Monday, November 24, 2008

Legacy Five

With the Cathedrals retiring in 1999 a new quartet was formed by Roger Bennett and Scott Fowler Legacy Five. This group has been one of our favorites and has been a favorite of the Singing News fans since their start.

Legacy Five has been a regular feature at the National Quartet Convention, and has preformed with the Gaither Homecoming Friends. They have been nominated for 40 Singing News Fan Awards, including Best Traditional Male Quartet in 2004. At the 2007 Fan Awards, Roger Bennett was posthumously awarded Favorite Musician Award. He had won it 15 times in a row, and is the holder of the record for most consecutive such awards to date. Pianist Roger Bennett died March 17, 2007 from complications related to leukemia.

Members include,

Tenor: Josh Cobb (1999-2000), Tony Jarman (2000-2004), Frank Seamans (2004-present)

Lead: Scott Fowler (1999-present)

Baritone: Scott Howard (1999-present)

Bass: Glenn Dustin (1999-present)

Piano/Fifth Vocalist: Roger Bennett (1999-2007), Tim Parton (2007-present)

Friday, November 21, 2008

Ernie Haase & Signature Sound

Ernie Hasse, found his place in southern gospel music while with the Cathedral Quartet. After the Cathedrals retired he had a solo carrier for several years and then sang with Jake Hess, Wesley Pritchard, and his father-in law George Younce with the Old Friends Quartet. In 2002 he founded a new quartet Ernie Hasse and Signature Sound.

Ernie Haase and Signature Sound are a high energy quartet that you know are a little different the first time you see them. With their short ties and spiked hair you know that your in for a good time from the moment they take the stage. These guys will really get you going with songs like Stand By Me where they sing and dance across the stage. Don't worry about them only doing the high energy songs they can also touch your heart with songs of faith that will let you worship and let you fell the presence of the Lord.

Look for Ernie Haase and Signature Sound music by clicking here. Also, find them on the Gaither Cd's and videos where they team up with the Gaither Vocal Band for a listing of those click here.

Sunday, November 16, 2008

The Cathedral Quartet

One of the best southern gospel quartets is the Cathedrals. This group started in 1964 and did their farewell tour in 1999 do to the health problems of George Younce. While disbanding in 1999 you can still get their Cd's and Videos click here to see a list of their music. They have been featured on the Gaither Homecoming videos and remembered as one of the great quartets of southern Gospel.

It was do the the health of George Younce that caused this group to decide to do a farewell tour but it would be Glen Payne that would go home first. After they had started their farewell tour Glen would be diagnosed with liver cancer and it took his life before the tour was over. The Cathedrals finished the tour with Roger Bennett taking the lead. Shortly after they disbanded George would go home to be with the Lord himself but not before forming another group called the Old Friends Quartet.

The other members of the Cathedrals from their final group are Ernie Hasse who went on to start a solo career then later formed Ernie Hasse and Signature Sound. Ernie is also married to the daughter of George Younce. Scott Fowler and Roger Bennett started Legacy Five where Scott took on the lead and Roger played piano. Roger lost his long fight with leukemia on February 17, 2008.

Here is a complete list of the members of the Cathedrals
Tenor
Lead
  • Glen Payne (1963-1999)
  • Roger Bennett (1999) (filled in as lead to fulfill the rest of the farewell tour after Glen Paynes death.)
Baritone
Bass
Piano

Friday, November 14, 2008

Gaither Vocal Band

As I said in my last post there has been several members of the Gaither Vocal Band but it wouldn't be the Gaither Vocal Band with out Bill Gaither and his leading. GVB was formed in 1980 on the spur of the moment before a concert with the song, "First Day In Heaven."

The Gaither Vocal Band - Complete List of Group Members

  • Bill Gaither, Baritone (1980-85); Bass (1985-present)
  • Lee Young, Bass (1980-1982)
  • Steve Green, Tenor (1980-1983)
  • Gary McSpadden, Lead (1980-1985); Baritone (1985-88)
  • Jon Mohr, Bass (1982-1985)
  • Larnelle Harris, Tenor (1983-1987)
  • Michael English, Lead (1985-1994)
  • Lemuel Miller, Tenor (1987)
  • Jim Murray, Tenor (1987-1992)
  • Mark Lowry, Baritone (1988-2001)
  • Terry Franklin, Tenor (1992-1994)
  • Buddy Mullins, Lead (1994-1995)
  • Jonathan Pierce, Tenor (1994-1997)
  • Guy Penrod, Lead (1995-present)
  • David Phelps, Tenor (1997-2005)
  • Russ Taff, Baritone (2001-2004)
  • Marshall Hall, Baritone (2004-present)
  • Wes Hampton, Tenor (2005-present)
You will be blessed when you hear the Gaither Vocal Band in concert. One of their best performances is with Ernie Hass and Signature Sound. This group blends together so well that they don't need the band they can do A Cappella and make it sound like they have been doing this all their life.

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Bill Gaither

When you talk southern gospel music you have to start with one of the biggest names in gospel music today Bill Gaither. There are and have been a lot of great names in southern gospel music but the one that brings it all together has to be this man with the Gaither Homecoming Friends.

It's not just the fact that Bill Gaither can bring people together to put on some of the best southern gospel music concerts in the world but he also is a fantastic writer and singer himself. Some of his work includes such great Hums as He Touched Me, and Because He Lives. He is also, a part of the Gaither Vocal Band which has had several members that have been with the Vocal Band and gone on to have huge success on their own. Some of the people that have been members of the Vocal Band that you might recognize are Mark Lowry, David Phelps, Steve Green, Gary McSpadden, Larnelle Harris, Michael English, Russ Taff and others.

Bill Gaither is amazing when it comes to bringing southern gospel artist together with the homecoming concerts. For years he has brought the older generation together with the younger to form some of the best in southern gospel today. There have been several homecoming friends that have gone on to be with the Lord but Bill keeps things going by bringing the new and upcoming groups into the national spotlight.

For more information about Bill Gaither and the Homecoming Friends and to view some of their music and DVD's click here. http://www.ipray4uchristianbookstore.com/index.php?module=content&content_id=1235

You can visit the Gaither website at www.gaither.com

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Southern Gospel Music

Hi,

We are huge Southern Gospel Music fans and would like to help you find some of the music that gives glory to God. As you may already know today's southern gospel music has a wide rang of stiles from Hums to Bluegrass to the songs that tell a story to those that will really get you to clapping and tapping your foot.

As I blog you will learn about the groups that make up southern gospel music and where you can find their CD's and DVD's. If you just can't wait and know what you are looking for go to this site and you will find a large selection of great music of all types www.ipray4uchristianbookstore.com

With my next blog I will start with one of the greatest people to bring southern gospel to the forefront of Christan music today Bill Gaither.

In Christ Love,
Kevin and Jeanie Rorie
Ipray4u Christian Bookstore
www.irpay4uchristianbookstore.com
email: customerservice@ipray4uchristianbookstore.com