• Bill Gaither is an Emmy Award-winning singer-songwriter of contemporary Christian and Southern gospel
• Born in 1936 in Alexandria, Indiana and has a unique low baritone voice
• Founder of Gaither Music Company, which is comprised of several divisions
• Mentored many musicians and also runs Gaither Vocal Band
• Has written many popular songs with wife Gloria Gaither, and both have achieved a net worth of $8 million and $1.5 million respectively
Bill Gaither is an Emmy Award-winning singer-songwriter of contemporary Christian and Southern gospel, who has written many popular songs with his wife, Gloria Gaither.
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Age, Early Life, and Education Background
Bill was born William James Gaither under the Aries zodiac sign on 28 March 1936, in Alexandria, Indiana, and is now 86 years old as of 2022. He’s the son of Lela Gaither and George Gaither and was raised together with his younger sister, the vocalizer Mary Ann Gaither, who was born in 1945 and passed away in 2018, and the late gospel musician, Danny Gaither, who was born in 1938 and died in 2001. The siblings spent their childhood on a small farm that had wheat, corn, and several cows. He began showing an interest in music at an early age, and went for piano classes as a child – he grew up listening to gospel songs by Rosemary Clooney, Andy Williams, Patti Page, and the Mills Brothers.
Gaither attended a local high school in Alexandria, and later joined Stamps School of Music situated in Dallas, Texas in 1953 and 1954. While he was there, he met the musician, guitarist and vocal coach Charlie Hodge, with whom he created the gospel music group the Pathfinders, together with Charlie’s friend and Bill’s brother; the group sang for free at fairs and in churches. During this time, Bill worked at a grocery store and a butcher’s shop to pay for his tuition fee. He matriculated to Anderson College, and while there, partnered with his siblings to create the gospel music group Bill Gaither Trio. Shortly afterwards, he transferred to the private evangelical and interdenominational college, Taylor University; in 1959, he graduated with an English major and a minor in music, after which he went on to work as an English tutor. Bill later continued with his studies, and in 1961 obtained a master’s degree from Ball State University.
Career
In 1955, shortly after he completed high school, Bill landed a job at the radio station WRFD, based in Worthington, Ohio. His songs were played on the station, and he later began performing traditional gospel songs and other original compositions with the Bill Gaither Trio – he has a unique low baritone voice (high bass) and would sing while playing the piano when he performed with his siblings in the ‘50s.
Bill is the founder of Gaither Music Company, which is comprised of Gaither Studios (formerly Pinebrook Studios), Gaither Management Group, Gaither Copyright Management, and a retail store. Moreover, his firm is consists of the animation company Live Bait Productions, which is run by one of Bill’s children, Benjy Gaither. Bill was involved with Sony BMG Music Entertainment’s record label, Paragon Associates in the ‘80s, and partnered with the entrepreneur Leland Boren to create Chapel Hill Music Group, based in Brentwood, Tennessee. The group was later renamed Spring Hill Music Group.
Gaither has mentored many musicians, such as Michael W. Smith, Sandi Patty, Mark Lowry and Johnathan Pierce, among others. He also runs Gaither Vocal Band, with the help of several musicians such as Guy Penrod, Wes Hampton and Mark Lowry, among others. Bill’s Homecoming tours kicked off in 2001, and brought together many prominent musicians of the CCM industry and southern gospel. The tours were a success, and sold over a million tickets around the globe, performing in many venues such as Carnegie Hall and Kennedy Centre. Some of the notable musicians in these tours included Jessy Dixon, Russ Taff, and Lynda Randle.
Bill and his wife have written many gospel songs, such as “The Longer I Serve Him,” “He Touched Me,” Because He Lives,” and “Let’s Just Praise the Lord,” among others. Various Christian artists such as David Crowder Band, and The Cathedral Quartet among others, have performed Bill’s songs. The duo had composed more than 600 songs as of 2005, and had released 100 more songs by 2012.
Gaither has bagged many Grammy and GMA Dove Awards. He was honored with ASCAP Best Gospel Song of the Year, and named in the 75 top entrepreneurs by Entrepreneur Magazine.
Personal Life
Bill met his future wife, Gloria Sickal, while he was working as a teacher at Alexandria High School – she was teaching French there; they walked the aisle in 1962. The duo has been supportive of each other’s careers, and has recorded many songs together. They’ve welcomed three children together: Benjy who is a producer and an actor, Suzanne who is a gospel musician, and Amy who is also a singer. The duo now lives in Alexandria, Indiana.
🎉❤️ 60 years together! 🎉❤️ Help us wish Bill and Gloria Gaither a very happy anniversary in the comments below! pic.twitter.com/7mbxngS2Q5
— Gaither Music (@Gaithermusic) December 22, 2022
Height, Weight, and Physical Appearance
Bill is of Caucasian ethnicity, and has a set of blue eyes and gray hair. He’s 5ft 10ins (1.78m) tall and weighs approximately 140lbs (63kgs).
Net Worth
Gaither is worth approximately $8 million as of 2022, accumulated through his successful musical career, which includes TV production, copyright management, and telemarketing.
Who Is Bill Gaither’s Wife, Gloria Gaither?
Gloria Lee Sickal is a native of Battle Creek, Michigan, born on 4 March 1942, making her 80 years old as of 2022. Her parents were Dorothy and Pastor Lee Sickal. She attended Clare High School, Michigan, and matriculated to Anderson University, where she triple-majored in Sociology, English and French. She performed with the college’s Drama Club, and participated in Sigma Tau Delta and Alpha Chi National College Honor Society. In 1991, she joined Ball State University, from where she graduated with an MA in American and British Literature.
Gloria partnered with her husband to write many hit gospel songs under the Bill Gaither Trio. She is the managing director and co-owner of Gaither Family Resources, and is also the creator of “Homecoming: The Magazine” and now serves as its writer, contributing director and interviewer. She’s accumulated a net worth of approximately $1.5 million from her musical career.
