Bill Gaither

Bill Gaither (f. 28. mars 1936 í Indiana, USA) er ein av kendastu gospelsangarum í Amerika. Bill Gaither hevur vunnið fimm Grammy-virðislønir frá 1973 til 2009 í ymiskum samanhangum, umframt at hann hevur verið tilnevndur heilar átta ferðir saman við konu síni Gloria. Bill Gaither er kosin besti komponistur innan kristnan tónleik í 20. øld. Hann er leiðari í Gaither Vocal Band. Gaither byrjaði sum sangari og sangskrivari í sekstiárunum og sigur sjálvur, at tað helst eru sangirnir, sum eru orsøkin til, at tey eru virkin enn. 

Umframt at hann, saman við konuni Gloriu, hevur skrivað eina rúgvu av sangum, sum eru við í sálmabókum á nógvum ymiskum málum, ferðast tey dúgliga við sínum Homecoming framførslum. Nógvir føroyingar kenna tey frá fløgum og videobondum, har tey syngja nógvar av kendu ensku og amerikansku sálmunum. 

Gjøgnum 50 ára yrkisleið hansara innan kristnan tónleik, hevur hann roynt tað mesta. Tað mest opinlýsa er, at hann hevur skrivað sangir og givið tónleik út, men færri kenna til, at hann framíhjá hevur fingist við bókaútgávu, sjónvarpsframleiðslu og útbúgving av tónleikarum. Bill og Gloria Gaither vitjaðu fyrstu ferð Svøríki fyri 30 árum síðan. Vitjan teirra tá kom í lag gjøgnum kenda svenska gospelsangaran Pelle Karlsson og konu hansara Evu, sum framvegis eru vinfólk teirra. Gaither Homecoming byrjaði sum eitt hugskot um, at tey bæði samlaðu nakrar vinir saman til hugnaløtur við sangi, men hevur  síðan spreitt seg út um heimin, og í dag fylla tey risastórar hallir í USA og skjótt helst eisini í Evropa. 

Annars er fulla navn hansara William James Gaither, føddur í 1936. Hann tók á ungum árum læraraprógv, men henda útbúgving hevur ikki verið nógv brúkt.

Heiður

Grammy Awards
1973: Best Inspirational Performance for “Let's Just Praise The Lord”; Bill Gaither Trio
1975: Best Inspirational Performance for “Jesus, We Just Want To Thank You”; Bill Gaither Trio 
1991: Best Southern Gospel Album for Homecoming; Gaither Vocal Band
1999: Best Southern, Country, Or Bluegrass Gospel Album for Kennedy Center Homecoming 
2001: Best Southern, Country, or Bluegrass Gospel Album for A Billy Graham Music Homecoming 
2008: Best Southern, Country, Or Bluegrass Gospel Album for Lovin' Life; Gaither Vocal Band

GMA Dove Awards
1969, 1970, 1972–'77: Songwriter of the Year (Ársins sangskrivari)
1974: Song of the Year for “Because He Lives” (Ársins sangur)
1976: Inspirational Album of the Year for Jesus, We Just Want to Thank You; Bill Gaither Trio
1978: Inspirational Album of the Year for Pilgrim’s Progress; Bill Gaither Trio
1980: Mixed Group of the Year – Bill Gaither Trio
1986: Praise and Worship Album of the Year for I’ve Just Seen Jesus (choral)
1987: Southern Gospel Album of the Year for The Master Builder; The Cathedrals (producer) 
1991: Southern Gospel Album of the Year for Climbing Higher & Higher; The Cathedrals (producer) 
1992: Southern Gospel Album of the Year for Homecoming Gaither Vocal Band 
1993: Southern Gospel Album of the Year for Reunion: A Gospel Homecoming Celebration
1994: Southern Gospel Album of the Year for Southern Classics; Gaither Vocal Band
1994: Southern Gospel Song of the Year for "Satisfied"; Gaither Vocal Band
1995: Southern Gospel Song of the Year for "I Bowed On My Knees"
1999: Southern Gospel Album of the Year for Still the Greatest Story Ever Told; Gaither Vocal Band
1995: Southern Gospel Song of the Year for "I Believe in a Hill Called Mount Calvary"; Gaither Vocal Band
2000: Southern Gospel Album of the Year for God is Good; Gaither Vocal Band
2001: Southern Gospel Album of the Year for I Do Believe; Gaither Vocal Band
2001: Southern Gospel Song of the Year for "God Is Good All The Time"; Gaither Vocal Band
2001: Long Form Video  of the Year for A Farewell Celebration; The Cathedrals (producer)
2002: Southern Gospel Album of the Year for Encore; Old Friends Quartet (producer)
2002: Southern Gospel Song of the Year for "He's Watching Me"; Gaither Vocal Band
2007: Southern Gospel Album of the Year for Give It Away; Gaither Vocal Band
2007: Southern Gospel Song of the Year for "Give It Away"; Gaither Vocal Band
2009: Southern Gospel Album of the Year for Lovin' Life; Gaither Vocal Band
2010: Southern Gospel Album of the Year for Reunited; Gaither Vocal Band
2010: Long Form Video  of the Year for A Gospel Journey; Oak Ridge Boys (producer)
2011: Southern Gospel Song of the Year for "Better Day"; Gaither Vocal Band
2011: Southern Gospel Album of the Year for Greatly Blessed; Gaither Vocal Band

Gjørdist limur í Hall of Fame Gospel Music Association í 1983

Annar heiður
1974, 1980: ASCAP Best Gospel Song of the Year
1997: Named among the top 75 American entrepreneurs: Entrepreneur Magazine
2000: Christian "Songwriter of the Century" (with Gloria Gaither): American Society of Composers and Publishers (ASCAP)
2006: SPEBSQSA Honorary Life Member
2010: Indiana Wesleyan University Society of World Changers inductee/Honorary doctorate recipient

Keldur

Slóðir úteftir 
Gaither Music Website - gaither.com
Short biography at jjonline.com
Interview with Bill Gaither on about.com
Profile on CanadianChristianity.com
Gaither Family Resources

Amerikanskir tónleikarar
Amerikanskir sangarar