As a preacher's son and a protégé nurtured under the massive Bill Gaither gospel umbrella, gospel singer Guy Penrod's solo releases bring a touch of down-home country familiarity to the contemporary Christian music table. Penrod perfected a style that, without much embellishment, allowed him to explore classic country gospel hymns as well as contemporary praise & worship songs without ruffling a single feather. Penrod was born on July 2, 1963 in Abilene, Texas, and was raised in Hobbs, New Mexico, where his father was the pastor of Temple Baptist Church. Before he graduated Hobbs High School in 1981, Penrod had already assembled and recorded an album, singing all the parts himself. After attending and graduating Liberty University, he began working as a studio session singer, doing backup vocals for artists like Carman, Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith, Garth Brooks, and others. He was also a member of the Christ Church Choir. Penrod met Bill Gaither at a studio session and was soon a member of the Bill Gaither Vocal Band, where his powerful singing and vocal range brought him lot of fans via Gaither's various international Homecoming concerts. He was also a key contributor to nearly a dozen albums released under the Bill Gaither Vocal Band moniker. Penrod left to go solo in 2009, the same year that his debut solo album, Breathe Deep, appeared. (Penrod was still part of the Gaither organization, with Gaither's label releasing his recordings.) Produced by Brent Rowan, Breathe Deep consisted of fairly traditional country with Christian and spiritual overtones, a template Penrod would make his own. Hymns followed in 2012, with Worship and a holiday album titled Christmas both arriving in 2014. A popular live performer, Penrod documented the strength of his on-stage appeal with the Live: Hymns & Worship album. In 2017, Penrod returned with the studio album Classics, which found him revisiting many of his best-known songs. ~ Steve Leggett, Rovi

Guy Penrod

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