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 gospel songs of Bill and Gloria Gaither have been cherished for generations. This collection features contemporary solo piano arrangements of their most popular melodies. Approximate performance times are included. Titles: Because He Lives * Come, Holy Spirit * The Family of God, with Jesus, We Just Want to Thank You * Gentle Shepherd * He Touched Me * I Will Serve Thee * Jesus Is Lord of All * The King Is Coming * The Longer I Serve Him * Something Beautiful * There's Something About That Name.

(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.

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.

What do you think Heaven will be like? How do you describe Heaven to your kids? What are you going to ask Jesus? Bill and Gloria Gaither gathered friends to discuss these questions and more about their eternal home. The responses were all that you might imagine...and more. Releasing simultaneously with a video of the same name, this companion book brims with laughter, tears, and a treasure chest of recollections and insights. Of course, you don't need to be reminded of the Gaithers' tremendous fan base. With over 8 million of their popular Homecoming videos sold, the potential for this comforting gift book is nothing short of heavenly. The Gaithers are constantly on best-seller lists with their videos and music. They have also sold well over 300,000 books.

(E-Z Play Today). 67 favorites in all, including: Abide in Me * Because He Lives * Get All Excited * He Touched Me * I Walked Today Where Jesus Walks * I've Been to Calvary * Jesus, I Believe What You Said * Precious Jesus * The Family of God * Next Time We Meet * This Is the Day That the Lord Hath Made * Upon This Rock.

The Gaither Homecoming Bible will make the Bible come alive for those seeking truth in the twenty-first century, even for those who think they already know it. For years, Bill and Gloria Gaither have reached millions of people across generations with the Good News of Jesus Christ. Their music of joy, thanksgiving, and praise ushers people into the presence of God so that He can do His wondrous work in their lives. Featuring inspirational and insightful Scripture devotions by the Gaithers and other favorite Homecoming artists; articles on beloved hymns, gospel songs, and Gaither classics and the inspiration behind them; original poetry by Gloria Gaither to enlighten and inspire; and quotes by greats of the faith, reflecting on the importance of music in the life of believers, this beautiful Bible featuring the New King James Version® (NKJV) is one that readers will treasure for years to come.

Congregational Music, Conflict and Community is the first study of the music of the contemporary 'worship wars' – conflicts over church music that continue to animate and divide Protestants today – to be based on long-term in-person observation and interviews. It tells the story of the musical lives of three Canadian Mennonite congregations, who sang together despite their musical differences at the height of these debates in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Mennonites are among the most music-centered Christian groups in North America, and each congregation felt deeply about the music they chose as their own. The congregations studied span the spectrum from traditional to blended to contemporary worship styles, and from evangelical to liberal Protestant theologies. At their core, the book argues, worship wars are not fought in order to please congregants' musical tastes nor to satisfy the theological principles held by a denomination. Instead, the relationships and meanings shaped through individuals’ experiences singing in the particular ways afforded by each style of worship are most profoundly at stake in the worship wars. As such, this book will be of keen interest to scholars working across the fields of religious studies and ethnomusicology.

(Piano/Vocal/Guitar Artist Songbook). This songbook includes all 15 songs from the 2006 release, Jackson's first ever gospel album. Songs: Blessed Assurance * How Great Thou Art * I'll Fly Away * In the Garden * The Old Rugged Cross * Softly and Tenderly * What a Friend We Have in Jesus * and more.