By David Stallings, Landmark Productions
LEESVILLE – Grammy and Dove Award-winnning recording artist, Guy Penrod, will perform in concert at 7 pm on June 4 in the Leesville High School Auditorium.
Guy Penrod was born July 2, 1963, in Abilene, Texas. He is a pastor’s kid who spent his growing up years in Texas and New Mexico. When it was time to go off to college, Guy moved to Lynchburg, Va., to attend college at Liberty University, where he studied music and vocal performance. In addition to his studies, Guy served as a representative of the University by traveling and singing on the weekends. After four years he had earned not only a Bachelor’s degree, but also a lot of valuable singing and ministry experience.
He met a certain tall, athletic beauty named Angie Clark while attending Liberty University and the couple was married on the evening of Guy’s graduation day. They moved to Atlanta, Ga., where Guy worked as the music teacher at a Christian school, but after only a year he heard Nashville calling his name.
In Nashville, Guy became a successful studios session singer during the early 1980s, backing up a star-studded line-up of country and gospel music’s best. He eventually became a regular performer on the weekly television program, Music City Tonight until he joined the Gaither Vocal Band in 1994.
After stepping in as the Vocal Band’s lead singer, Guy became a defining influence for the group. His larger-than-life presence and powerhouse vocals endeared him to audiences all over the world for more than 13 years.
In a press release on Jan. 13, 2009, Bill Gaither announced that Penrod would be leaving the Gaither Vocal Band and starting a solo career.
In August 2009, Penrod released his debut solo album, Breathe Deep, on the Servant Records label. Produced by veteran country music producer and studio musician Brent Rowan, the album consists of positive country music with Christian undertones.
Penrod’s sophomore solo album Hymns debuted at No. 1 on the Nielsen SoundScan Southern Gospel retail chart, became the top-selling southern gospel album of 2012, and was also one of the year’s top-selling gospel recordings in Cracker Barrel Old Country Store® nationwide. Hymns sold over 100,000 units.
In 2012, Penrod became the new host of Gospel Music Showcase, a popular Daystar Television Network program that focuses on southern gospel music. It can be seen every Saturday. The show has been awarded an Emmy.
Penrod would win “Soloist of the Year” from the National Quartet Convention in 2013. He released his third solo project titled Worship in May 2014.
In September 2014, Penrod released his first solo Christmas project entitled “Christmas.” It became the No. 2 album in Cracker Barrel stores with 30,000 units sold, second only to Blake Shelton.
As of early 2015, Penrod remains one of the highest selling and sought after gospel performers within the genre with combined career sales of over 4 million units.
Penrod released his first solo DVD entitled Live: Hymns & Worship in January 2016. The Project was filmed at Thomas Road Baptist Church. The release debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard chart for music videos sold upon its release. The album debuted at No. 2 on the “Billboard” chart for contemporary Christian music.
A cowboy to his core, Guy and his family reside on a farm on Tennessee countryside, where he finds great joy playing and working outdoors whenever possible.
The Leesville High School Auditorium is located at 502 Berry Avenue, Leesville, LA 71446. Seating is General Admission and tickets are priced at $20 advance and $25 at the door. Tickets available in Leesville at Galilean Christian Book Store. Order online at www.GuyPenod.com or by phone at 800.965.9324.
