Gary McSpadden
Background information
Born(1943-01-26)January 26, 1943
Mangum, Oklahoma, U.S.
DiedApril 15, 2020(2020-04-15) (aged 77)
Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S.
GenresChristian, southern gospel, contemporary Christian
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter, record producer, pastor
Years active1950s–2020
Websitewww.garymcspadden.com

Gary McSpadden (January 26, 1943 – April 15, 2020) was an American pastor, singer, songwriter, record producer, television host and motivational speaker. He had musical roots in quartet music and Southern gospel with The Statesmen, The Oak Ridge Boys, The Imperials, The Bill Gaither Trio, and The Gaither Vocal Band.[1] McSpadden's songs include "Jesus Lord To Me", "Hallelujah Praise The Lamb", and "No Other Name But Jesus". He has produced albums for numerous groups. In 1987, he co-hosted PTL Today after Jim Bakker resigned. McSpadden went on to produce television programs, including the "Jubilee" concert series filmed at Silver Dollar City in Branson, Missouri. He also produced and starred in several live music shows in the Branson area during the 1990s and 2000s.

Early life

Gary McSpadden was born to Boyd and Helen McSpadden. The family later moved to Lubbock, Texas where Gary's father was pastor of Faith Temple. McSpadden grew up in a musical family.[2] His mother and father were songwriters, and at least one of their songs, "Heaven", became popular after it was recorded by George Beverly Shea and others. As a young boy, McSpadden sang in the church and was singing solos by the age of ten.[3]

Career

Singer

In 1962, at the age of 18, McSpadden caught the attention of Hovie Lister, manager of The Statesmen, and sang with the group while lead singer Jake Hess was on medical leave.[4] After five months, he was hired on with The Oak Ridge Quartet. During his time there, the group changed their name to The Oak Ridge Boys, and recorded three albums together.[5]

From 1964 to 1967, McSpadden sang with Jake Hess and the Imperials. It was during his time with them that The Imperials first started singing backup to Elvis Presley.[6]

In 1977, Mcspadden joined Bill And Gloria Gaither in The Bill Gaither Trio, replacing Danny Gaither.[7] During this time, he was a co-pastor for three years, but stepped down by 1980 to focus whole-heartedly on music.[8][9] In 1981, the Gaithers added a second group called The Gaither Vocal Band. McSpadden, Bill Gaither, Steve Green and Lee Young were the first members in the group.[10]

McSpadden began his solo career in 1979 with his album Higher Purpose. He sang with the Gaither Vocal Band until 1988 when he left to devote more time towards his solo career.[11]

McSpadden has recorded more than 30 albums, 16 of them solo.

Pastor

In 1967, McSpadden left the music ministry to pastor a large non-denominational church with his father in Fort Worth, Texas.[12] The father/son team worked together for 13 years.[9] He pastored Faith and Wisdom Church in Branson, Missouri, teaching faith, wisdom and obedience to the Bible.[13]

Television and live music shows

Gary McSpadden had been broadcasting on television for years. In 1976, he and his father Boyd McSpadden aired a series of programs in Fort Worth, Texas from the church they pastored. Years later, Gary was an occasional guest on The PTL Club with Jim Bakker. After Bakker resigned from the show, McSpadden accepted an invitation to host the program and stayed on for six months.[14]

In January 1999, McSpadden began to host a new live music show at Silver Dollar City called Gospel Jubilee.[15] The show was recorded and broadcast on television every Sunday from January 2000 through January 2003.[16] During the show, he featured an assortment of current popular Christian artists[17] singing gospel favorites.[18]

In 2003, McSpadden also starred in a live show with his brother-in-law Dino Kartsonakis titled the "Easter Spring Spectacular". This show was hosted every spring for four years at various theaters in Branson Missouri.[19]

In 2004, McSpadden moved his live music show to the Americana Theater in Branson and changed the name to Southern Gospel Sundays. He continued to host a variety of current Christian artists at the new theater.[20]

In the years to follow, McSpadden focused more on preaching and teaching the Gospel. The Gary McSpadden Show was broadcast on TCT (Total Christian Television). It still included various Christian artists along with segments by Gary teaching on subjects from the Bible. Today The Gary McSpadden Show focuses totally on the gospel with teachings from various messages. The show still includes a song from a visitor at Faith & Wisdom Church in Branson. It is broadcast on two satellite networks: TCT and GEB.

Producer

Gary McSpadden produced many Dove Award-winning recordings for the Bill Gaither Trio, The Cathedrals, The Gaither Vocal Band, Terri Gibbs, and The Talleys, Lulu Roman, and others.[1]

Death

McSpadden died on April 15, 2020,[21][22] at the Cancer Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he had been hospitalized for some weeks, having been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer earlier in 2020. He was transferred there from Cox Hospital in Springfield, Missouri, and before his death he suffered some severe complications including a stroke. He was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in Nashville, TN, on April 21, 2020, near his parents, with a large memorial service at his Faith and Wisdom Church in Branson, MO.[23]

Awards and honors

McSpadden was inducted into the Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame in 1998,[24] 1999[25] and 2000.[26] He was also inducted into the Texas Gospel Music Hall Of Fame in 1989.[27]

Discography

Solo albums

Year Album Record label
1965 Gary McSpadden Superior
1966 How Green Is Your Valley Sing Records
1975 Hallelujah Maranatha Rainbow
1977 Unique Rainbow
1979 Higher Purpose Paragon Records
1981 It Was Enough McSpadden Group
1984 Separate Journeys Paragon
1986 Timeless Ariose Music
1986 One Song, One Voice Word, Incorporated
1987 The Best Of Gary McSpadden Greentree
1988 Hymns from the Heart McSpadden Group
1990 All-Time Favorites McSpadden Group
1990 From My Soul McSpadden Group
1993 Highest Praise McSpadden Group
1999 Back Home Again MAXX Music
2000 Southern Gospel Classics McSpadden Group
2001 Familiar Places Landmark
2002 Simply the Best of Gary McSpadden McSpadden Group
2002 Great Hymns & Gospel Songs Gary McSpadden
2007 Thank You Gary McSpadden

Devotional albums

Year Album Title Label
2001 Drive Time Devotions 1 Tyndale Audio
2001 Drive Time Devotions 2 Tyndale Audio
2001 Drive Time Devotions 3 Tyndale Audio
2002 Drive Time Devotions for Moms Tyndale Audio
2002 Drive Time Devotions for Men Tyndale Audio
2003 Drive Time Devotions 1 Word Entertainment LLC / Curb Records
2003 Drive Time Devotions for the Christmas Holidays Word Entertainment LLC / Curb Records
2004 Drive Time Devotions 2 Word Entertainment LLC / Curb Records
2004 Drive Time Devotions for Kids Word Entertainment LLC / Curb Records
2004 Drive Time Devotions for Moms Word Entertainment LLC / Curb Records
2004 Drive Time Devotions for Men Word Entertainment LLC / Curb Records
2012 Scriptures And Thoughts to Bring Healing Gary McSpadden Ministries

References

  1. 1 2 Jeffrey Lee Brothers (July 1, 2003). Hot Hits: Ac Charts 1978–2001. AuthorHouse. p. 144. ISBN 978-1-4107-3294-1. Retrieved July 23, 2013.
  2. ↑ Lindsay Terry (January 2005). Stories Behind Fifty Southern Gospel Favorites. Kregel Publications. p. 153. ISBN 978-0-8254-9841-1. Retrieved July 23, 2013.
  3. ↑ Lindsay Terry (September 9, 2008). I Could Sing of Your Love Forever: Stories Behind 100 of the World's Most Popular Worship Songs. Thomas Nelson Inc. p. 162. ISBN 978-1-4185-7465-9. Retrieved July 23, 2013.
  4. ↑ Lindsay Terry (September 9, 2008). I Could Sing of Your Love Forever: Stories Behind 100 of the World's Most Popular Worship Songs. Thomas Nelson Inc. p. 163. ISBN 978-1-4185-7465-9. Retrieved July 23, 2013.
  5. ↑ Joseph Bonsall (October 30, 2004). An American Journey. New Leaf Press. p. 27. ISBN 978-0-89221-601-7. Retrieved July 23, 2013.
  6. ↑ "Southern Gospel History | I / Imperials". Sghistory.com. n.d. Retrieved April 1, 2013.
  7. ↑ "Southern Gospel History | B / Bill Gaither Trio". Sghistory.com. January 29, 2013. Retrieved April 1, 2013.
  8. ↑ "Google News Archive Search". News.google.com. Archived from the original on January 26, 2013.
  9. 1 2 "Google News Archive Search". News.google.com. Archived from the original on January 24, 2013.
  10. ↑ "Gaither Vocal Band | Gaither Music". Gaither.com. Archived from the original on March 2, 2013. Retrieved April 1, 2013.
  11. ↑ "GAITHER VOCAL BAND. | I warmly welcome you to the official Independent News Center for Seventh Day Adventist Music Ministry". Vovtz.wordpress.com. Archived from the original on September 21, 2011. Retrieved April 1, 2013.
  12. ↑ "Google News Archive Search". News.google.com. Archived from the original on January 25, 2013.
  13. ↑ "About Faith And Wisdom Church – Faith And Wisdom Church". Fwcbranson.com. n.d. Retrieved April 1, 2013.
  14. ↑ "Google News Archive Search". News.google.com. Archived from the original on January 24, 2013.
  15. ↑ "Silver Dollar City". Casenet.com. n.d. Retrieved April 1, 2013.
  16. ↑ "Gospel Jubilee – Episode Guide – MSN TV". MSN. n.d. Archived from the original on January 29, 2013. Retrieved April 1, 2013.
  17. ↑ "Gary McSpadden Ministries Southern Gospel Nights". Bransonalive.com. n.d. Archived from the original on February 4, 2016. Retrieved April 1, 2013.
  18. ↑ "Sowing Seeds by Satellite". SBC Life. n.d. Retrieved April 1, 2013.
  19. ↑ "Branson Shows and Attractions". Bransoncoupons.net. n.d. Archived from the original on August 17, 2011. Retrieved April 1, 2013.
  20. ↑ "Gary McSpadden Hosts Southern Gospel Music Live TV Taping | Absolutely Gospel Music". Absolutelygospel.com. March 4, 2013. Retrieved April 1, 2013.
  21. ↑ "Gary McSpadden passes away". April 15, 2020.
  22. ↑ "Sports: Former Member of the Oak Ridge Boys, Gary McSpadden Has Died" (Video). Southern Living. Meredith Videos. April 17, 2020. Retrieved April 18, 2020.
  23. ↑ "Gary McSpadden Obituary - Nashville, TN". Dignitymemorial.com. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  24. ↑ "Year of 1998 « GMA Hall Of Fame". Gmahalloffame.org. Archived from the original on August 23, 2013. Retrieved April 1, 2013.
  25. ↑ "Year of 1999 « GMA Hall Of Fame". Gmahalloffame.org. April 11, 2005. Archived from the original on August 24, 2013. Retrieved April 1, 2013.
  26. ↑ "Year of 2000 « GMA Hall Of Fame". Gmahalloffame.org. March 6, 1996. Archived from the original on November 26, 2012. Retrieved April 1, 2013.
  27. ↑ "Hall of Fame – Gary McSpadden". Tgmhf.org. Archived from the original on December 1, 2012. Retrieved April 1, 2013.
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