By Jeff Wilson
Enquirer contributor

An all-star music celebration took place Saturday night at U.S. Bank Arena. The master of ceremonies was Bill Gaither, a major figure in southern gospel music for decades. Elvis Presley dipped into the Gaither songbook, as have churches around the country.

Mr. Gaither told the audiences that one reason he initiated his "Homecomings" was "to bring honor to the pioneers in our field." This event carried on that tradition, featuring such veterans as Jake Hess from the Imperials, Ben Speers from the Speers, and Vestal Goodman, a founding member of the Happy Goodman Family, a seminal gospel group that dates back to the 1950s. Also featured were a slew of younger performers, including some relative unknowns.

Fitting everyone in took 41/2 hours, and by journey's end 55 songs had been played. Some were as tried and true as "The Star Spangled Banner" and "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands" while others were recent singles on the gospel charts.

Like country music, gospel has lost something due to commercialization, and some performances seemed slick and stylized. From the calculated gestures to the cheesy synthesizer sounds, David Phelps' rendition of "The End of the Beginning" belonged in a Vegas casino show. A recording of Anthony Burger's "Hallelujah Chorus," which sounded like Mannheim Steamroller butchering Handel, could quickly clear a party.

Some of the best moments were simple and uncluttered. Because their voices blended beautifully, the a cappella version of "Blessed Assurance" that members of the Isaacs delivered needed no adornment. Vince Gill's "Rest High on a Mountain" received a warm reading by Charlotte Ritchie and Sheri Easter. All Janet Paschal needed was an acoustic guitar and a smattering of harmonica behind her to do justice to "It Won't Rain Always."

The highest honors, however, go to Vestal Goodman, who sang "God Walks the Dark Hills" and "Until the Storm Passes By" with an authority few artists can match. Hearing her sing one verse made it clear why it was so important for Bill Gaither to take his show on the road.