Gordon James Mote (born October 25, 1970) is an American Christian country/ southern gospel singer, piano player, and

worship leader Contemporary worship is a form of Christian worship that emerged within Western evangelical Protestantism in the 20th century. It was originally confined to the charismatic movement, but is now found in a wide range of churches, including many ...

. He was born blind. He has released eight studio albums. His album ''Don't Let Me Miss the Glory'' (2007) was his breakthrough on the ''

Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertis ...

'' charts.

Early life

Mote was born, on October 25, 1970, in

Gadsden, Alabama Gadsden is the county seat of Etowah County in the U.S. state of Alabama. It is located on the Coosa River about northeast of Birmingham and southwest of Chattanooga, Tennessee. It is the primary city of the Gadsden Metropolitan Statist ...

, as a blind person, where he grew up in nearby Attalla. He attended both

Jacksonville State University Jacksonville State University (JSU or Jax State) is a public university in Jacksonville, Alabama, United States. Founded in 1883, Jacksonville State offers programs of study in six academic schools leading to bachelor's degree, bachelor's, mas ...

, where he spent the first three years of his music education, while he transferred to

Belmont University Belmont University is a Private university, private Christian university in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. Descended from Belmont Women's College, founded in 1890 by schoolteachers Ida Hood and Susan Heron, the institution was incorporate ...

Nashville, Tennessee Nashville, often known as Music City, is the capital and List of municipalities in Tennessee, most populous city in the U.S. state of Tennessee. It is the county seat, seat of Davidson County, Tennessee, Davidson County in Middle Tennessee, locat ...

, where he graduated with honors in music.

Music career

Just after graduating,

Lee Greenwood Melvin Lee Greenwood (born October 27, 1942) is an American country music singer. Active since 1962, he won a Grammy Awards, Grammy Award and he has charted 33 singles on the Hot Country Songs with seven singles reaching the number one. He has ...

asked Mote to join his band. Since then, he has toured with artists such as

Trisha Yearwood Patricia Lynn Yearwood (born September 19, 1964) is an American country singer. She rose to fame with her 1991 debut single "She's in Love with the Boy", which became a number one hit on the ''Billboard (magazine), Billboard'' Hot Country Songs ...

Tanya Tucker Tanya Denise Tucker (born October 10, 1958) is an American country music singer and songwriter who had her first hit, "Delta Dawn", in 1972 at the age of 13. During her career Tucker became one of the few child performers to mature into adulthood ...

Porter Wagoner Porter Wayne Wagoner (August 12, 1927 – October 28, 2007) was an American country music singer known for his flashy Nudie and Manuel suits and blond pompadour. In 1967, he introduced singer Dolly Parton on his television show, ''The Por ...

, the Gaither Vocal Band, and the

Gaither Homecoming ''Gaither Homecoming'' is the name applied to a series of videos, music recordings and concerts, which are organized, promoted and usually presented by Christian music songwriter and impresario Bill Gaither. Beginnings On February 19, 1992, the ...

Tour. In 2001, when a pianist was needed for

Alan Jackson Alan Eugene Jackson (born October 17, 1958) is an American country music singer-songwriter. He is known for performing a style widely regarded as "neotraditional country", as well as writing many of his own songs. Jackson has recorded 21 studi ...

's " Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)" recording, Mote was recommended. After that, he became a very sought-after studio musician, playing on numerous country and gospel artist's albums. His studio album, ''Don't Let Me Miss the Glory'', was his debut as a vocalist. It was released on October 23, 2007, with Spring Hill Records. This album was his breakthrough, appearing on the ''Billboard'' magazine charts, peaking at No. 170 on the

Billboard 200 The ''Billboard'' 200 is a record chart ranking the 200 most popular music albums and EPs in the United States. It is published weekly by '' Billboard'' magazine to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists. Sometimes, a rec ...

and No. 10 on the

Christian Albums Top Christian Albums is a weekly chart published in ''Billboard'' magazine that ranks the best-performing Christian albums in the United States. Like the ''Billboard'' 200, the data is compiled by Nielsen Soundscan based on each album's weekly ...

chart.

Discography

Albums

Gaither Homecoming Video featured performances

*2007: ''How Great Thou Art''; "Shall We Gather at the River" *2008: ''Homecoming Picnic''; "Sweet Forgiveness" *2008: ''Country Bluegrass Homecoming, Volume 1''; "I Know Somebody Who Does" *2008: ''Country Bluegrass Homecoming, Volume 2''; "Ain't Gonna Give Up on God" *2010: ''Giving Thanks''; "

Everything Is Beautiful "Everything Is Beautiful" is a song written, composed and performed by Ray Stevens. It has appeared on many of Stevens's albums, including one named after the song, and has become a pop standard and common in religious performances. The childre ...

" *2011: ''Alaskan Homecoming''; "I'm Working on a Road" *2011: ''Majesty''; "When I Lift Up My Head", "Heaven's Jubilee" *2012: ''Mercy Walked In''

Awards and nominations

References

External links

*
Cross Rhythms profile
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mote, Gordon 1970 births American performers of Christian music Blind musicians Christian country singers Gospel music pianists Living people Singers from Alabama Songwriters from Alabama Musicians from Gadsden, Alabama Southern gospel performers 21st-century American singers 21st-century American pianists American blind people American musicians with disabilities