A red phosphor composition in combination with a semiconductor light emitting device (e.g., VCSEL, LED, or LD), preferably a GaN based device, that emits light at a bright violet-blue light range, i.e., having a wavelength in the range of 400 nm to 600 nm, which can be further combined with green and blue phosphors. The red phosphor composition in the combination is a vanadate combined with yttrium, gadolinium and/or lanthanum and activated with trivalent Eu3+, Sm3+ and Pr3+, or any combination thereof, with or without Tb3+ as a co-dopant, has the general formula: BixLn1−xVO4:A where x=0 to 1, Ln is an element selected from the group consisting of Y, La and Gd, and A is an activator selected from Eu3+, Sm3+ and Pr3+, or any combination thereof, with or without Tb3+ as a co-dopant. Novel red phosphor compositions are provided when x is greater than 0 and less than 1, preferably 0.05 to 0.5.