Danny Gaither
Encyclopedia
Danny Gaither was a gospel music singer from Alexandria, Indiana
and an original member of the world-famous Bill Gaither Trio.
As the founding tenor of the enormously successful trio, Danny sang to audiences around the world with his brother Bill and sister Mary Ann, who was later replaced by Bill's wife Gloria
. In 1977, he left the group and embarked on a successful solo career, producing a number of albums including "Singing to the World," "It Is Well With My Soul," "Sing a Song of Love" and "Sweet and High."
The stress of touring affected Dan, and in the early 1990s he experienced problems with his vocal cords. The problems were so severe that he was forced to stop touring, although he was able to occasionally appear with Bill and other fellow gospel singers in the well-known "Homecoming" performances.
During one such performance, at the 1994 Praise Gathering in Indianapolis, Indiana
, Bill Gaither and Mark Lowry
concocted a surprise for Danny and those in attendance. Lowry walked down from the stage to the audience during "The Longer I Serve Him," and tapped Danny to sing a verse, which moved both the audience and the other Homecoming performers to tears.
Danny continued to join the Homecoming group whenever his health permitted, even after he was diagnosed with lymphoma
, which he battled for five years before succumbing to the disease on April 6, 2001.
A winner of numerous Grammy and Dove awards, Danny Gaither was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 1999 and the Southern Gospel Music Association's Southern Gospel Music Hall of Fame (Pigeon Forge, TN) in 2010.
Alexandria, Indiana
Alexandria is a city in Monroe Township, Madison County, Indiana, United States. It is about northeast of Indianapolis. It is part of the Anderson, Indiana Metropolitan Statistical Area...
and an original member of the world-famous Bill Gaither Trio.
As the founding tenor of the enormously successful trio, Danny sang to audiences around the world with his brother Bill and sister Mary Ann, who was later replaced by Bill's wife Gloria
Gloria Gaither
Gloria Gaither is a Christian songwriter, author, speaker, editor, and academic. She is the wife of Bill Gaither and also sang in the Bill Gaither Trio, one of the most influential groups in recent Christian music.-Early Years:...
. In 1977, he left the group and embarked on a successful solo career, producing a number of albums including "Singing to the World," "It Is Well With My Soul," "Sing a Song of Love" and "Sweet and High."
The stress of touring affected Dan, and in the early 1990s he experienced problems with his vocal cords. The problems were so severe that he was forced to stop touring, although he was able to occasionally appear with Bill and other fellow gospel singers in the well-known "Homecoming" performances.
During one such performance, at the 1994 Praise Gathering in Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
, Bill Gaither and Mark Lowry
Mark Lowry
Mark Alan Lowry is a Christian comedian, songwriter, and singer, best known for co-writing the song “Mary, Did You Know?”. Lowry performed with the Gaither Vocal Band from 1988–2001 and, in January 2009, he re-joined the group along with other "GVB" alumni Michael English and David Phelps...
concocted a surprise for Danny and those in attendance. Lowry walked down from the stage to the audience during "The Longer I Serve Him," and tapped Danny to sing a verse, which moved both the audience and the other Homecoming performers to tears.
Danny continued to join the Homecoming group whenever his health permitted, even after he was diagnosed with lymphoma
Lymphoma
Lymphoma is a cancer in the lymphatic cells of the immune system. Typically, lymphomas present as a solid tumor of lymphoid cells. Treatment might involve chemotherapy and in some cases radiotherapy and/or bone marrow transplantation, and can be curable depending on the histology, type, and stage...
, which he battled for five years before succumbing to the disease on April 6, 2001.
A winner of numerous Grammy and Dove awards, Danny Gaither was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 1999 and the Southern Gospel Music Association's Southern Gospel Music Hall of Fame (Pigeon Forge, TN) in 2010.