Gloria Gaither

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Gloria Gaither
Gloria Gaither, Sept. 2016 (cropped).jpg
Gloria in Sept. 2016
Background information
Birth nameGloria Lee Sickal
Born (1942-03-04) March 4, 1942 (age 82)
Battle Creek, Michigan, U.S.
Genres Christian music, Southern gospel, contemporary Christian
Occupation(s)Songwriter (lyricist), author, screenwriter, speaker
Instrument(s)Vocals
Years active1962–present
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.

Contents

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 & Gloria Gaither pose for a picture in September 2016 Bill & Gloria Gaither, Sept. 2016.jpg
Bill & Gloria Gaither pose for a picture in September 2016

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

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References

  1. 1 2 "Gloria Gaither". The Alexandria Times-Tribune. Indiana, Alexandria. The Alexandria Times-Tribune. July 23, 1963. p. 1. Retrieved March 10, 2016 via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  2. "(photo caption)". Indiana, Anderson. Anderson Herald. December 11, 1959. p. 9. Retrieved March 10, 2016 via Newspaperarchive.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  3. "(Photo caption)". Anderson Herald. Indiana, Anderson. Anderson Herald. May 18, 1962. p. 14. Retrieved March 10, 2016 via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  4. "gaitherfamilyresources.net". gaitherfamilyresources.net. Retrieved 2012-04-30.
  5. "Homecoming Magazine Subscription". Magazine.homecomingmagazine.com. Archived from the original on 2012-03-17. Retrieved 2012-04-30.
  6. "Top Acts, Execs Gather in Nashville For Gospel Music Week". Billboard. May 27, 2000. p. 22. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
  7. http://www.indwes.edu/news/2010/World-Changer-Convocation.htm [ dead link ]
  8. "Indiana Wesleyan University to Honor Gaithers". The Wesleyan Church. March 16, 2010. Archived from the original on July 27, 2011.