The Gann Brothers Official Website

More Than Just A Trip

Gann Brothers article from the Gospel Voice May 1999 Issue

Phil Gann had just gotten his first set of car keys and said to his brothers, "Alright!, Where do we want to go?" "Are you kidding?" Calvin and Gary asked almost in unison..."Where else would anybody want to go except the singing?" They were referring to the all-night sing in their area of Panama City, Florida featuring the Statesmen, Wendy Bagwell & The Sunlighters, the Happy Goodmans, The Thrasher Brothers, and the Oak Ridge Boys.

Three of the Gann brothers had been singing together almost all of their lives--"crying in harmony in the crib" as they like to refer to it with a smile, and their Dad was a minister who also played guitar for them. Since they loved singing with every part of their being, what else--indeed--would anyone "bitten by the Southern Gospel music bug" want to do, other than go see their role models! So, away they went...

The Best of the Gann Brothers

They've been "going away" ever since. For 16 years the southeastern area of the United States has been privileged to hear their music. After a while Gary moved to Port Richey, FL, but today the group still has that same famous Gann Brothers sound that everyone loves. Calvin and Phil have added George Roberts and Kyle Peddie to their group and they all four feel they're in "One mind and one accord." George and Kyle are getting their first taste of the excitement of a full-time Southern Gospel career and Calvin States, "Phil and I have enjoyed the top-40 success in the past, but watching George and Kyle's enjoyment starts it all over again for us." The Gann Brothers launched their national campaign this past year and their first single released from their most recent project, Renewed, is a Gerald Crabb song called, "Let's Go In." Also they just released a double CD titled "20 years The Best of the Gann Brothers," which has 41 songs and is somewhat a musical history that covers from 1976 to 1996, some of it before they were even called the Gann Brothers, Classic!

The Gann Brothers..."One mind and one accord."

It's no fun for the group to wave goodbye to their families--as many men in Gospel music know, but the wives and children of this group are their biggest supporters. The guys all say, "Without them and their love we could not do this, but they understand the call of God on our lives and have a willing spirit when it comes to our ministry." Calvin, wife Debbie, daughter Amy (16) and son Cory (10), go on family outings when he's home, he likes water sports--plus has produced 50 projects for other artists. But, he really loves coaching for his son's basketball team. Phil and wife Kim have three children, Erik (18), Clete (15) and Kayla (13), and Phil loves, loves, they say--loves golf.

George is married to Mary Katherine and has sons Jarred (16) and Blake (12). George raises and trains deer-hunting dogs, also coaches his son's baseball team. Kyle and Hillary, his wife, and daughter Madison (2) love doing anything together, and though he fishes and hunts, he makes time for preaching revivals in their area.

Calvin Gann

"Without them and their love (the families) we could not do this, but they understand the call of God on our lives and have a willing spirit when it comes to our ministry."

   When it's time to leave home, the Gann Brothers have always made it a point to make each tour more than just another trip, turning each one into an event by pouring their hearts into their songs, entertaining the fans with laughter and fun, and leaving each audience with something eternal to take with them when they leave. The group agrees, "If we miss doing this, we might as well stay at home."

   "Life on the road has it's moments", says Calvin Gann. "Recently when we were headed to Nashville, we all picked up some of those Bubba-Teeth false teeth that make you look like you have never brushed or taken care of your teeth at all. We think that Kevin McManus thought we were craze because we wore those things around almost all of the day at the studio...If nobody else had fun, we did!" They all feel that--even when you're conduction the business of your group, you can still be lighthearted. And they say the business side of Gospel is not unlike any other livelihood; you must learn the business before you can operate within the business, also that anyone who does not look at their group ministry as an occupation needs to look at the local church--which could not stay afloat if not for Godly business-minded people who make wise business decisions.

   The Gann Brothers are thankful to God that He has allowed them to minister for Him, and pray daily for more opportunities to serve His kingdom. It's their prayer that all God's music--not just theirs, will fall on all the ears that God has intended for it to fall on, and that many will come to know the peace, love and joy that only comes in knowing, Jesus Christ personally. Last--but not least, they say, "There is so much information out there in the world to catch the ears and eyes of the general public, that we must do what we do in Southern Gospel with more quality than ever before and the message must be clear--that Jesus is the only answer for the world today!"

   With that interview done, away they went...The Gann Brothers, leaving on what would be--to them--more than just a trip...

Reprinted by permission of Gospel Voice. All rights reserved.