Former Gaither singer defies definitions

Don’t let the Gaither connection fool you. If you’re headed for a David Phelps concert with the idea of hearing only southern gospel, then you might be disappointed. 
   
But if you’re looking to experience a high-energy mix of Christian contemporary and gospel, along with some hymns — and even a touch of patriotism — then Phelps is your man. 
   
The guy, who recently appeared at First Baptist Church, Trussville, refuses to be pigeonholed, and the result is a range of music that appeals to fans of all ages.
   
“I’m kind of an enigma,” Phelps told The Alabama Baptist in a recent interview. “I just really want to sing good music, and the style of it doesn’t matter that much. I’m not going to not sing a great song just because it doesn’t fit into the contemporary world and vice versa. I just want to be about singing great music that touches people.”
   
And touching people with his music is what Phelps has been doing for most of his life. A member of a musical family, he spent many of his childhood days singing in Houston-area churches.
   
“When I hit junior high, it really wasn’t cool to sing, so I kind of stopped for a little while,” Phelps said. “But ninth grade was a turning point for me, when I sang for my town’s concert and got a standing ovation. I got in the car that night and told my dad, ‘OK, this is what I want to do for the rest of my life.’”
   
After that, the momentum started building and, according to Phelps, never really stopped. 
  
He started singing whenever and wherever he could, and his network in the music world began to grow.
   
“I started getting asked [to sing] more and more, and it’s always just been a part of whatever I do,” Phelps said. “I’ve been doing solo work since I was 18. I did my first concert at my home church and was kind of commissioned to go out and do this, so I’ve been doing it pretty much my whole life.”
   
After nine years on his own,  he joined the popular Gaither Vocal Band and remained with the group for eight years, only recently announcing his resignation. During that period, the group won four Dove Awards and two Grammy Awards and completed 13 gold- and 15 platinum-selling projects.
   
All the while, Phelps continued his solo efforts, encouraged by the group’s namesake, Bill Gaither. But about a year ago, after the release of his phenomenally successful CD “Revelation,” Phelps felt that God was telling him to move in another direction.
   
“I really didn’t want to hear that at first,” he admitted. “It was a hard thing to come to grips with. But a few months ago, I talked to Bill (Gaither) about it, and he is such a great supporter and friend. He wishes me well so it’s all good.”
   
Among Phelps’s current projects is a CD titled “Life Is a Church,” due out in September. He wrote many of the songs for the album himself, often working in conjunction with other songwriters. 
   
The inspiration for much of the material, he said, is his family.
   
“Stylistically I feel like this record is a real settling point for me,”  Phelps explained. “I feel like it’s very real and that it’s more of who I really am. It’s a lot about family, kids and how God fits into all of that. It’s kind of right where my life is right now.”
   
But his family, he said, not only inspires him but grounds him. Phelps met his wife, Lori, while both were students at Baylor University. They have been married for 13 years and have four children, ranging in age from 17 months to 10 years.
   
“What drew me to [Lori] is that she wasn’t impressed,” he recalled. “She just liked me for who I was, and that’s something that’s always drawn me in. It’s also what makes me want to be with my kids. They love me just because I’m their dad.”
   
And despite his star status, Phelps is, for the most part, just like any other dad. He’s an old pro at diaper changing, and he manages to enjoy some of the less onerous tasks of fatherhood such as riding horses, fishing and swimming with the kids. The main difference is that he takes his family along on concert tours.
   
But for all the emphasis he places on family and music, Phelps recognizes that his talent brings with it a higher calling. The abilities and opportunities he has been given, he feels, should always be used in honor of the Giver.
   
“I know that God is really moving,” Phelps said. “I’m just praying that I’m in the middle of that instead of trying to do something good and asking God to bless it.”