Bill Gaither is a fan of the spontaneous. That’s what spawned dozens of Homecoming videos and a highly successful tour of gospel musicians.

It is exemplified nearly every time they step on stage. The Alexandria native doesn’t hesitate to change carefully-rehearsed routines midstream if he feels the spirit leading. Sometimes it backfires, though.

At GaitherFest Oct. 2-3 in Myrtle Beach, S.C., an event that marks one of the annual highlights of the Homecoming tour, the musicians presented their numbers in the usual fashion. Crowd reaction, though, was more than business as usual. Standing ovations prevailed as the Carolina crowd — half of which was from outside the Carolinas —– understood what was happening and reacted accordingly.

Starting with Kim Collingsworth’s piano rendition of “How Great Thou Art.” Kim, who pours her being into her piano presentations, was greeted with a standing O.

Then came 12-year-old Logan Smith, who has mastered every note and inflection of the late Vestal Goodman. Smith appeared in Anderson a week earlier along with Jeff and Sheri Easter and ventriloquist David Pendleton. After Logan brought down the house, Gaither effectively threw him a curve by steering him onto another Goodman song. This one Logan had not mastered the ending, and he had to work his way out of it a bit awkwardly. The next night Logan captured another standing ovation with Vestal’s version of “What a Lovely Name.”

Pendleton also fell victim to the spontaneity, but only briefly. He has a routine in which he uses live “dummies,” in this case Gaither, guitarist-humorist Kevin Williams and the Gaither Vocal Band’s irrepressible Mark Lowry. Everything was going fine until Lowry furtively switched places with Gaither, momentarily bringing things to a hilarious halt.

Most of the artists’ signature numbers resonated with the crowd: Ernie Haase and Signature Sound with “Then Came the Morning” and “Get Away Jordan.” The Vocal Band showcasing its three tenors in “It Is Finished” and adding “Let Freedom Ring.” Ivan Parker with “Thank You.” Lynda Randle with “God On the Mountain.” The Collingsworth Family with “The Blood of Jesus.” The Isaacs with “It Is Well With My Soul” and a revival of “The Three Bells.” Michael English with “Daystar” and “I Bowed On My Knees.” Lowry with his latter-day Christmas classic, “Mary Did You Know,” co-written by Buddy Greene who brought the crowd to its feet with his harmonica version of “William Tell Overture.” And the Vocal Band combining with Signature Sound on Gloria Gaither’s “I Then Shall Live.”

Gloria keynoted the Saturday morning session with a presentation on the significance of a name. Her name (Gloria), she explained, refers to honoring God. She had fully expected to become a missionary but instead “settled” for becoming a songwriter, notwithstanding the fact her songs have been sung around the world. That was forcefully pointed out to her during a trip to South Africa, she explained.

Spontaneity? The Gaither organization has it.

Jim Bailey’s column appears on Wednesday. He can be reached by e-mail at jameshenrybailey@earth link.net.