Lineup impressive for 2010 concert

Jason Crabb

Mark Lowry

The on-stage antics and beautiful baritone voice of Gaither artist Mark Lowry, the acclaimed voice of 10-time Dove Award winner Jason Crabb and the humor and stunning harmonies of America's top bluegrass band Dailey & Vincent all will be featured in Rector's 2010 concert to benefit the Rector High School Helping Hands Foundation.

The amazing lineup for the Thursday, Aug. 5, show is announced this week by Foundation co-founder Bill Carter of Lebanon, Tenn., producer of gospel music's much-loved Gaither Homecoming videos. Carter, for years a force in Nashville as a representative of many of country music's top artists, has, since the Foundation was established in late 2006, used his influence to bring to Rector some of the nation's finest talent.

Dailey & Vincent

Rector's first concert, in July 2008, featured former Lonestar lead singer Richie McDonald, multiple Grammy winner Russ Taff, powerful vocalist and pianist Gordon Mote and talented Gaither artists Reggie and Ladye Love Smith, along with Kevin Williams, a Gaither singer/guitarist who served as emcee.

Williams returned in 2009 as emcee for another powerful concert which featured The Isaacs, an amazing family known worldwide for their bluegrass/gospel talents, Dailey & Vincent, then emerging as one of Nashville's hottest new bluegrass groups, and gospel great Guy Penrod, a former Gaither Vocal Band member who launched his solo career with his Rector performance.

Williams has been embraced by the Rector community for his warmth, humor and his efforts to encourage support for the Helping Hands Foundation and its work in providing help in many ways for disadvantaged Rector students.

Tickets for the 2010 show will go on sale in the spring and, after a rapid sellout of tickets for the 2009 show, it is anticipated there will be a tremendous response for a show of this magnitude.

As the silly sidekick of gospel singer/songwriter Bill Gaither, host of the Homecoming Tour and mentor of many of gospel music's finest artists, Lowry has brought laughter to audiences all over the world, yet his talent as a singer and songwriter also have won him much acclaim. While working on a Christmas play at his church, he wrote the lyrics to a song which has now become a Christmas standard, "Mary Did You Know?," described as "simple, breathtaking and thought-provoking."

Crabb was for years the powerhouse lead vocalist for The Crabb Family and, after other family members retired in 2007, launched a solo career which has taken him all over the world. A Grammy nominee, his songs are described as "authentic and lyrically rich." He is said to have "one of the most acclaimed voices in all of gospel music."

Crabb has performed at Carnegie Hall, become a "fan favorite" at the Grand Ole Opry, appeared regularly on the Gaither Homecoming Series videos and was honored to sing for the Rev. Billy Graham's farewell crusade in New York City.

Dailey & Vincent burst onto the scene in 2007, winning a number of International Bluegrass Music Awards, including Entertainer of the Year, Vocal Group of the Year, Album of the Year (Dailey & Vincent), Male Vocalist of the Year (Jamie Dailey), Emerging Artist of the Year and more -- this after the two principals, Jamie Dailey and Darrin Vincent, had amassed awards and accolades for years in separate music careers. They repeated as Entertainer of the Year winners in 2009 and, in their first Rector appearance in August of this year, received several standing ovations in an hour-long performance.

Jamie Dailey sang lead, baritone and tenor with Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver for almost a decade, has recorded with Dolly Parton and Rhonda Vincent, appeared on five Gaither Homecoming DVD's and was a guest on Ricky Skaggs' Grammy-winning Brand New Strings album.

Vincent, who plays mandolin, bass and guitar and sings lead and harmony vocals, started singing at age three and playing music at age six as part of his family band, The Sally Mountain Show, along with sister Rhonda Vincent. As a member of Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder for 10 years, he won five Grammy Awards.

Williams has been performing and recording with Bill Gaither and his organization for the last 19 years. Williams is known by many fans for both his talent with a guitar and his humorous offerings onstage. He also writes a humor column in the Gaither Homecoming magazine.

Originally from Kentucky, Williams has been playing the guitar most of his life. By age 12, he was playing in quartets and gospel groups. He was introduced to Bill Gaither in 1991. Williams was called in as a substitute guitarist for a Gaither recording session. His skill and personality caught the group's eye, and he has been a part of hundreds of recordings since.