David Phelps was born in Tomball, Texas, to Gene and Mary Ella Phelps. Gene is a former accountant/banker who currently teaches business and finance at a college in Houston. Mary Ella is a retired English Professor. He has two older sisters, Sherri Proctor and Kari Lee. Sherri sang backup vocals for him on tour, before dying from cancer in September 2012,^[2]) while Kari is a professional trumpeter who tours with the Chicago-based Millar Brass Ensemble.

Phelps grew up in Tomball, Texas and graduated from Tomball High School in 1988. He attended Baylor University, where he directed the Baylor Religious Hour Choir and studied with vocal coach Joyce Farwell.^[3] He graduated in 1992 with a degree in music and vocal performance.^[4]

Phelps was part of the Gaither Vocal Band from 1997 to 2005 and again from 2009 to 2017. He shared the tenor part with Wes Hampton from 2009 to 2017. In early 2017, he left the group to focus on his solo career. He was replaced by Reggie Smith. Phelps has won twelve Dove Awards (with the Gaither Vocal Band),^[5] is a four-time Grammy Award nominee^[6] and has had several platinum-selling projects. His recent Classic has aired on PBS.^[7] In 2019, Phelps' song "Catching Santa" from his 2018 album It Must Be Christmas was featured in an advertisement for Google's Pixel smartphone.^[8]

David's wife is Lori Purtle Phelps (also born on October 21, 1969). They have four children: Callie, Maggie Beth, David Grant and Coby.^[7] Callie, Maggie and Grant can be seen on the Gaither Homecoming videos Christmas in the Country and A Time for Joy. The whole family is featured on the video, The Best of David Phelps from the Homecoming Series. All four children sing on the Classic video, as well.

^[9]

Solo albums edit

Singles edit

• 2006: "The Power of the Dream"
• 2007: "There Is a Fountain"
• 2016: "Water" (live)
• 2017: "Santa Claus, Get Well Soon" (studio)
• 2020: "Last Night on Earth"

Compilations edit

• 2009: The Best of David Phelps (Word)
• 2010: Top 10 (Word)
• 2015: David Phelps: The Ultimate Collection

With the Gaither Vocal Band edit

• 1998: Still the Greatest Story Ever Told
• 1999: God Is Good
• 2001: I Do Believe
• 2002: Everything Good
• 2003: A Capella
• 2004: Best of the Gaither Vocal Band
• 2009: Reunion Vol. 1 & 2 (live)
• 2009: Reunited
• 2010: Better Day (live)
• 2010: Greatly Blessed
• 2011: I Am a Promise
• 2012: Pure and Simple
• 2014: Hymns
• 2014: The New Edition
• 2014: Sometimes It Takes a Mountain
• 2015: Happy Rhythm
• 2015: Christmas Collection
• 2016: Better Together
• 2019: Reunion live
• 2020: Reunited live

Appearances on other albums edit

• 1998: In My Life Larry Gatlin (Spring House) (background)
• 1999: Within Old Pages Walt Mills (Homeland Records) (background)
• 2000: Lordsong Lordsong (Daywind); "Trial of the Heart" (background)
• 2000: Homecoming Praise – Volume 2; "Rock of Ages, Cleft For Me", "Yes, I Know!" (solo)
• 2001: Lauren Talley Lauren Talley (Horizon); "The Prayer" (duet)
• 2001: Mark Lowry On Broadway (Spring Hill); "A Whole New World" (duet with Sandi Patty)
• 2001: Pursuing His Presence The God Chasers (Spring Hill); "Completely Yours" (solo)
• 2002: Homecoming Lullabies Gaither Gospel Series; "I Spy" (solo)
• 2006: The Nativity Story: Sacred Songs Various (Watertower Music); "The Virgin's Lullaby" (Background)
• 2007: Something Beautiful (Disc 2) Gaither Gospel Series; "Dream On" (solo) and "I Walked Today Where Jesus Walks" (Solo)
• 2008: Wait – 10th Anniversary Edition Lana Ranahan; "Then Came The Morning" (duet) and "I've Just Seen Jesus" (duet)
• 2009: Let Go Sheila Walsh (Spring Hill), "The Prayer" (duet)
• 2009: In All I Do Paid in Full; "Because I Love Him" (solo)
• 2010: Love Will Find a Way Steve Green; "God Is Love" (background)
• 2012: Hands of Time Anthony Burger; "What A Savior Medley" (background)
• 2012: Windows in the World Charlotte Ritchie; "After The Last Tear Falls" (background)
• 2013: Some People Change Michael English; "I Wouldn't Take Nothing for My Journey" (background)
• 2014: A Beautiful Life Charlotte Ritchie; "Revelation Song" and "Go Rest High on That Mountain" (background)
• 2014: Out on a Limb Wes Hampton; "Echo of You" (trio/solo), "My Father's House" (background)
• 2016: Let The Glory Come Down Prestonwood Celebration Choir; "Child, You're Forgiven" (solo)
• 2016: 1915: Christmas With Fanny Crosby The Public Square; "Hallelujah Christ Is Here" (solo)
• 2017: The Corner of Broadway & Main Street Voctave; "Being Alive" (solo)
• 2017: Praises from a Grateful Heart Charlotte Ritchie; "Your Great Name" (background)
• 2017: Quanah Larry Gatlin (featured soloist)
• 2018: The Hero - A West End & Friends Tribute West End & Friends; "The Hero" (solo)
• 2019: Your Time Will Come Ensemble Animato (featured soloist)
• 2019: Shine Melissa Brady; "Just Beyond The River Jordan" (duet)
• 2021: The Church Triumphant Artists for the Church; "The Church Triumphant" (solo)
• 2021: I Believe Carly Paoli; "Carly Paoli & Friends" (duet)

YouTube Exclusives edit

• 2020: All I Ask Of You
• 2022: The Star-Spangled Banner (studio version)

Solo edit

• 2006: Legacy of Love [LIVE]
• 2007: No More Night: David Phelps Live in Birmingham
• 2007: O Holy Night
• 2010: Christmas With David Phelps
• 2012: Classic (Gaither Gospel Series)
• 2015: Freedom (Gaither Gospel Series)
• 2018: It Must be Christmas (Gaither Gospel Series)
• 2019: Hymnal (Gaither Gospel Series)
• 2021: Stories & Songs Vol. I
• 2023: Stories & Songs Vol. II

With the Gaither Vocal Band edit

• 1998: Hawaiian Homecoming
• 2002: I Do Believe
• 2003: Australian Homecoming
• 2009: Reunion Volumes 1 & 2
• 2010: Reunited
• 2010: Better Day
• 2012: Pure and Simple Volumes 1 & 2
• 2015: Sometimes It Takes a Mountain
• 2015: Happy Rhythm
• 2019: Reunion live
• 2020: Reunited live

Gaither Homecoming Video featured performances edit

• 1998: Kennedy Center Homecoming; "The Battle Hymn of the Republic"
• 1998: All Day Singin' at the Dome; "I'll Fly Away"
• 1998: Atlanta Homecoming; "What a Meeting in the Air", "Jesus Saves"
• 1998: Journey to the Sky; "O Love That Will Not Let Me Go"
• 1998: Passin' the Faith Along; "I Can't Even Walk"
• 1999: Sweet Sweet Spirit; "The Love of God"
• 1999: So Glad; "The Lifeboat"
• 2000: Christmas in the Country; "O Holy Night", "The Christmas Song", "Jingle Bells"
• 2000: Good News; "I'm Free", "What A Meeting in the Air"
• 2000: Irish Homecoming; "This Could Be the Dawning of that Day"
• 2000: Whispering Hope; "The Lifeboat", "When God Dips His Love in My Heart"
• 2000: Harmony in the Heartland; "A House of Gold", "Oh, What a Time"
• 2000: Memphis Homecoming; "Searchin'", "Build an Ark", "God is Good All the Time"
• 2001: A Billy Graham Music Homecoming – Volume 2; "The Love of God", "It is Well with My Soul"
• 2001: Mark Lowry On Broadway; "A Whole New World" (duet with Sandi Patty)
• 2002: Freedom Band; "Worthy the Lamb"
• 2002: I'll Fly Away; "I'll Fly Away", "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross"
• 2002: God Bless America; "End of the Beginning", "The Battle Hymn of the Republic"
• 2003: Heaven; "No More Night", "What a Day That Will Be"
• 2003: Rocky Mountain Homecoming; "These are They"
• 2003: Australian Homecoming; "Let the Glory Come Down"
• 2004: We Will Stand; "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross", "Sweeter As the Days Go By"
• 2005: Jerusalem; "It Is Well with My Soul", "These are They", "Second Fiddle"
• 2007: How Great Thou Art; "There Is a Fountain Filled with Blood"
• 2008: Rock of Ages; "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross"
• 2010: Giving Thanks; "You Are My All in All", "I Will Sing of My Redeemer"
• 2011: The Best of David Phelps from the Homecoming Series
• 2011: Alaskan Homecoming; "America, the Beautiful", "Clean", "These are They"
• 2011: Majesty; "His Eye Is on the Sparrow"
• 2011: Tent Revival Homecoming; "I Stand Amazed," "He's Alive"
• 2017: Sweeter As The Days Go By: "We'll Talk It Over"

• David Phelps at AllMusic
• Official website
• "When God Dips His Love" video