Gloria Gaither Explained

Gloria Gaither
Background:solo_singer
Birth Name:Gloria Lee Sickal
Birth Date:4 March 1942
Birth Place:Battle Creek, Michigan, U.S.
Genre:Christian music, Southern gospel, contemporary Christian
Occupation:Songwriter (lyricist), author, screenwriter, speaker
Instrument:Vocals
Years Active:1962–present
Associated Acts:Bill Gaither
Bill Gaither Trio
Website:www.gaither.com

Gloria Gaither (born March 4, 1942) is a Christian singer-songwriter, author, speaker, editor, and academic. She is married to Bill Gaither and together they have written more than 700 songs. In 2000, ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors, & Publishers) named them Christian Songwriters of the Century. She performed, traveled and recorded with the Bill Gaither Trio from 1965 through 1991. Since 1991, she has served as a performer, recording artist, songwriter, scriptwriter and narrator for the Gaither Homecoming series of television broadcasts, video and DVD releases, and audio recordings.

Early years

She was born Gloria Lee Sickal in 1942 in Michigan, a daughter of Pastor Lee Sickal and Dorothy Sickal. She spent some of her childhood and high school years in the Battle Creek area of Michigan, working a brief time for the Kellogg Company.

Education

When Gloria graduated from Clare High School in Clare, Michigan,[1] she attended Anderson University in Anderson, Indiana. There, she triple majored in English, French, and Sociology. Her extracurricular activities at the college included participation in the Drama Club,[2] Alpha Chi National College Honor Society[3] and Sigma Tau Delta honor society.[1]

Upon her graduation, she took a job at Alexandria Monroe High School as a French teacher. There, she met Bill Gaither, who was teaching English at the time. She married Gaither in 1962, and they began writing songs recreationally.

In 1991, she attended Ball State University and received a Master of Arts in British and American Literature.

Career

Bill and Gloria Gaither began writing songs in the 1960s, and many those songs (including "Because He Lives", "I Am Loved", "Something Beautiful") would go on to become church hymn book standards across North America and around the world. By the end of the 1960s, Gloria, Bill, and Bill's brother Danny Gaither were touring steadily as the Bill Gaither Trio, singing and recording songs Bill and Gloria had written. After touring with the Bill Gaither Trio for nearly thirty years, Gaither drew her focus to the Gaither Homecoming series. She has been an active presence in every video production.

In 1996, she spearheaded the creation of Gaither Family Resources[4] in Alexandria, Indiana, and currently serves as co-owner and managing director. In 2002, Gaither launched Homecoming: The Magazine,[5] and she currently acts as writer, interviewer, and contributing editor.

In 2000, Bill and Gloria were named Christian Songwriters of the Century by the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP),[6] an award based on the songwriters who have had the most songs recorded over the past 100 years. Gloria is the recipient of seven honorary doctorate degrees, and she is the author of more than 40 books including 20 children's books.

Awards and honors

Notes and References

  1. News: Gloria Gaither. The Alexandria Times-Tribune . The Alexandria Times-Tribune. July 23, 1963. Indiana, Alexandria. 1. Newspapers.com. March 10, 2016.
  2. News: (photo caption). Anderson Herald. December 11, 1959. Indiana, Anderson. 9. Newspaperarchive.com. March 10, 2016.
  3. News: (Photo caption). Anderson Herald . Anderson Herald. May 18, 1962. Indiana, Anderson. 14. Newspapers.com. March 10, 2016.
  4. Web site: gaitherfamilyresources.net . gaitherfamilyresources.net . 2012-04-30.
  5. Web site: Homecoming Magazine Subscription . Magazine.homecomingmagazine.com . 2012-04-30 . 2012-03-17 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120317062105/http://magazine.homecomingmagazine.com/subscribe/default.aspx . dead .
  6. News: Top Acts, Execs Gather in Nashville For Gospel Music Week. 8 March 2016. Billboard. May 27, 2000. 22.
  7. http://www.indwes.edu/news/2010/World-Changer-Convocation.htm
  8. Web site: Indiana Wesleyan University to Honor Gaithers . . March 16, 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110727011435/http://www.wesleyan.org/doc/news_article?id=773 . July 27, 2011 .

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