He was the second lead singer in the long history of the Gaither Vocal Band. Then he went on his own as a contemporary Christian soloist, then encountered crises in domestic relations and drug addiction before rebuilding his life. Now he has returned to the Vocal Band, and he says it’s like coming back home.
“It’s almost like going full circle,” English said. “I’m ecstatic about being here. I went solo for a while, but I missed this kind of music.”
English, longtime friend Mark Lowry and soaring tenor David Phelps rejoined the Vocal Band when Guy Penrod and Marshall Hall left a year ago. I hadn’t been able to catch up with English for an interview until Bill Gaither put us in touch recently by phone while Michael was between plane flights.
“When Guy and Marshall left, Bill put 2 and 2 together and called the three of us,” English explained. “Here is where I want to be. I hope Bill and the rest of us stay pretty healthy for a while. In any case I want to continue singing in a group like this.”
English came from a Southern gospel background, which he says is his first love. He was with the Singing Americans when he first recorded his signature song, “I Bowed On My Knees and Cried Holy.”
“When I was with the group before we had a more contemporary sound,” he recalled. “As a soloist I did my own style, but I missed this music. We’re still figuring out where we are as a group; it’s a mix of the new and the old. With Guy they went more toward country. But it’s more traditional gospel now than when Mark and I were here before.”
A few years ago it appeared Michael’s career was on the skids. He relates the story in his book, “The Prodigal Comes Home,” published by Thomas Nelson.
“I’m one of the lucky ones – I got a second chance,” he admitted. “I think nowadays we see a more open-arms God. When anybody goes through stuff and gets to the other side it makes you a stronger person. I think I’m a better husband and father now, and I appreciate life in general.”
A decade after a degree of shunning by the gospel music industry and the public, English doesn’t experience too many negatives these days. “I feel a little more accepted in the Gaither market,” he pointed out. “I’m more at home here. How I’m accepted isn’t the important thing, though. I live the best I can that’s pleasing to God. I want to be a good husband and father, and I work hard on it.”
English continues to do some solo concerts, but he is concentrating hardest on the Vocal Band experience.
“Every day I wake up and I feel more blessed than before,” he summarized. “I think the changes in the group are part of that.”
Jim Bailey’s column appears on Wednesday. He can be reached by e-mail at jameshenrybailey@earthlink.net.
Local Columns
Related Photos
Discussion
Jim Bailey: Michael English comes full circle with GVB
A few years ago, it appeared Michael's career was on the skids
- Local Columns
-
-
Maleah Stringer: Be truthful when filling out an application to adopt a pet
Animal shelters, humane societies and animal rescue groups across the country use adoption applications to screen applicants.
-
Jim Bailey: Plenty of sports celebrities have spoken in Anderson
Those who like to hear about their favorite sports from the horse’s mouth have had plenty of opportunities over the years in Anderson.
-
Don McAllister: Dovetailing on a great column with a word on encouragement
Every day starts a new story, and this one tips its hat to a great column that recently appeared in The Herald Bulletin by Jesse Wilkerson where he emphasized the value of choosing one’s words.
-
Primus Mootry: The challenge of black leadership in the 21st century
As February, Black History Month, approaches, I feel compelled to share some thoughts on issues facing Americans as a backdrop for a series of articles to come next week and throughout the coming month.
-
Emmett Dulaney: The genius of Google
Sometimes, when you encounter genius, you can do nothing but smile.
-
Maleah Stringer: Saving Max program a rewarding reminder
Unless someone works at an animal shelter/humane society or volunteers on a regular basis, it is hard to understand the sheer volume of phone calls, of people coming through the doors for a variety of reasons, the animals, the sadness, the cruelty done to some of these animals and the stress involved in seeing and dealing with all this on a daily basis.
-
Jim Bailey: Another Anderson institution getting ready to close its doors
Older Andersonians will remember that the building at the corner of 12th and Main streets, since reconstructed, wasn’t always the Anderson Public Library. It was once the site of Sears Roebuck & Co.
-
Howard Hewitt: Trips offer credibility and good experience
The wine industry spends a lot of money worldwide to promote brands, regions and wine tourism. One of the many ways the wine industry invests is press trips.
-
Nancy Vaughan: Warm up to the idea of giving heat
Whether we reach, exceed or fall short of the annual campaign goal, we know we have challenges across the community.
-
Emmett Dulaney: Have you planned your exit?
Mark Motluck, business law professor at Anderson University, points out that 76 million Americans were born between 1946 through 1964 and many of these baby boomers are business owners who will be retiring and leaving the business world over the next 20 years.
- More Local Columns Headlines
-
