Eben N. Gilbert, Jr. was born in McMinnville on July 28, 1938 to Eben N. Gilbert, Sr. and Lois Evans Gilbert. While he was still in grammar school, his parents moved to Chattanooga where he attended Chattanooga public schools. After finishing his B.A. in Music and Biblical studies at Lipscomb University, he taught band first in Harlan, Ky., and then in McMinnville at Central, City and then Warren County Consolidated High School.