David Phelps (musician)

{{Short description|American singer (born 1969)}}

{{Multiple issues|

{{notability|Music|date=January 2019}}

{{BLP sources|date=May 2010}}

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{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2020}}

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = David Phelps

| image = David at nqc.jpg

| caption = September 2009

| birth_name = David Norris Phelps

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1969|10|21}}

| birth_place = Texas, U.S.

| instrument = Vocals, piano

| genre = Southern gospel, Christian

| occupation = {{hlist|Musician|singer|songwriter|producer}}

| years_active = 1994–present

| label = Springhill, Word

| associated_acts = Gaither Vocal Band

| website = {{url|www.davidphelps.com}}

}}

David Norris Phelps (born October 21, 1969) is an American Christian music vocalist, songwriter, vocal arranger, and producer who is best known for singing tenor in the Gaither Vocal Band.{{cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p33943|pure_url=yes}}|title=Biography: Gaither Vocal Band|last=Bush|first=John|publisher=AMG|accessdate=May 6, 2010}} He has also released several solo albums, including four Christmas collections. On January 13, 2008, Phelps appeared on Extreme Makeover Home Edition for the Woodhouse family.

Biography

David Phelps was born in Tomball, Texas, to Gene and Mary Ella Phelps. Gene is a former accountant/banker who currently teaches business and finance at a college in Houston. Mary Ella is a retired English Professor. He has two older sisters, Sherri Proctor and Kari Lee. Sherri sang backup vocals for him on tour, before dying from cancer in September 2012,{{cite web |title=Sherri Denise Proctor |url=http://columbiadailyherald.com/sections/obituaries/sherri-denise-proctor.html |access-date=November 15, 2012 |archive-date=October 30, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121030145043/http://columbiadailyherald.com/sections/obituaries/sherri-denise-proctor.html |url-status=dead}}) while Kari is a professional trumpeter who tours with the Chicago-based Millar Brass Ensemble.

Phelps grew up in Tomball and graduated from Tomball High School in 1988. He attended Baylor University, where he directed the Baylor Religious Hour Choir and studied with vocal coach Joyce Farwell.{{cite web|url=https://digitalcollections-baylor.quartexcollections.com/Documents/Detail/david-phelps-recital-april-19-1991/376698|title=David Phelps [Recital], April 19, 1991|website=Baylor Quartex Collections|access-date=20 September 2023}} He graduated in 1992 with a degree in music and vocal performance.{{cite web |url=https://jocoreport.com/multiple-grammy-award-winning-recording-artist-david-phelps-brings-phelps-family-band-to-dunn/|title=Multiple Grammy Award Winning Recording Artist, David Phelps Brings Phelps Family Band To Dunn |website=JoCoReport.com |date=February 26, 2020 |access-date=January 10, 2021}}

Phelps was part of the Gaither Vocal Band from 1997 to 2005 and again from 2009 to 2017. He shared the tenor part with Wes Hampton from 2009 to 2017. In early 2017, he left the group to focus on his solo career. He was replaced by Reggie Smith. Phelps has won twelve Dove Awards (with the Gaither Vocal Band),{{Cite web|url=https://doveawards.com/awards/past-winners/|title=Past Winners | The 51st Annual GMA Dove Awards|accessdate=January 10, 2021}} is a four-time Grammy Award nominee{{Cite web|url=https://www.grammy.com/grammys/artists/david-phelps/5186|title=David Phelps|date=November 23, 2020|website=GRAMMY.com|accessdate=January 10, 2021}} and has had several platinum-selling projects. His recent album Classic has aired on PBS.{{Cite web|url=http://gaither.com/artists/david-phelps|title=David Phelps {{!}} Gaither Music|last=Music|first=Gaither|website=gaither.com|access-date=April 24, 2017}} In 2019, Phelps' song "Catching Santa" from his 2018 album It Must Be Christmas was featured in an advertisement for Google's Pixel smartphone.{{cite web|url=https://www.phonearena.com/news/night-sight-captures-santa-in-the-dark-in-new-ad_id121095|last=Friedman|first=Alan|accessdate=December 16, 2019|date=December 13, 2019|publisher=PhoneArena.com|title=Google's new ad for Night Sight shows Santa captured in the dark

}}

Phelps has appeared in two stage musical productions. He portrayed the dual role of Adam and Noah in concert versions of Children of Eden. The first was at Cadillac Palace Theatre in 2022 and the second at Lincoln Center’s David Geffen Hall in 2024.

Personal life

David's wife is Lori Purtle Phelps (also born on October 21, 1969). They have four children: Callie, Maggie Beth, David Grant and Coby. Callie, Maggie and Grant can be seen on the Gaither Homecoming videos Christmas in the Country and A Time for Joy. The whole family is featured on the video, The Best of David Phelps from the Homecoming Series. All four children sing on the Classic video, as well.

Discography

{{BLP unsourced section|date=October 2014|reason=Which charts did the albums peak on? Release year and label also need sourcing.}}

{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/artist/3469371-David-Phelps-2|title=David Phelps (2)|website=Discogs|accessdate=January 10, 2021}}

=Solo albums=

class="wikitable"
Year

! Album

! Peak chart
position

! Record label

! Record producer

1994

| Journey to Grace

|

|

|

2000

|Joy, Joy

|

|rowspan="2"|Spring Hill

|Matt Huesmann, David Phelps

2001

|David Phelps

|

|Phil Naish

2004

|Revelation

|align="center"|7

|rowspan="7"|Word

|Regie Hamm, Christopher D. Harris

2005

|Life is a Church

|align="center"|9

|Greg Bieck

2006

|Legacy of Love: David Phelps Live!

|align="center"|28

|Phelps, Jim Chaffee

rowspan="2"|2007

|No More Night: Live in Birmingham

|

|Phelps

One Wintry Night

|align="center"|23

|Monroe Jones, Phelps

rowspan="2"|2008

|The Voice

|align="center"|15

|Monroe Jones

O Holy Night [LIVE]

|align="center"| 4

|Phelps, Jim Chaffee, Jimmy Abegg, Ben Pearson

rowspan="2"|2010

|Christmas With David Phelps [LIVE]

|align="center"|

|Spring House

|rowspan="2"|Phelps

Family Band

|align="center"|

|

2012

|Classic

|align="center"| 2

|Spring House

|Phelps, Bill Gaither

2015

|Freedom

|align="center"| 1

|Gaither Music Group

|Phelps, Bill Gaither

2017

|Hymnal

|align="center"| 1

|Gaither Music Group

|Phelps, Bill Gaither

2018

|It Must Be Christmas

|

|Spring House

|Phelps, Bill Gaither

2021

|GameChanger

|

|Stowtown Records

|Phelps, Grayson Proctor

2024

|Speak of Love

|

|

|

=Singles=

  • 2006: "The Power of the Dream"
  • 2007: "There Is a Fountain"
  • 2016: "Water" (live)
  • 2017: "Santa Claus, Get Well Soon" (studio)
  • 2020: "Last Night on Earth"

=Compilations=

  • 2009: The Best of David Phelps (Word)
  • 2010: Top 10 (Word)
  • 2015: David Phelps: The Ultimate Collection

=With the Gaither Vocal Band=

  • 1998: Still the Greatest Story Ever Told
  • 1999: God Is Good
  • 2001: I Do Believe
  • 2002: Everything Good
  • 2003: A Capella
  • 2004: Best of the Gaither Vocal Band
  • 2009: Reunion Vol. 1 & 2 (live)
  • 2009: Reunited
  • 2010: Better Day (live)
  • 2010: Greatly Blessed
  • 2011: I Am a Promise
  • 2012: Pure and Simple
  • 2014: Hymns
  • 2014: The New Edition
  • 2014: Sometimes It Takes a Mountain
  • 2015: Happy Rhythm
  • 2015: Christmas Collection
  • 2016: Better Together
  • 2019: Reunion live
  • 2020: Reunited live

=Appearances on other albums=

  • 1998: In My Life Larry Gatlin (Spring House) (background)
  • 1999: Within Old Pages Walt Mills (Homeland Records) (background)
  • 2000: Lordsong Lordsong (Daywind); "Trial of the Heart" (background)
  • 2000: Homecoming Praise – Volume 2; "Rock of Ages, Cleft For Me", "Yes, I Know!" (solo)
  • 2001: Lauren Talley Lauren Talley (Horizon); "The Prayer" (duet)
  • 2001: Mark Lowry On Broadway (Spring Hill); "A Whole New World" (duet with Sandi Patty)
  • 2001: Pursuing His Presence The God Chasers (Spring Hill); "Completely Yours" (solo)
  • 2002: Homecoming Lullabies Gaither Gospel Series; "I Spy" (solo)
  • 2006: The Nativity Story: Sacred Songs Various (Watertower Music); "The Virgin's Lullaby" (Background)
  • 2007: Something Beautiful (Disc 2) Gaither Gospel Series; "Dream On" (solo) and "I Walked Today Where Jesus Walks" (Solo)
  • 2008: Wait – 10th Anniversary Edition Lana Ranahan; "Then Came The Morning" (duet) and "I've Just Seen Jesus" (duet)
  • 2009: Let Go Sheila Walsh (Spring Hill), "The Prayer" (duet)
  • 2009: In All I Do Paid in Full; "Because I Love Him" (solo)
  • 2010: Love Will Find a Way Steve Green; "God Is Love" (background)
  • 2012: Hands of Time Anthony Burger; "What A Savior Medley" (background)
  • 2012: Windows in the World Charlotte Ritchie; "After The Last Tear Falls" (background)
  • 2012: How You Walk the Miles Karen Peck & New River; "How You Walk the Miles" (background)
  • 2013: Some People Change Michael English; "I Wouldn't Take Nothing for My Journey" (background)
  • 2014: A Beautiful Life Charlotte Ritchie; "Revelation Song" and "Go Rest High on That Mountain" (background)
  • 2014: Out on a Limb Wes Hampton; "Echo of You" (trio/solo), "My Father's House" (background)
  • 2016: Let The Glory Come Down Prestonwood Celebration Choir; "Child, You're Forgiven" (solo)
  • 2016: 1915: Christmas With Fanny Crosby The Public Square; "Hallelujah Christ Is Here" (solo)
  • 2017: The Corner of Broadway & Main Street Voctave; "Being Alive" (solo)
  • 2017: Praises from a Grateful Heart Charlotte Ritchie; "Your Great Name" (background)
  • 2017: Quanah Larry Gatlin (featured soloist)
  • 2018: The Hero - A West End & Friends Tribute West End & Friends; "The Hero" (solo)
  • 2019: Your Time Will Come Ensemble Animato (featured soloist)
  • 2019: Shine Melissa Brady; "Just Beyond The River Jordan" (duet)
  • 2021: The Church Triumphant Artists for the Church; "The Church Triumphant" (solo)
  • 2021: I Believe Carly Paoli; "Carly Paoli & Friends" (duet)

=YouTube Exclusives=

  • 2020: All I Ask Of You
  • 2022: The Star-Spangled Banner (studio version)

=Vinyl=

  • 2024: Do You Here What I Hear? (album)

Video

=Solo=

  • 2006: Legacy of Love [LIVE]
  • 2007: No More Night: David Phelps Live in Birmingham
  • 2007: O Holy Night
  • 2010: Christmas With David Phelps
  • 2012: Classic (Gaither Gospel Series)
  • 2015: Freedom (Gaither Gospel Series)
  • 2018: It Must be Christmas (Gaither Gospel Series)
  • 2019: Hymnal (Gaither Gospel Series)
  • 2021: Stories & Songs Vol. I
  • 2024: Stories & Songs Vol. II

=With the Gaither Vocal Band=

  • 1998: Hawaiian Homecoming
  • 2002: I Do Believe
  • 2003: Australian Homecoming
  • 2009: Reunion Volumes 1 & 2
  • 2010: Reunited
  • 2010: Better Day
  • 2012: Pure and Simple Volumes 1 & 2
  • 2015: Sometimes It Takes a Mountain
  • 2015: Happy Rhythm
  • 2019: Reunion live
  • 2020: Reunited live

References

{{Reflist}}