Fort Oglethorpe church to host gospel singer Wes Hampton on May 5
Battlefield Parkway Church of the Nazarene in Fort Oglethorpe will host Wes Hampton of the Grammy Award-winning Gaither Vocal Band on Sunday, May 5. The service is at 10 a.m. There is no admission, but a love offering will be received.
In a relatively short amount of time, gospel tenor Hampton has won the hearts of many fans and earned the respect of some of Nashville’s biggest names.
A member of the acclaimed Gaither Vocal Band, Wes’s vocals can be heard on such projects as “Give It Away” and the Grammy Award-winning “Lovin’ Life.” Perhaps you’ve heard his Jordanaires-esque rendition of Thomas A. Dorsey’s classic, “I’ll Tell It Wherever I Go.” And who can forget his moving performance of “There Is A River” from the chart-topping Gaither Vocal Band Reunion?
Hampton was born Dec. 8, 1977, in Memphis. While he was a college student at Trevecca in Nashville, Wes invited Andrea Means to attend a Gaither homecoming concert for their first official date.
After two years at Trevecca, Wes and Andrea were married and moved to Birmingham to complete their education. Wes graduated with a bachelor’s degree from the University of Alabama, then worked as a minister of worship for The Church at Brook Hills in Birmingham for two years before getting a phone call from Bill Gaither that would change his life nearly overnight.
Wes joined the Vocal Band in July 2005 as the group’s tenor. His transition into the Vocal Band was virtually seamless, since he already knew the parts to nearly every song in the GVB’S repertoire. Bill was immediately struck by Wes’s clear, passionate voice, as well as his extensive knowledge of the Vocal Band’s body of work. Most impressive, however, was Wes’s spirit. And since that time, Wes has done far more than sing a part. He has joined the ranks of an exclusive handful of world class singers who have sung tenor for the Gaither Vocal Band over the years.
“Wes has heart. That’s a quality that simply can’t be taught,” Bill has stated.
Wes was a defining influence in the Gaither Vocal Band’s 2008 Grammy-winning and Dove-nominated recording, “Lovin’ Life,” as well as the Dove- nominated Christmas recording, “Christmas Gaither Vocal Band Style,” also which released in 2008. He is indeed among the industry’s most distinct tenor voices, and his tender spirit has further endeared him to audiences all over the world.
The Hamptons reside in Birmingham with their four sons, Barrett, Hudson, Carden and Sutton, while Wes continues to live out his dream with gratitude. His warmth, humility and avid sense of humor consistently bring a breath of fresh air to those who have the privilege of working with him, performing with him or enjoying his talent.
Wes released a cookbook in 2009 titled “A Place At the Table,” and released his first solo recording, “A Man Like Me” in 2010. He is currently authoring a second cookbook and released his second solo recording, “Out on a Limb,” in 2014.