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\nI\u2019ve come to realize that unless Gaither kicks Phelps or Hampton down to baritone (unlikely), he really needs to hire a baritone and not a lead to fill the gap left by Michael English and Mark Lowry. That still leaves open the Shane McConnell possibility (after all, he is currently singing baritone with Canton Junction), but it also opens up others.
\nI\u2019ve heard one rumor that praise and worship leader Travis Cottrell is a contender to fill that gap. Here are seven reasons why that might be a good move:
\n1. He\u2019s a friend of Wes Hampton\u2019s, so he already has a personal connection with the group. I also found this article from 2009<\/a>, showing Bill Gaither and Travis leading worship together at Brentwood Baptist Church.
\n2. He\u2019s a songwriter, so adding him could provide a source for fresh GVB material in the long run. Hampton even covered his song \u201cJesus Saves\u201d on a solo project.
\n3. His voice is contemporary enough to flex with the GVB\u2019s shifting styles, yet well-rounded and full enough not to stick out like a sore thumb next to a singer like David Phelps.
\n4. He already has a fan-base in the praise and worship market, which could draw more young fans to southern gospel if he joined forces with the Vocal Band.
\n5. He\u2019s a \u201cpeople person,\u201d and in a genre like southern gospel where artists are more accessible to the fans, that\u2019s an asset to any group, even if one could argue that the GVB is a little more \u201cupper-class\u201d than your average SG artist.
\n6. He\u2019s funny. I could definitely see Bill letting him do a little stand-up comedy in the Lowry tradition, although I\u2019m not sure how die-hard fans would react (I personally would welcome it as a fresh change).
\n7. He\u2019s young. And he has, erm, a nice face. \ud83d\ude09
\nThe one question that remains is whether Cottrell could adapt from being a soloist to being a quartet man. The baritone position isn\u2019t necessarily the most glamorous. Would Cottrell\u2019s voice slide comfortably into that supporting role? I\u2019ve also noticed that his vocal technique can be somewhat breathy and strained, especially when he turns up the volume. But then, no doubt joining the GVB would be an excellent way for him to grow as a vocalist. In my opinion, he is at his best when he\u2019s relaxed and opening his throat in the classic style, not trying to pop it up so much. Rather like David Phelps, come to think of it, though minus the freakish range.
\nHere are a few examples of what Cottrell can do. First, here he is leading a choir in a performance of a worship song called \u201cJesus is the Lord.\u201d You might get tired of the song after a few minutes, but it does give you a good introduction to his voice:
\nhttp:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=TdKIHH96Wes&w=560&h=315<\/a>\nSecond, one of my favorite hymns, \u201cGod Leads Us Along.\u201d
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