Legendary country music producer Tony Brown produced the Gaither Tribute album with award-winning artists honoring the songs of Bill and Gloria Gaither. The 10-song collection was released on August 25 via Gaither Music Group with distribution by Capitol Christian Music Group and Universal Music.
New Gaither Tribute features Gaither compositions reinterpreted by artists, including Cece Winans, Alabama featuring The Oak Ridge Boys, Reba and Susie McEntire with Sonya and Becky Isaacs, Josh Turner, Jamey Johnson, Ronnie Dunn, Ronnie Milsap, Lee Ann Womack, The SteelDrivers, Hillary Scott and The Scott Family.
Growing up in North Carolina, Tony was raised on southern gospel music, and at the age of 19, he began his career playing in gospel quartets with J.D. Sumner and the Stamps Quartet until he was 25. This led to him playing with The Oak Ridge Boys, winning the “Best Instrumentalist” Dove Award as a keys player, which was a turning point in Tony’s career in southern gospel. Surrounding himself with gospel singers, Tony then accompanied Elvis Presley, well-known for his love of gospel music, as his keys player in the TCB band. He later became a prominent figure in the country music industry as an iconic record producer, record label executive, and keys player. As a record producer who had the honor of working with country music artists, Tony bridged his roots in gospel music to honor the music of the Gaithers.
Since Bill and Gloria Gaither met more than 60 years ago, these gospel music icons and songwriters have been writing masterpieces. There are countless performers and inspiring people around the globe who have recorded their songs. Tony Brown had been wanting to do a faith-based record combining his background in southern gospel music with his career as a country music producer.
Tony says, “To give back to the music that I grew up with and contribute to honoring the music that got me to where I stand today is something that was an answered prayer and a full-circle moment! This was a completely dedicated effort to honor my heritage with my present success, and I am very proud of the outcome.”
The collaborative effort between various artists and Tony Brown was aimed at celebrating the legacy and impact of Bill and Gloria Gaither’s music. By creating new renditions of these classics, the artists infused their own unique styles and interpretations into the music. Southern gospel music has a rich history and has played a crucial role in shaping the broader landscape of American music.
“This recording is a special one for all involved,” stated Paul Sizelove, president of Gaither Music Group. “Each of these artists selected a song from Bill and Gloria’s renowned catalog and created new renditions of these classics. Tony Brown worked with them to create a collection that truly represents the heart and style of each of these talented artists. We are so proud of the art they have created, and what an honor to the Gaither legacy to have these heartfelt recordings from these highly-respected performers.”
Over the course of Tony Brown’s monumental career, he has yielded over 100 #1 singles and record levels of sales exceeding the $100 million mark, while simultaneously helping build the careers of a pantheon of stars unparalleled in music history. Tony continues to shape modern-day country music artists like Drake Milligan of Broken Bow Records, who landed #1 on the iTunes All-Genre and Country Top Albums charts, releasing his full-length debut album Dallas/Fort Worth, co-produced by Tony Brown and Brandon Hood. Throughout the years, with younger acts such as Dee White of Q Prime Management (Eric Church, Ashley McBryde, and Brothers Osborne), Tony’s production continues to evolve throughout his 40-year career.
Gaither Tribute Track List:
1. “Jesus and John Wayne” – Alabama featuring The Oak Ridge Boys
2. “He Touched Me “/ “Something Beautiful” – Reba & Susie McEntire with Sonya & Becky Isaacs
3. “Going Home” – Josh Turner
4. “It Won’t Rain Always” – Jamey Johnson
5. “Because He Lives” – Ronnie Dunn
6. “I Just Feel Like Something Good Is About to Happen” – Ronnie Milsap
7. “Gentle Shepherd” – Lee Ann Womack
8. “I Believe in a Hill Called Mount Calvary” – The SteelDrivers
9. “There’s Something About That Name” – Hillary Scott & The Scott Family
10. “The Center of My Joy” – CeCe Winans
To learn more about Tony Brown, please visit TonyBrownEnterprises.com.
Pingback: Ronnie Dunn, Reba McEntire and The Oak Ridge Boys Take Tony Brown Back to His Gospel Roots
Pingback: Ronnie Dunn, Reba McEntire and The Oak Ridge Boys Take Tony Brown Back to His Gospel Roots | Red Devil Radio