Tag Archives: Gaither

Dallas Holm

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Inducted 2007

Dallas grew up in Minnesota but gladly proclaims, “Like the bumper sticker says: I wasn’t born in Texas, but I got here as fast as I could”.  That fun spirit and amazing talent were on display at DBU in 2007 when Dallas and his wife, Linda were on hand for his induction into the Texas Gospel Music Hall of Fame.

The special gift that Dallas has as a singer and songwriter has blessed tens of thousands of people for over four decades.  He is still considered one of the early pioneers of what became known as Contemporary Christian Music (CCM). In 1970 he began working with David Wilkerson in his youth crusade ministry and during that time he formed Dallas Holm and Praise. They became the first CCM group to receive an RIAA certified Gold Album for their “live” album that contained the song: Rise Again. That band toured for eleven years and included another TGMHF inductee, Ladonna Gatlin Johnson.

Dallas has been featured on many of Bill Gaither’s Homecoming Videos in recent years. His original music and arrangements are as varied as the many styles in the great State of Texas: blues, country, pop and even reggae. His musical influence on younger generations and full-time music ministry with Linda carries on even today all across the U. S. and several foreign countries.

Guy Penrod

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GuyP&Angie mdAfter 14 fabulous years with the Gaither Vocal Band, Guy Penrod is currently riding high in a solo ministry, garnering two 2011 Dove Award nominations. This country style and gospel music album features “Breathe Deep” and country single “Are You The One”. As a stellar representative of his Texas Gospel Music roots, Guy’s music is celebrated as “life music” expressing his devotion to family values and to ministering the gospel. Born in Abilene, Texas, the son of a preacher, Guy and Angie, his wife of 25 years, live in Nashville, Tennessee, with their seven sons and one daughter.     So many fans in Texas and across the country appreciate Guy’s amazing vocal talent and his heart for God heard through any and all of his performances.

The Texas Gospel Music Hall of Fame was especially proud at the induction ceremony when board member Darrell Bledsoe presented Guy an autographed football from Ove Johansson who played for the Cowboys and Eagles and still holds the world’s record for kicking the longest punt in football history.

Larry Gatlin

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LarryG&Cal&BobBorn Larry Wayne Gatlin May 2, 1948, in Seminole, Texas.

Larry Gatlin, lead singer and songwriter for the Gatlin Brothers, has enjoyed a phenomenal country music career spanning more than four decades, but his heart has always been in gospel music. Larry began performing gospel songs with his younger brothers for a radio station in Abilene, Texas, at age seven. (He says his heroes were James Blackwood and Jake Hess.) With many number one country music hits written by Larry and multiple Grammy awards, the Gatlins are a household name in country music.

When Bill Gaither gathered the first little band of Homecoming Friends in a Nashville recording studio a few years ago, Larry Gatlin was there stirring up the excitement, singing with his gospel heroes. Later, “The Gatlin Brothers Come Home” produced by Bill Gaither, became a best seller in the Gaither Hall of Honor Series.

In the nineties, Larry starred in the Broadway hit “The Will Rogers Follies.” He followed that by headlining a major theatrical production “Civil War.” His life story – All The Gold In California – was released by Thomas Nelson Publishers in 1998, named for one of Larry’s best known hit songs.

When this famous country star shows up at a Gaither video taping with his Homecoming Friends (which is often) everyone in the studio listens in quiet awe at the vocal beauty and depth of expression of Larry Gatlin. Lou Wills Hildreth says, “These moments make me glad that we made the Gatlinís first recordings on Sword & Shield Records, owned by the Wills Family, years ago in Texas.” Larry was inducted into the Texas Gospel Music Hall Of Fame in 1997. Rudy, Steve, and sister LaDonna were inducted in 2003.

Larry Ford

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Larry Ford Ind2From Levelland, Texas, Larry Ford made his first recording at age fifteen on Sword & Shield Records owned by the Wills Family of Arlington. His fabulous tenor voice was already gaining him prominence in Texas circles. Gospel music legendary promoter, J. G. Whitfield, hired Larry to sing tenor with the Dixie Echoes of Pensacola, Florida. From the quartet circuit, Larry Ford, emerged as a nationally known evangelist, and was a church pastor for awhile. A few years ago, Larry sang tenor for the James Blackwood Quartet. When Bill Gaither began his Homecoming video series and concerts, he remembered the extraordinary tenor voice of Larry Ford. Larry is a featured soloist on many of the Gaither Homecoming videos, and his recorded projects are in demand worldwide. This Texas tenor has performed in more countries than perhaps any other singer of gospel music. Larry and his wife, Sherryl, are the parents of six children, and currently reside in Fort Myers, Florida.