Ben Speer

Ben Lacy Speer was a lifelong figure in Southern Gospel music, known for his work as a singer, publisher, educator, and music director for the Gaither Homecoming series. He was born on June 26, 1930, in Double Springs, Alabama, the youngest child of Lena and George Thomas "Dad" Speer, who founded the acclaimed Speer Family group. Ben Speer spent nearly 57 years as a member of the Speer Family, helping to shape the sound of Southern Gospel through decades of recordings and performances.

In 1950, he founded the Ben Speer Music Company, which became an important publisher of Southern Gospel music. Through this company, he published enduring songs such as “What a Day That Will Be,” “I’m Standing on the Solid Rock,” “Touring That City,” and “I’ll Walk Them Golden Stairs.” In 1988, he established Ben Speer’s Stamps-Baxter School of Music, a program designed to train artists in music theory and singing technique, further investing in the next generation of gospel musicians.

For many years, Ben Speer served as music director for the Gaither Homecoming video series and concert tours, helping to guide the musical direction of these widely viewed gatherings. His contributions to Southern Gospel were recognized with several honors. In 1995, he was inducted into the Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame, and in 1998, he was inducted into the Southern Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame. In 2002, he was also inducted into the Southern Gospel Piano Roll of Honor.

Ben Speer passed away on April 7, 2017, in Nashville, Tennessee, leaving behind a legacy of service to gospel music as a performer, publisher, teacher, and director.