Lee Young was dismissed in 1982, and Jon Mohr was hired as the new bass singer. They then recorded the album, Passin' The Faith Along. Later, tenor Steve Green left and Larnelle Harris was hired. This group cut the New Point Of View album before Mohr left.
At this point the "New Gaither Vocal Band' dropped the "new" part of their name. Bill Gaither dropped to the lowest part (although they didn't call it Bass at the time), Gary McSpadden was moved down to baritone and Michael English was hired as lead singer. Although the previous album (New Point Of View) had been more contemporary than its predecessors, the album with this version of the group (One X 1) took it even further. After this album, Larnelle left and was replaced by Lemuel Miller. The group did not record an album with Lemuel before he left. He was replaced by Imperials alumnus, Jim Murray. They cut one album (Wings) before Gary McSpadden left to devote more time to his solo career. Mark Lowry was tapped to replace him. Although Lowry admittedly didn't have the natural ear for the baritone part, or the experience, he added a great voice along with his comedy and soon made their sound more smooth. First planned to perhaps be their final album, their gospel roots project Homecoming, in 1991, caused most Southern Gospel fans to welcome the Vocal Band with open arms. A follow-up recording called Southern Classics cemented their relationship with fans.
Jim Murray left and was replaced by Terry Franklin whose tenor voice was heard on the aforementioned, Southern Classics. Michael English left to pursue a popular solo career. He was replaced by Buddy Mullins. Terry Franklin soon left and was replaced by another Imperials alumnus, Jonathan Pierce. Strengthened by the popularity of the Homecoming video series, the Vocal Band added Guy Penrod at lead and after Pierce's departure, David Phelps was added at tenor. After Lowry’s departure, The Imperials alumnus Russ Taff sang baritone for a couple of years. When Taff returned to solo work, Marshall Hall was his replacement. Wes Hampton succeeded Phelps in 2005.
During the 1990s and into the first few years of the 21st century, the Gaither Vocal Band mastered the art of mixing classic Southern Gospel with Country and Inspirational styles. This gave the group a broad fan base that reached beyond the typical do.
In 2009 Marshall Hall and Guy Penrod left the group. Instead of just replacing them, Bill decided to make the group a five-man band -- bringing back some crowd favorites: Michael English, Mark Lowry, and David Phelps.
Complete List of Group Past Members:
* Bill Gaither, Baritone (1980-84); Bass (1984-present)
* Lee Young, Bass (1980-1982)
* Steve Green, Tenor (1980-1983)
* Gary McSpadden, Lead (1980-1984); Baritone (1984-88)
* Jon Mohr, Bass (1982-1984)
* Larnelle Harris, Tenor (1983-1987)
* Michael English, Lead (1985-1994, 2009-present)
* Lemuel Miller, Tenor (1987)
* Jim Murray, Tenor (1987-1992)
* Mark Lowry, Baritone (1988-2001, 2009-present)
* Terry Franklin, Tenor (1992-1994)
* Buddy Mullins, Lead (1994-1995)
* Jonathan Pierce, Tenor (1994-1997)
* Guy Penrod, Lead (1995-2009)
* David Phelps, Tenor (1997-2005, 2009-present)
* Russ Taff, Baritone (2001-2004)
* Marshall Hall, Baritone (2004-2009)
* Wes Hampton, Tenor (2005-present)
Discography
* The New Gaither Vocal Band (1981) - Benson
* ''Passin' The Faith Along (1983) - Benson
* New Point of View (1984) - Benson
* One X 1 (1986) - Word Nashville
* Wings (1988) - Star Song
* The Best from the Beginning (1989) - Benson
* A Few Good Men (1990) - Star Song
* Homecoming (1991) - Star Song
* Peace of the Rock (1993) - Star Song
* Southern Classics (1993) - Benson
* Testify (1994) King is Coming (1994) - Chapel
* ''Can't Stop Talkin' About Him (1995)
* Southern Classics: Volume II (1996) - Chapel
* Back Home in Indiana (1997) - Spring Hill
* ''Lovin' God & Lovin' Each Other (1997) - Spring Hill
* Still the Greatest Story Ever Told (1998) - Spring Hill
* God is Good (1999) - Spring Hill
* Classic Moments from the Gaither Vocal Band - Volume 1 (1999) - Benson
* Classic Moments from the Gaither Vocal Band - Volume 2 (1999) - Benson
* I Do Believe (2000) - Spring Hill
* Everything Good (2002) - Spring House
* A Cappella (2003) - Gaither Music Group
* Best of the Gaither Vocal Band (2004) - Gaither Music Group
* Give it Away (2006) - Gaither Music Group
*Together Signature Sound and Gaither Vocal Band (2007) - Gaither Music Group
*Lovin' Life (2008) - Gaither Music Group
*Christmas Gaither Vocal Band Style (2008)
*Gaither Vocal Band Reunion - Volumes One & Two (January 2009)
I'll Fly Away
Gaither Vocal Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'll fly away
To a home on God's celestial shore
I'll fly away (I'll fly away)
I'll fly away, Oh Glory
I'll fly away; (in the morning)
When I die, Hallelujah, by and by
When the shadows of this life have gone
I'll fly away
Like a bird from prison bars has flown
I'll fly away (I'll fly away)
I'll fly away, Oh Glory
I'll fly away; (in the morning)
When I die, Hallelujah, by and by
I'll fly away (I'll fly away)
Just a few more weary days and then
I'll fly away
To a land where joy shall never end
I'll fly away (I'll fly away)
I'll fly away, Oh Glory
I'll fly away; (in the morning)
When I die, Hallelujah, by and by
I'll fly away (I'll fly away)
Gaither Vocal Band's song "I'll Fly Away" is a classic gospel hymn that speaks about the concept of life after death. The lyrics imply that when death comes, the soul will fly away to an eternal resting place in God's celestial shore. The song also touches on the temporary nature of human life, with the notion that the shadows of this life will one day pass away. The melody itself is uplifting, with the vocals harmonizing a sense of hope for this eternal rest.
The refrain of the song repeats, “I’ll fly away, oh glory, I’ll fly away”, emphasizing the excitement the singer feels for this eventual freedom from the trials and tribulations of this world. The line “just a few more weary days and then” implies that waiting for this eventful day can be tiresome but that peace and joy await. The song speaks directly to the Bible's promise of life after death, where the soul finds rest in eternity. The overall tone of the song is a joyful celebration of this idea.
Line by Line Meaning
Some glad morning when this life is o'er
One day in the future, when my earthly existence has come to an end, in a joyful moment
I'll fly away
I will leave this physical world and enter a spiritual realm
To a home on God's celestial shore
I will go to a divine and tranquil place, near God's abode
I'll fly away (I'll fly away)
I will depart from this world and soar into the heavens
I'll fly away, Oh Glory
I will ascend into the skies with great pride and excitement
I'll fly away; (in the morning)
I will fly away in a moment of new beginnings and hope
When I die, Hallelujah, by and by
When my life ends, I will rejoice and sing praises, in due time
When the shadows of this life have gone
When the hardships of life disappear
Like a bird from prison bars has flown
I will escape from the limitations of my earthly existence, just like a bird from captivity
Just a few more weary days and then
After a limited amount of additional difficult moments
To a land where joy shall never end
I will go to a blissful realm with eternal and infinite happiness
Lyrics © CAPITOL CHRISTIAN MUSIC GROUP, BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Capitol CMG Publishing, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: ALBERT E. BRUMLEY SR., DAVID FRAZIER, CHARLES MINOR, HEZEKIAH WALKER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@GaitherMusic
Gaither Vocal Band, The Oak Ridge Boys, The Gatlin Brothers – Official Video for “I’ll Fly Away (Live)”, available now!
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Music video by Gaither Vocal Band, The Oak Ridge Boys, The Gatlin Brothers performing I'll Fly Away. (C) 2018 Spring House Productions, Inc.
@johnholeman6129
We used to say, "Die and Fly. Now we say. "Stay and Pray."
If you don't know what to do, go through! Go through! Go Through!!!
I PLAN TO STAY OH! GLORY! I PLAN TO STAY!
WHETHER WE LIVE OR WHETHER WE DIE,
WE WILL ALL FLY AWAY! AND
I PLAN TO STAY.
(So, hit the road, satan.)
Time and Times divided.
And it's time is drawing near...
@christinabrown33
My grandfather, Rev Bobby Peoples was an evangelist/minister and also had a gospel radio show, and this was his theme song. It makes me teary eyed every time I hear this song. I miss him terribly, but this song makes me remember him, and makes me happy, because I know he is with our Lord. I also believe he was friends with the Gaithers as well as the Oak Ridge Boys
@albertisles3847
Great job Gaither Vocal Band, Gatlin Brothers and Oak Ridge Boys!
@pjmillion1121
Yes I will fly away when I die to meet my Lord
@hannahreischach
Love to see them having a good time together ❤
@siszi20022
The guy with the dark hair is the greatest
@robertm2000
Don't forget the writer of this song! Albert Brumley from Oklahoma. He wrote this popular Gospel number, and over 800 other songs, including my favorite, "This World Is Not My Home."
@halesores21
This song is showing a Christian person that ia happily want yo meet God atlast! I love being like it.....
@blanenoel4231
Thank you Jesus Christ#1
@sandyinkster1123
Thank you for sharing ! BEAUTIFUL ❤
@kathleenbowen3211
I just enjoy. Enjoy. Enjoy especially when I did not get to church. 86 old