Chris Gibbs -- North Carolina's Gospel Gentleman

Chris Gibbs came up ‘hard,’ or at least that’s what some would have called being raised on a dairy farm in the rural community of Fairfield, North Carolina. He was the baby boy of a flock of ten: five girls and five boys. Chris’s close-knit family seemed to be singing all the time.

“As a child that’s the first that I remember – the singing,” said Chris brandishing his classic down-home smile. “We were singing everywhere: at home during all the different activities of cooking, eating and chores along with singing at sunrise through sunset and of course at milking time. It was a time that I cherish. My book of childhood memories is written in the vibrant colors of music. To a certain degree I equate music with love. They really are close in character. It’s hard to be mad and fight while you’re singing along with someone isn’t it?”

Young Chris sang first ‘in public’ as a teenage choir member at Pleasant Grove Church of Christ. Beginning in 1975 he was a member of the Country Gospelairs, a popular regional quartet. He ministered with the group until 2001. Then the Lord began to make some changes in His plans for the singing career of Chris Gibbs.

Chris has always enjoyed singing with others. In fact, he still takes some dates with a trio consisting of his nephew ‘Lil’ Chris and Tynia Dee, his niece.

Gibbs has always experienced a burning desire to sing. His love of singing has enabled Chris to touch many people over the years, performing gospel, country, patriotic and even a little Elvis thrown in. He continues to accept invitations to concerts and church functions along with family reunions, weddings, charitable events and funerals. Chris has been utilizing his talents with Relay for Life fundraising events for several years where he has served in several counties of North Carolina including Beaufort, Hyde, Washington and Martin. Here he has made a lot of friends and along the way picked up a considerable number of supporters and fans.

Family and friends had encouraged Chris to record an album for many years. He finally got the nerve to contact Randy Stalls at Vision Quest Music in 2004. From that first contact with his record producer he has grown into a national charting artist.

“This local guy walks through the door here at the record company,” begins Randy Stalls as he leans back in his office chair with a smile and a glisten in his eyes. “He said his name was Chris and he wanted to know how to go about making a record. Well, I don’t record a lot of artists local to my region. It’s not that I don’t want to; I mean I’m here for whoever wants to make a go at a career, but to be completely honest with you there are few that can cut the mustard. I record folks from all over the country and the world for that matter, from the Grand ‘Ole Opry to jolly ‘ole England. Buses are parked out front most all the time and the local hotels house people speaking with foreign accents asking directions to Vision Quest.”

Chris Gibbs told Mr. Stalls he wanted to record of CD of Gospel music that folks had been requesting that he sing. He made selections of songs like “He Touched Me,” “I Can’t Even Walk,” and “The Anchor Holds.”

“Chris had his ducks lined up,” said Mr. Stalls. “He knew what he wanted to sing and one of the first things that impressed me about Chris was his ability to take ‘constructive criticism.’ I’ve been accused of being tough in the studio. And I guess I’m guilty as charged. I see my job as a producer to require from the artist the very best performance possible. Chris was willing to learn. He was willing to go home and work on things I had taught him and then come back with that big old smile on his face ready to sing it until it was right. Oh man, he was so nervous the first time I handed him the headphones and plugged a mike up for him. The Chris from then ‘til now is not even the same guy as far as professionalism. He was as green as a collard green when he first started with me in the studio and now he’s as mature and ripe as a delicious Eastern North Carolina watermelon. We have helped him become a big national star and folks listen to his music every day in every state in America and across the oceans, but he’s kept his humility and the manners of a true gentleman. You can’t help but like Chris. And by the way, if you think recording is easy, give me a call and let’s book some time in the studio. It’s hard work to get a record done that someone other than your Momma wants to hear.”

And a record indeed is what the partnership of Chris and Randy achieved. The initial pressing of Chris Gibbs’s first album sold out in one weekend!

“I called Randy on Monday morning bright and early,” said Chris laughing. “I said, ‘I need some more CD’s.’ ‘You need some more CD’s? What do you mean? You just got your order Friday,’ was Randy’s response. ‘Yep, that’s right, and I need some more CD’s,’ is what I told him”

And more CD’s is what Chris ordered and more CD’s is what the record company manufactured in their plant located at the record company facilities. More CD’s in fact than any other local or regional artist had ever sold in the history of the company.

“Chris is the Number One seller of CD’s of all the semi-pro artists I’ve ever produced,” said Randy Stalls. “People love him. He has the ‘IT.’ You can’t buy it. You can’t learn it. You either have it or you don’t have it. I’m excited to see just where he will end up as Chris moves toward a full-time professional career in Gospel music. It’s there for him. The doors have been opened now.”

And they have sprung open indeed for this good-hearted country boy from Carolina. Chris Gibbs’ very first single charted in all the national charts including The Singing News.

“The Singing News chart action is huge,” said Randy Stalls. “Any chart is a great accomplishment and achieving Singing News national chart status is an industry standard that artists strive for, many of them for years, even decades. Chris has scored this field goal the first time he kicked the ball. We are all very proud of him here at the record company.”

The song, “Hammers, Nails and Wood” has become an almost instant classic and radio programmers all across the country are asking when this Chris Gibbs fellow is going to release another original tune!

Recently Chris Gibbs had his SECOND nationally charting song, “There’s Coming A Time.”

Plans are in the making for another single release to follow-up on the dynamic two smash releases recorded by Chris Gibbs. This time the song will feature Chris as not only a singer but writer as well! Keep your radio tuned in for more Chris Gibbs music!