Gaither, Gloria 1942-

PERSONAL:

Born March 4, 1942, in Battle Creek, MI; daughter of Lee and Dorothy Sickal; married William J. "Bill" Gaither (a songwriter and business owner), December 22, 1962; children: Suzanne Gaither Jennings, Amy Gaither Hayes, Benjamin. Ethnicity: "Caucasian." Education: Anderson University, B.S. (cum laude), 1963; Ball State University, M.A.

ADDRESSES:

Home—Alexandria, IN.

CAREER:

Gaither Family Resources, Anderson IN, co-owner; vocalist and lyricist with the Gaither Trio, the Gaither Vocal Band, PraiseGathering Music Group, Gaither Homecoming Tour, and others. "Homecoming Kids Video Series," executive producer, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000; Homecoming, magazine copublisher, 2003—. Anderson University, adjunct professor of song-writing; public speaker. Coalition for Christian Colleges and Universities, board member; Spirit and Place, member of advisory board committee.

Vocalist or lyricist for more than 300 record albums (often with Bill Gaither), including Because He Lives, Praise Hymn Soundtracks, 1971; The King Is Coming, Praise Hymn Soundtracks, 1971; The King Is Coming and Other Songs, J.T. Benson, 1972; The King Is Coming and Other Favorites, J.T. Benson, 1973; It's a Miracle, Word Recordings, 1975; His Love—Reaching: A Celebration of God's Gift, Paragon, 1975; Gaither Souvenir Music Album, Gaither Music, 1976; Something Beautiful, Volume 3, Word Recordings, 1976; The Very Best of the Very Best, Word Recordings, 1978; Live across America, Word Recordings, 1981; Kids under Construction: A Musical Blueprint for "Becoming," Paragon, 1981; A Praise Gathering, Star Song, 1989; Hymn Classics, Word, 1990; Twenty Inspirational Favorites, Volume 2, Benson Music Group, 1991; Homecoming Mountain Music, Volume 1, Gaither Music, 1994; O Happy Day, Star Song, 1994; Homecoming Mountain Music, Volume 2, Gaither Music, 1994; Bill & Gloria Gaither Present Holy Ground: Moments of Worship and Praise with the Homecoming Friends, Gaither Music, 1995; Bill & Gloria Gaither Present Revival, with Their Homecoming Friends, Chapel, 1995; Bill & Gloria Gaither Present Ryman Gospel Reunion, Live from Nashville, with Their Homecoming Friends, Gaither Music, 1995; Bill and Gloria Gaither Present All Day Singin' And Dinner on the Ground with Their Homecoming Friends, Chapel, 1995; Treasury for Kids, PraiseGathering Music Group, 1995; Wheel, PraiseGathering Music Group, 1995; Southern Gospel, PraiseGathering Music Group, 1995; When It's Christmastime, PraiseGathering Music Group, 1995; I Heard It First on the Radio, Word Music, 1999; Unshakeable Kingdom, Sound Performance, 1999; Upon This Rock, Sound Performance, 1999; Harmony in the Heartland, Spring House, 2000; A Billy Graham Music Homecoming, Volumes 1 and 2, Spring House, 2001; What a Time!, Spring House, 2001; I'll Fly Away, Spring House, 2002; Southern Convention Songs, Spring House, 2003; He Started the Whole World Singing: Christmas Songs, Spring House, 2004; Passin' the Faith Along, Gaither Music, 2004; A Tribute to Howard & Vestal Goodman, Spring House, 2004; A Tribute to Jake Hess, Gaither Music, 2004; Church in the Wildwood: Cherished Hymns, Gaither Music, 2005; Hymns, Gaither Music, 2005; Jerusalem, Gaither Music, 2005; He Touched Me, HSE of America; and Broken and Spilled Out, In the Name of the Lord, and I've Just Seen Jesus, all Praise Hymn Soundtracks.

AWARDS, HONORS:

Songwriter of the Century Award (with Bill Gaither), American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers, 2000; more than twenty Dove Awards, Gospel Music Association; inducted into Gospel Music Hall of Fame; multiple Grammy Awards for gospel music (with Bill Gaither), National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences; six honorary doctorates; Steinbeck Scholar.

WRITINGS:

Make Warm Noises, photographs by Bill Grine, Impact Books (Nashville, TN), 1971.

Because He Lives, Fleming H. Revell (Old Tappan, NJ), 1977, revised and expanded edition published as Because He Lives: The Stories and Inspiration behind the Songs of Bill and Gloria Gaither, with sound recording, Zondervan (Grand Rapids, MI), 1997.

Decisions: A Christian's Approach to Making Right Choices, Word Books (Waco, TX), 1982.

(With Shirley Dobson) Let's Make a Memory: Great Ideas for Building Family Traditions and Togetherness, illustrated by Russ Flint, Word Books (Dallas, TX), 1983, revised edition, 1994.

Fully Alive!, Thomas Nelson (Nashville, TN), 1984.

(With Kelly Delaney and Ron Patty) Sandi Patti: The Book of Words (interviews), H. Leonard Books (Milwaukee, WI), 1986.

(With daughters Amy Hayes and Suzanne Jennings, and mother Dorothy Sickal) Hands across the Seasons, Abingdon Press (Nashville, TN), 1988.

We Have This Moment, photographs by Sue Buchanan, Word Books (Waco, TX), 1988.

When Did I Start to Love You?, Tyndale House (Wheaton, IL), 1989.

(Compiler and editor) What My Parents Did Right, Star Song (Nashville, TN), 1991, revised edition published as What My Parents Did Right! 50+ Tips to Positive Parenting, Howard Publishing (West Monroe, LA), 2002.

(With Gigi Graham Tchividjian and Susan Alexander Yates) Marriage—Questions Women Ask, Christianity Today (Portland, OR), 1992.

(With Shirley Dobson) Let's Hide the Word: Joyful Ways to Build Biblical Principles into Your Home, illustrated by Russ Flint, Word Books (Dallas, TX), 1994.

(Coauthor) 365 Meditations for Grandmothers, Dimensions for Living (Nashville, TN), 1994.

Bless This Child, J. Countryman (Nashville, TN), 1998.

Bless This House, J. Countryman (Nashville, TN), 1998.

Bless This Marriage, J. Countryman (Nashville, TN), 1998.

By This Fire, J. Countryman (Nashville, TN), 1998.

(With Joy MacKenzie, Sue Buchanan, and Peggy Benson) Friends through Thick and Thin, Zondervan (Grand Rapids, MI), 1998, published as Confessions of Four Friends through Thick and Thin: Now that We're Old Enough to Know Better, 2001.

God Gave the Song: Glimpses into the Inspiration behind the Songs of Bill and Gloria Gaither, with sound recording, Zondervan (Grand Rapids, MI), 2000.

Bill & Gloria Gaither Present a Billy Graham Homecoming Celebration, J. Countryman (Nashville, TN), 2001.

Things I Must Tell the Children, with sound recording, J. Countryman (Nashville, TN), 2001.

(With Bill Gaither) Bill and Gloria Gaither Present a Christmas Homecoming: Our Favorite Christmas Memories, Songs, and Recipes, J. Countryman (Nashville, TN), 2001.

(Compiler, with Bill Gaither and others) Heaven: You Never Lose Someone When You Know Where to Find Them, J. Countryman (Nashville, TN), 2003.

(With Shirley Dobson) Creating Family Traditions: Making Memories in Festiva Seasons, illustrated by Carrie Hartman, Multnomah Gifts (Sisters, OR), 2004.

(With Shirley Dobson) Making Ordinary Days Extraordinary!, illustrated by Carrie Hartman, Multnomah Gifts (Sisters, OR), 2004.

He Started the Whole World Singing: A Treasury of Gaither Christmas Songs, Reflections, and Holiday Traditions, Warner Faith (New York, NY), 2004.

(With Shirley Dobson) Celebrating Special Times with Special People, illustrated by Carrie Hartman, Multnomah Gifts (Sisters, OR), 2005.

(With Shirley Dobson) Hide It in Your Heart: Creative Ways for Families to Explore God's Word, illustrated by Carrie Hartman, Multnomah Gifts (Sisters, OR), 2005.

Something Beautiful: The Stories behind a Half-Century of the Songs of Bill and Gloria Gaither, FaithWords (New York, NY), 2007.

CHILDREN'S BOOKS

Let All the Little Children Praise the Lord, Impact Books (Nashville, TN), 1976.

This Is the Day the Lord Has Made, Impact Books (Nashville, TN), 1976.

I Am a Promise, Impact Books (Nashville, TN), 1976, published with sound recording, illustrated by Kristina Stephenson, Zonderkidz (Grand Rapids, MI), 2002.

Jesus, I Heard You Had a Big House, Impact Books (Nashville, TN), 1976.

God Loves to Talk to Little Boys While They're Fishin', Impact Books (Nashville, TN), 1976.

It's a Miracle, Impact Books (Nashville, TN), 1976.

I Guess God Thought of Everything, Impact Books (Nashville, TN), 1976.

I Wonder How It Felt, Impact Books (Nashville, TN), 1976.

You're Something Special, Impact Books (Nashville, TN), 1976.

From the Inside Out, Gaither Music (Alexandria, IN), 1984.

I Just Gotta Tell Ya!, Gaither Music (Alexandria, IN), 1984.

I Expect a Miracle, Gaither Music (Alexandria, IN), 1984.

Love Never Gives Up, Gaither Music (Alexandria, IN), 1984.

I'm Somebody, Gaither Music (Alexandria, IN), 1984.

Lord, I Choose to Be Your Child, Gaither Music (Alexandria, IN), 1984.

LIFE, Gaither Music (Alexandria, IN), 1984.

My Father's Angels, with sound recording, illustrated by Barbara Hranilovich, Zonderkidz (Grand Rapids, MI), 1999.

Ordinary Baby, Extraordinary Gift, with sound recording, illustrated by Barbara Hranilovich, Zonderkidz (Grand Rapids, MI), 2000.

SONGBOOKS; LYRICIST

A Treasury for Kids, Gaither Music (Alexandria, IN), 1986.

Our Best to You, Gaither Music (Alexandria, IN), 1987.

L-I-F-E, 10 New Songs with Kids … for Kids about … Life, Gaither Music (Alexandria, IN), 1987.

Silver Anniversary Songbook, Gaither Music (Alexandria, IN), 1990.

A Bunch of Songs Kids Love to Sing, Gaither Music (Alexandria, IN), 1993.

(With Bill Gaither) The Branch Office Songbook, PraiseGathering Music Group (Anderson, IN), 1995.

Because He Lives: The Songs of Bill and Gloria Gaither, Gaither Music (Alexandria, IN), 2001.

All Our Best to You, PraiseGathering Music (Alexandria, IN), 2007.

Lyricist for more than 700 songs altogether.

MUSICAL SCORES; LYRICIST

(With husband, Bill Gaither) Alleluia! A Praise Gathering for Believers, J.T. Benson (Nashville, TN), 1973.

Let's Just Praise the Lord, Gaither Music (Alexandria, IN), 1974.

His Love … Reaching, Gaither Music (Alexandria, IN), 1975.

A Treasury of Praise, Gaither Music (Alexandria, IN), 1980.

More of Treasury of Praise, Gaither Music (Alexandria, IN), 1983.

He Started the Whole World Singing, Gaither Music (Alexandria, IN), 1983.

We Are So Blessed, Gaither Music (Alexandria, IN), 1984.

Then Came the Morning, Gaither Music (Alexandria, IN), 1985.

The Time Is Now!, Gaither Music (Alexandria, IN), 1986.

In the Gardens, Gaither Music (Alexandria, IN), 1988.

Declare His Glory, Marantha! Music (Laguna Hills, CA), 1990.

Alleluia, the Praise Continues, Gaither Music (Alexandria, IN), 1993.

VIDEO MATERIALS; SCRIPTWRITER AND LYRICIST

I'm Something Special, Gaither Music (Alexandria, IN), 1994.

Homecoming Kids Camp Out, Gaither Music (Alexandria, IN), 1995.

Homecoming Kids Go West, Spring House (Alexandria, IN), 1996.

God's Zoo, Spring House (Alexandria, IN), 2000.

Homecoming Kids Sing-a-long, Live Bait Productions (Alexandria, IN), 2003.

Author of scripts and lyrics for about 100 concert videos in the "Homecoming Concert Video Series," 1990-2005.

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Christian Herald, July-August, 1981, Corinne Ipavich, "Gospel Music Branches Out," p. 16; September, 1983, Holly G. Miller, "The Gaithers: Music for the Family of God," p. 26; March, 1984, Peter Gross, review of Fully Alive!, p. 60; April, 1984, review of Let's Make a Memory: Great Ideas for Building Family Traditions and Togetherness, p. 47; November, 1988, review of Hands across the Seasons, p. 47; March, 1989, Karla Worley and Sandra P. Aldrich, "Women Who've Shaped My Life," p. 12; January-February, 1990, Peter A. Gross, review of A Praise Gathering, p. 41.

Saturday Evening Post, March, 2001, "Post People," p. 12.

ONLINE

Gaither.com Web site,http://www.gaither.com (January 14, 2008).