Gaither & Vernon Oliver Price, Yes, God Is Real | Music Lifts

In the third edition of Music Lifts (2025), we’re uplifted by Gaither and Vernon Oliver Price performing, “Yes, God Is Real (Live).”

Welcome to Music Lifts , a column highlighting songs that encourage, inspire, and uplift the spirit; songs exuding fortitude, positivity, and resolve, even in the face of adversity.  Featured songs aren’t genre-specific; songs may or may not be faith-based. The goal is for these songs to make you feel better – be LIFTED to new heights!  So, for the third edition of Music Lifts (2025), we highlight “Yes, God Is Real (Live)” as performed by Gaither and Vernon Oliver Price.

“Yes, God is real / Oh, He’s real in my soul / Yes, God is real / For He has a washed / And made me whole.”  Those are moving and powerful lyrics.  They hail from one of the greatest hymns, “Yes, God Is Real.” “Yes, God Is Real” is especially special to me. Why? It was the song that my grandfather sang lead on.  Also, I honored my grandfather at his funeral by singing this Kenneth Morris-penned classic.  An oldie but a goodie, Gaither, comprised of some of gospel’s greatest vocalists, led by the late, great Vernon Oliver Price (1929 – 2023), delivers a rousing, live rendition of  “Yes, God Is Real.” “Yes, God Is Real (Live)” is the second track on the live album Gospel Pioneer Reunion (Live), released in 2016.  Note: the album was recorded long before its release.

“His love for me

Is just like pure gold,

My God is real

For I can feel

Him in my soul.”

A slower hymn with three verses, Gaither only performs the first and most famous collectively (“There are some things / I may not know…”).  Before blessing us with these meaningful words and sublime voices, the musical accompaniment catches the ears.  The piano (Donald Vails initially) and organ (Billy Preston) playing are phenomenal. After the choir performs the verse and first iteration of the chorus, Oliver Price enters the mix with her commanding, dynamic, gritty, soulful, and ‘anointed with the holy spirit’ voice. The presence of this COGIC singer is indescribable – you have to hear and see it for yourself!  The sole con of “Yes, God Is Real (Live)” is that Oliver Price’s rousing solo is far too short! The brief moment she bestows on us is awesome to the nth degree.  The same can be said of this ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ performance.  Sadly, many of these musicians have passed away.  This is one of many special Gaither moments we’ll never forget.

Vernon Oliver Price // Gospel Pioneer Reunion (Live) // Spring House Music Group // 2016

Vernon Oliver Price, Yes, God Is Real (Live): Music Lifts No. 3 (2025) [: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Spring House Music Group; BD Jewel, Dave H, Jean-Daniel Francoeur, Joshua Brown, Vansh Mehta from Pexels; AcatXIo, OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay]