Starting at 7 p.m. on Friday, it's homecoming weekend all over again with Bill Gaither's Homecoming Concert at the Bryce Jordan Center.

The Grammy-award-winning Gaither has spent the last
30 years composing and pro-
ducing Christian hits, such as "It's Beginning to Rain" and "Jesus, We Just Want To Thank You."

"He had gained a lot of popularity in the '80s and '90s in a video series, and that's how he's grown," said Bernie Punt, the Jordan Center's sales and marketing director.

Joining the tour are his wife and members of the Gaither Vocal Band, followed by Ben Speer, the Isaacs, Jeff and Sheri Easter, Lynda Randle, Kevin Williams, the Crabb Family and others.

"It started about 13 years ago to honor pioneers in our field, and it developed into this," Gaither said.

The four-hour-long show of hand clapping and dancing offers various genres of music, from bluegrass to contemporary.

"We've got ballads that'll make you cry; we've got it all," solo artist Russ Taff said.

Despite appealing to the Christian music scene, Gaither's concert aims to embrace an audience from all walks of life.

"Everybody is included, whether you're black, green or yellow. It's very entertaining," Taff said.

Marking his sixth appearance in State College, Gaither will be performing center-stage, offering a great vantage point for all who attend, Punt said.

Gaither presents a night that focuses solely on joy of music and camaraderie.

"It's musically rich and it's like a bit of history and you're seeing it live," Punt said. "You're not looking for a theatrical audience. He tells stories about the music and where he's been -- almost like he's talking in your living room -- and that's why people keep coming back."

Drawing from a very large and loyal fan base, many drive as long as three to four hours to catch the show.

"He has a large following in this area," Punt said. "Once you're a fan, you're hooked."

With a crowd anywhere from 8,000 to 16,000 people a night, the show always gives the same message for everyone.

"I hope that at the end of the night, we offer some hope, some inspiration, some diversion," Gaither said.

Tickets are available at the Bryce Jordan Ticket Center, Eisenhower Auditorium, Downtown Theatre Center and the Altoona Campus ticket outlet, by phone at 865-5555 or 863-3336, or online at www.bjc.psu.edu.