Gary sits down around the piano in Belfast with a genuine gospel music legend: Bill Gaither. If you've ever hummed along to "He Touched Me" or "Because He Lives" without knowing who wrote them, well, now you do. Bill unpacks the stories behind his best-loved songs, from Larry Gatlin's "Greatly Blessed, Highly Favoured" to the accidental beginnings of the Homecoming videos, and explains why a good gospel song needs solid theology, poetry and heart in equal measure.




Along the way Bill talks candidly about the songs he wishes more people had heard, working (and gently competing) with wife Gloria's lyrics, and that time Donnie McGuire wrote a better melody than he did in 45 minutes flat. There's talk of loss, perspective, crossing cultures and denominations, and why "most of it's bad" but the good stuff survives — Steve Allen's line, not Gary's. A warm, funny, occasionally moving chat with one of gospel music's true elder statesmen.



Tune into A Very Tall Man from Midnight - 6:00am on the Rhema Media App.

For more from the show, visit the A Very Tall Man page at rhema.co.nz

Produced using AI tools under human supervision.

Gary sits down around the piano in Belfast with a genuine gospel music legend: Bill Gaither. If you've ever hummed along to "He Touched Me" or "Because He Lives" without knowing who wrote them, well, now you do. Bill unpacks the stories behind his best-loved songs, from Larry Gatlin's "Greatly Blessed, Highly Favoured" to the accidental beginnings of the Homecoming videos, and explains why a good gospel song needs solid theology, poetry and heart in equal measure. Along the way Bill talks candidly about the songs he wishes more people had heard, working (and gently competing) with wife Gloria's lyrics, and that time Donnie McGuire wrote a better melody than he did in 45 minutes flat. There's talk of loss, perspective, crossing cultures and denominations, and why "most of it's bad" but the good stuff survives — Steve Allen's line, not Gary's. A warm, funny, occasionally moving chat with one of gospel music's true elder statesmen. Tune into A Very Tall Man from Midnight - 6:00am on the Rhema Media App.For more from the show, visit the <a href="https://www.rhema.co.nz/listen-on-demand/no-content/overnights-with-gary" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A Very Tall Man</a> page at rhema.co.nzProduced using AI tools under human supervision.

Get to know your favourite artists, musicians, authors and speakers with a very tall man – Gary Hoogvliet.

Get to know your favourite artists, musicians, authors and speakers with a very tall man &ndash; Gary Hoogvliet.

A Very Tall Man

Get to know your favourite artists, musicians, authors and speakers with a very tall man – Gary Hoogvliet. This time in America chatting to well-known Christians about their calling and faith.

Get to know your favourite artists, musicians, authors and speakers with a very tall man – Gary Hoogvliet. This time in America chatting to well-known Christians about their calling and faith.