Debut of Five-Member Gaither Vocal Band Electrifies Orlando's Amway Arena on Valentine's Night

 On Valentine's night, February 14, love was most certainly in the air at Orlando's Amway Arena during the first public appearance of the entire five-member Gaither Vocal Band since the all-star line-up was announced on January 13. From the moment Bill Gaither, Wes Hampton, Michael English, David Phelps and Mark Lowry set foot onto the stage, there was a swell of crowd enthusiasm that was almost visibly blanketing the men as they delivered one power-packed surprise after the next. From GVB standards like Alpha & Omega, Satisfied, My Temporary Home, Lord Feed Your Children, Mary, Did You Know, and Let Freedom Ring (among others), to surprises like the classical aria performed by David Phelps in Italian, the audience was literally hanging on every note, often standing in celebration, cheering not only between songs... but throughout them.

It is difficult to put into words the energy and emotion that underscored the unspoken theme of the evening... the theme of redemption. And that theme was communicated both through songs, like the new favorite Wes sings, There's Always A Place At The Table... and through stories. Michael English shared briefly his own story of coming back to the "table" after a time of wandering... Mark Lowry, clearly moved, revealed that this night was a dream come true for him. He had hoped and prayed for many years to sing with Michael English again... and we watched that dream become a reality.

David Phelp's lead on These Are They was another highlight, as was the group's stunning and harmonic delivery of At the Cross... a moment which could arguably be among the most sacred moments in Vocal Band history.

Former Vocal Band member, Russ Taff, had pulled a chair up to a spot in front of the stage where he was completely overcome with this occasion... this celebration of healing and redemption represented by this group of men singing these songs. It is difficult to say who was more excited... the audience, the Vocal Band, or Russ Taff.
Conversations filled the arena and flowed into the streets after the concert, and there seemed to be an overwhelming and universal sense of wonder and enthusiasm about just how special this night and this group turned out to be.