Guy Penrod takes hiatus from GVB
Gaither.com posted a press release announcing that Guy Penrod is taking a multi-week sabbatical from the Gaither Vocal Band. His part will be filled by David Phelps, Mark Lowry, and Jason Crabb.
This story suggests many possible responses, but so far, from what I’ve seen, two are predominant in online discussion so far:
(1) What will Jason Crabb sound like in a male quartet setting?
(2) Penrod’s wide fanbase—along with everyone who likes to see continuity and personnel stability in Southern Gospel’s forefront groups—hopes that this is just a few weeks, and not due to any vocal troubles or other reasons that might make it extend longer.
Comment by Andrew (October 10, 2008, 9:19 am)
I attended a Gaither Concert in Columbus,GA last night. Lowry was fulling in. He actually sang the baritone part and Marshall jumped to lead. In fact, Gordon Mote sang some of Guy’s lead parts on a few of their newer songs. The concert was very good, however, you could tell that something was missing. To top it off, Wes appeared to have a cold or something. I think he sang one verse to one song and I thought he pulled back a little bit. Again, he sounded good… you could just tell that he was having problems. Marshall ended up taking the lead on one of the verses that I imagine Wes would have usually sung. Again, great concert… no complaints, at all. It was the quality we are used to hearing from Gaither. Gaither did said that Guy was taking a few months off.
Comment by DJPhil (October 10, 2008, 9:54 am)
Interesting, if Andrew heard correctly, then it has gone from a few weeks to a few months…Guy is going to be greatly missed. Without Phelps, Guy was “da man” with the Gaither Vocal Band. All the others are just really good singers, nothing really special like Phelps and Penrod. (Just one mans opinion, of course…)
Comment by Daniel J. Mount (October 10, 2008, 9:56 am)
I see over on the SN forums that someone else thought they heard Gaither say 3 months.
Comment by Larry Bishop (November 14, 2008, 3:16 pm)
My wife and I are very disappointed that Guy is not
with GVB right now. We have been very blessed by his
music, and are praying that God will give him what he needs
during this time.
Pingback by SouthernGospelBlog.com » 2008 in Review: News Stories (January 1, 2009, 9:05 am)
[...] Guy Penrod takes sabbatical from Gaither Vocal Band. This would be higher on the list if it was known that Penrod isn’t returning. But if he’s just taking time off, momentous as it indeed is for three months, it’s more a blip in the GVB history. [...]