"If they could see you through my eyes,
they'd know where the real beauty lies.
Deep inside your heart, who you really are;
if they could see you through my eyes."

Those words, so eloquently penned by multi-talented singer/songwriter and pianist Gordon Mote, appropriately convey the testimony of an individual whose life is a true reflection of the beauty that can only be seen, looking through the eyes of love. The Alabama native was born in the small town of Gadsden, and moved to Talladega at the age of six, just a few miles from the famed Talladega Motor Speedway. Totally blind from birth, Mote quickly learned to see through his other senses. In fact, he remembers hearing the roar of the race cars as they sped along the two and a half mile track, and being intrigued by the sound so much that he became a huge racing fan. His Sunday afternoons were spent listening to NASCAR races on the radio.

Mote became intrigued by the sounds of many sporting events on the radio and television. The Alabama native remembers listening to basketball, football, baseball and any other sporting event that happened to be airing. He admits to closely following the play-by-play of major league baseball, football and basketball, as well as the Alabama Crimson Tide as each season rolled around. In fact, this avid sports fan confesses, "I think I could say 'roll Tide' before I could ever say 'daddy'."

The joy of sports filled much of Mote's youthful years; however, even before his attraction to sports, came his attraction to music. On Thanksgiving Day, when Mote was just three years old, he surprised his parents when they heard beautiful piano music and found their young son sitting at the piano, playing like a seasoned musician, displaying his true God-given talent.

Recognizing that their son possessed an extremely unique gift, Mote's parents supported their son's talent and encouraged his efforts, claiming the promise of Jeremiah 29:11, and believing that their son could excel in whatever he chose to do, as long as he placed Christ at the center of his goals.

Excelling is exactly what he did. Mote was one of the first blind students in the country to mainstream into the public school system. He graduated high school with honors, and served as band captain of his high school's award winning marching band. Additionally, Mote received many awards and honors in state and regional vocal competitions. While other young people his age were riding bikes or playing ball, Mote was perfecting his musical gifts. He dedicated himself to playing and singing, and on weekends he traveled to churches and any place the opportunity was presented for him to share his music.

Upon graduation from high school, he received a full scholarship to Jacksonville State University in Jacksonville, AL. After three years at JSU, he transferred to Belmont University in Nashville, TN, where he graduated with Cum Laude honors and a degree in music.

Two days after graduating from Belmont, Mote was hired as keyboard player and background vocalist for Grammy Award winning recording artist, Lee Greenwood. Joining Greenwood was just the beginning of an illustrious musical career that has afforded Mote the opportunity to share the concert stage with such popular recording artists as Martina McBride, Tanya Tucker, Trisha Yearwood and even Porter Wagoner at the famed Grand Ole Opry.

Additionally, over the years, Mote has become one of the most accomplished and sought-after recording studio session players in Nashville, TN. He has played on recording sessions for the likes of Martina McBride, Alan Jackson, Trace Adkins, Randy Travis, Kenny Chesney, Rascal Flatts, Mark Lowry, the Gaither Vocal Band, Ernie Haase & Signature Sound and The Martins, just to name a few.

Recently, much to the delight of industry peers and music fans nationwide, Mote began producing his own recordings. In 2005, his recording "If You Could Hear What I See," received the Dove Award nomination for Instrumental Album of the Year from the Gospel Music Association. Additionally, for the past three years, Mote has been nominated as Piano/Keyboard Player of the Year by the Academy of Country Music. Most recently he received nominations for Breakthrough Artist of the Year, Musician of the Year and Album of the Year from the Southern Gospel News.

Mote's brand new vocal recording, "There's No Place That Love Can't Reach," as well as his new instrumental recording, "Jesus Loves Me," which contains his personal testimony, was released by RSI Music Group, and promises to hold even greater success for this multi-talented individual. In addition to staying busy in the recording studio, throughout 2007, Mote will be featured on solo concerts nationwide, and will be a part of the Gaither Homecoming Concert events with legendary singer/songwriter Bill Gaither and his famed Gaither Vocal Band.

While it's quite clear that one of Mote's greatest joys is performing on stage, this talented musician takes his greatest pleasure in serving as husband to wife, Kimberly, and father to two beautiful children, Samantha and Parker. Mote first met his wife of almost 15 years at Belmont University and the two enjoy spending as much time together as Mote's extremely busy schedule will afford. It's Kimberly who served as the inspiration for Mote's popular song, "If They Could See You Through My Eyes," which appropriately conveys the testimony of this gifted, anointed individual.

The journey hasn't always been easy for this 36-year old; however, it's most evident that Mote is basking in the joys of the Lord, and clearly living each day, looking through the eyes of love!

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