Paul Heil's "The Gospel Greats" syndicated radio program, which this month marked its 30th anniversary, continues its on-air celebration this weekend with a special guest throughout the broadcast, Bill Gaither.
"When I was thinking about what I could do that would be special for our ongoing 30th anniversary celebration," Heil said, "I began thinking about who would be in the best position to offer observations about the past three decades in Southern Gospel music. The first name thatcame to mind -- and why go any farther? -- was Bill Gaither."
Although a slight departure from the program's usual format, listeners will have a unique opportunity to listen in as Gaither and Heil discuss major trends and happenings in SouthernGospel music over the past thirty years. "Since many of those trends and events involved Gaither personally, he has unique first-hand insights," Heil noted. In fact, this broadcast includes a short clip from an interview with Gaither for The Gospel Greats program back in 1980.
Among the topics discussed with be Gaither's early years (including a surprising involvement with "radio"), the reason he formed the Gaither Vocal Band, the "accidental" genesis of the Homecoming series, the generational change in Southern Gospel music over the past decade or so, today's young artists and many other related topics.
One especially unusual segment of the program includes questions recorded by listeners and answered by Gaither. The questions were submitted by readers of Heil's weekly e-mail listener newsletter and then recorded over the phone for use in the broadcast.
Recorded in Gaither's office in Alexandria, Indiana, this was only the second time in thirty years to have a broadcast recorded primarily outside of The Gospel Greats program's Lancaster, Pennsylvania, studios. The only other time was ten years ago when, for the program's 20th anniversary, the program originated from the home of that program's special guest co-host, the late George Younce in Stow, Ohio.
On the broadcast, Gaither's remarks about Heil and The Gospel Greats program were especially gracious: "You know, I always want to do things and do them the best that I can do them. And I have sung your praises all over the country, that for thirty years you have produced a Southern Gospel radio program at its very highest professional level. I don't know of any professional who does it better than you. And also a professional who has a great heart for the music and a great heart for the Lord. God bless you and may you have thirty more years."
The Gospel Greats program airs weekly on about 200 radio stations across the United States, Canada, Great Britain, Ireland and elsewhere overseas. It is also heard three times a week on Sirius/XM Satellite Radio and is available worldwide on the internet. More information about the program can be found at their website, http://www.thegospelgreats.com. Information about Heil's weekly e-mail newsletter can be found at http://www.thegospelgreats.com/newsletter.htm.
Author: AGM
| Author's Website: http://absolutelygospel.com/
Written: 02/15/2010
| 
Category: News & Scoops
Comments: 3
RSS Feed
| (What's an RSS feed?)
|
Ads Sponsored by Southern Spin
I greatly enjoy listening to the gospel greats every Sunday morning as I get ready for church or work. It starts my morning off with an enriched heart. I'm truly blessed and Thank God for my loved ones I still have here with me and also for the memories that I hold dear in my heart for the ones that have gone on to be with the Lord.Karen Peck and New River is my favorite group. Thanks again and God Bless. Robin Brown
meet85
Love the gospel greats.
Page 1 of 1 Comment Pages
