American gospel music legend, singer, producer, and pastor Gary McSpadden has died at the age of 77 in Tulsa after battling cancer.
McSpadden’s wife wrote in a statement on the Faith And Wisdom Church Facebook page, where the singer taught, that he had been fighting pancreatic cancer along with other complications and died on the morning of April 15.
“As most of you know Gary and I have been in Tulsa at the Cancer Treatment Center of America. Gary has been battling cancer along with other complications over the last several weeks,” his wife wrote in the statement.
“This has been a quick and difficult journey we have been on. We knew this week that God had a plan and his healing would be here on earth or in heaven.”
McSpadden was diagnosed with cancer earlier this year, and his condition quickly worsened, Classic Country Music reported.
The singer’s wife said he died peacefully surrounded by his family members.
“I would like to thank all the Faith and Wisdom Church family and all the many friends who have prayed with us during this time,” she said.
“Due to extenuating circumstances with COVID-19, we are working on plans for a celebration of life at a later date. We will be communicating those plans as they develop.”
‘A Man of Many Talents’
McSpadden was a former member of The Oak Ridge Boys, The Imperials, The Gaither Trio, and Gaither Vocal Band, with musical roots in quartet music and southern gospel.
The Texas singer was inducted three times into the Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame, in 1998, 1999, and 2000.
The former Oak Ridge Boys member was not just a singer, but a man of many talents. McSpadden produced Dove Award-Winning recordings for numerous groups like, The Bill Gaither Trio, The Cathedrals, and The Gaither Vocal Band.
McSpadden began his solo music career in 1979 and recorded 16 albums throughout his career with albums like “Hymns From the Heart” in 1988 and “Southern Gospel Classics” in 2000.
He also produced TV series such as “Jubilee,” and produced and appeared in several music concerts in the 1990s and 2000s, Christian music portal Hallels reported.
Besides his musical success, McSpadden became a pastor together with his father in Fort Worth, Texas, in 1967. They worked together for 13 years at the Faith and Wisdom Church in Branson, Missouri.
American singer and a 46-year member of The Oak Ridge Boys, Joe Bonsall took to social media to mourn McSpadden’s death.
“When I was a young singer with The Faith Four Quartet I thought Gary McSpadden was the coolest gospel singer ever … He was once an Oak Ridge Boy but I saw him with The Imperials and often imitated (quite badly) his rendition of ‘Gloryland’ … Rest Easy Gary,” Bonsall wrote on Twitter.
One of the largest independent Christian music companies, Gaither Music Group also took to Twitter to pay tribute to McSpadden.
“Our good friend Gary McSpadden passed away this morning,” the group wrote. “This is a real loss for our whole family, for us and for the whole world. Gary was an incredible person.”
