Singer brings humor, gospel to Shawnee event

Q: Where do you get your material for your comedy?

A: I broke my leg riding a motorcycle, and that became a story. My dysfunctional childhood became a story. It's all from observing life. I try to keep my eyes open. I remember as I was going down on that motorcycle saying, ‘Stay awake! Stay awake! Don't miss this,' because I knew something important was about to happen, and I wanted to watch it. I didn't want to go unconscious and miss it. I hit my head on the pavement, and I had two stitches on my head and shattered my leg. For a year, I did concerts in a motorized wheelchair. I asked the Lord, ‘Can I please have some material that doesn't hurt?' I nearly wheeled off the stage a few times. It was an experience.

Q: What is your next project?

A: We're (Bill Gaither and Gaither Vocal Band) doing a video and we're trying to come up with stuff for that. The older I get, the harder it gets. I was with them for 13 years and I left and came back. That first year back, we went to Europe. I said, “Bill, what are you doing?” He said, ‘I didn't think I'd get back to these places.' I said ‘Well, your bucket list is killing me.'

Q: What can you tell me about the “Unplugged & Unplanned” event?

A: Basically, I tell people to expect the unexpected. I don't have a program. If I wrote out a program, I'd forget where I put it. I get up there and I decide what the first song will be and I know what the last song will be — “Mary Did You Know.” That's the song I'm known for. People want to hear that, and so I always end with that, but I never know how we're going to get there. Every night is different.