise Him * The King Is Coming * Something Beautiful * There's Something About That Name * Upon This Rock * We'll Be There * Worthy the Lamb * and more.

The ultimate songbook for those who love Southern gospel music. These songs are featured on the best-selling video series from Bill Gaither that is sweeping the country. Includes full-color photos and an introduction. 98 songs in all. Spiral bound.