David Phelps

David Norris Phelps was born on October 21, 1969, in Tomball, Texas. His early life was influenced by his parents; his father, Gene, was an accountant/banker and his mother, Mary Ella, was a retired English Professor. Phelps also has two older sisters, Sherri Proctor and Kari Lee, the latter a professional trumpeter. He graduated from Tomball High School in 1988 and then pursued higher education at Baylor University. At Baylor, he studied music and vocal performance, graduating in 1992. During his time at university, he directed the Baylor Religious Hour Choir and trained with vocal coach Joyce Farwell.

Phelps joined the Gaither Vocal Band in 1997, where he served as the tenor. He remained with the group until 2005, and later rejoined them from 2009 to 2017, often sharing the tenor role with Wes Hampton. His work with the Gaither Vocal Band has garnered him several accolades, including multiple Dove Awards and platinum-selling projects. In 2017, Phelps departed from the Gaither Vocal Band to concentrate on his solo career. He has released numerous solo albums and Christmas collections throughout his career. His 2012 live concert DVD, “David Phelps: Classic,” was featured on PBS, and his 2018 song “Catching Santa” was used in a Google Pixel advertisement in 2019.

Throughout his career, Phelps has achieved significant recognition for his vocal abilities and musical contributions. He is a four-time Grammy Award nominee and has received twelve Dove Awards. He has also participated in stage musical productions, portraying the dual role of Adam and Noah in concert versions of “Children of Eden” at both the Cadillac Palace Theatre in 2022 and Lincoln Center’s David Geffen Hall in 2024. Phelps is married to Lori Purtle Phelps, and they have four children: Callie, Maggie Beth, David Grant, and Coby. His family has occasionally appeared in his video projects, including “The Best of David Phelps” from the Homecoming Series and the “Classic” video.