Guy Penrod is a gospel music singer. He is known for his work as the lead singer of the Gaither Vocal Band, a position he held from 1994 to 2008.

Career

Penrod is a graduate of

Liberty University Liberty University (LU) is a private Baptist university in Lynchburg, Virginia. It is affiliated with the Southern Baptist Conservatives of Virginia ( Southern Baptist Convention). Founded in 1971 by Jerry Falwell Sr. and Elmer L. Towns, Lib ...

. Starting in the 1980s, he worked as a studio singer, backing up voices such as

Carman In Celtic mythology, Carman or Carmun was a warrior and sorceress from Athens who tried to invade Ireland in the days of the Tuatha Dé Danann, along with her three sons, Dub ("black"), Dother ("evil") and Dian ("violence"). She used her magica ...

, Steve Green,

Amy Grant Amy Lee Grant (born November 25, 1960) is an American singer, songwriter, and musician. She began in contemporary Christian music (CCM) before crossing over to pop music in the 1980s and 1990s. She has been referred to as "The Queen of Christia ...

Michael W. Smith Michael Whitaker Smith (born October 7, 1957) is an American musician who has charted in both contemporary Christian and mainstream charts. His biggest success in mainstream music was in 1991 when " Place in This World" hit No. 6 on the '' ...

, Garth Brooks, Shania Twain,

James Ingram James Edward Ingram (February 16, 1952 – January 29, 2019) was an American singer, songwriter and record producer. He was a two-time Grammy Award-winner and a two-time Academy Award nominee for Best Original Song. After beginning his career ...

, and

Phillips, Craig & Dean Phillips, Craig and Dean (rendered as Phillips, Craig & Dean on albums) is a contemporary Christian music trio composed of pastors Randy Phillips, Shawn Craig, and Dan Dean. Since forming in 1991, the group has sold over two million units. The ...

. He was also a member of the Christ Church Choir (as was another future Gaither Vocal Band member,

Jonathan Pierce Jonathan Pierce Hildreth, better known as Jonathan Pierce (November 15, 1967—May 9, 2020), was an American CCM, gospel singer from Odessa, Texas and an interior designer in Nashville. Pierce used his first and middle name while omitting his ...

). During his years in the studio, he met Bill Gaither for the first time. He also made regular appearances on TNN's ''Music City Tonight'' as a background singer in the mid-1990s. In 1989 Penrod contributed a couple of tracks as lead vocal on a Brentwood cassette (C-5103N) titled "Following The Sun - Island Music For Believers". Penrod also performed briefly with the Stamps Quartet in 1987, while employed at Opryland. After accepting the position with the Gaither Vocal Band in 1994, Penrod became internationally known for his powerful vocals and broad singing range. He has performed in

Gaither Homecoming ''Gaither Homecoming'' is the name applied to a series of videos, music recordings and concerts, which are organized, promoted and usually presented by Christian music songwriter and impresario Bill Gaither. To date, the ''Gaither Homecoming'' t ...

concerts all over the U.S. and Canada, as well as in Europe, Australia, and Africa. In 1999, he performed a duet with the

Cathedral Quartet The Cathedral Quartet, also known as the Cathedrals, was an American southern gospel quartet who performed from 1964 to December 1999. The group's final lineup consisted of Glen Payne (lead), George Younce (bass), Ernie Haase (tenor), Scott ...

's lead singer

Glen Payne Glen Payne (October 20, 1926 – October 15, 1999) served for fifty-five years as a Southern gospel music singer. He is known for being the lead singer of The Cathedral Quartet. Early years Payne was a child of the Great Depression. His par ...

on their ''Farewell Celebration'' video. Penrod performed for the grand opening of Jerry Falwell's new

Thomas Road Baptist Church Thomas Road Baptist Church (TRBC) is a Baptist megachurch in Lynchburg, Virginia, located on the campus of Liberty University, which it founded and is closely affiliated with. In 2016, a church spokesperson stated they had an average weekly atten ...

new 6,000 seat sanctuary. His album, ''The Best of Guy Penrod'', reached No. 92 on the ''Billboard'' 200 on August 6, 2005. The DVD release was certified platinum by the RIAA. The Gaither Vocal Band's 2006 release was entitled ''Give It Away'', followed by ''Lovin' Life'' in 2008. Penrod won a Grammy Award for his work on the "Lovin Life" project. In a press release on January 13, 2009, Bill Gaither announced that Penrod would be leaving the Gaither Vocal Band and starting a solo career. In August 2009, Penrod released his debut solo album, ''Breathe Deep'', on the Servant Records label. Produced by veteran country music producer and studio musician Brent Rowan, the album consists of positive country music with Christian undertones. Penrod was inducted into the Texas Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2011. Penrod's sophomore solo album ''Hymns'' debuted at No. 1 on the Nielsen SoundScan Southern Gospel retail chart and became the top-selling southern gospel album of 2012. ''Hymns'' sold over 100,000 units. In 2012, Penrod became the new host of ''Gospel Music Showcase'', a popular

Daystar Television Network The Daystar Television Network (commonly referred to as Daystar Television, often shortened to Daystar) is an American evangelical Christian-based religious television network owned by the Word of God Fellowship, founded by Marcus Lamb in 1993. ...

program that focuses on southern gospel music. It can be seen every Saturday. The show has been awarded an Emmy. Penrod won "Soloist of the Year" from the National Quartet Convention in 2013. Penrod released his third solo project titled ''Worship'' in May 2014. In September 2014, Penrod released his first solo Christmas project entitled "Christmas." It became the No. 2 album in Cracker Barrel stores with 30,000 units sold, second only to Blake Shelton. Also in 2014, Penrod was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame alongside the Gaither Vocal Band. Penrod released his first solo DVD entitled ''Live: Hymns & Worship'' in January 2016. The Project was filmed at

. The release debuted at No. 1 on the ''Billboard'' chart for music videos sold upon its release. The album debuted at #2 on the "Billboard" chart for contemporary Christian music. Penrod was a featured performer at the Faith Freedom & Future Inaugural Ball hosted by the

Family Research Council The Family Research Council (FRC) is an American evangelical activist group and think-tank with an affiliated lobbying organization. FRC promotes what it considers to be family values. It opposes and lobbies against: access to pornography, emb ...

, following the January 2017 inauguration of U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington, DC. In March 2017, Penrod returned with an album entitled ''Classics''. The album was a new solo recording of popular songs he performed during his tenure with the Gaither Vocal Band. Penrod has often appeared on the stage of the "Grand Ole Opry" as a guest artist. Penrod reached back into the well of beloved hymns with his 7th solo release. ''Blessed Assurance'' was released in February 2018. The album includes Penrod singing twelve newly recorded hymns featuring his signature country sound.

Personal life

Penrod and his wife, Angie (Clark), have eight children—seven boys and a girl. All of their children are home schooled.

Discography

Solo

With the Gaither Vocal Band

* 1995: ''Southern Classics'', Vol. 2 * 1997: ''Loving God & Loving Each Other'' * 1998: ''Still The Greatest Story Ever Told'' * 1999: ''God Is Good'' * 2000: ''I Do Believe'' * 2002: ''Everything Good'' * 2003: ''A Cappella'' * 2004: ''The Best Of The GVB'' * 2006: ''Give It Away'' * 2007: ''Together'', feat. Ernie Haase & Signature Sound * 2008: '' Lovin' Life'' * 2008: ''Christmas Gaither Vocal Band Style'' * 2009: ''Reunion'', Vol. 1 & 2 * 2019: ''Reunion''

Singles

Music videos

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Penrod, Guy Living people 20th-century American singers 20th-century Christians 21st-century American singers 21st-century Christians American performers of Christian music Hobbs High School alumni Liberty University alumni People from Taylor, Texas Southern gospel performers 20th-century American male singers 21st-century American male singers Year of birth missing (living people)