Greater Vision

Greater Vision is an American Southern gospel music trio founded in 1990. It is one of Southern gospel's most popular trios and has been noted for their prolonged commercial and musical success spanning over two decades. As of 2017, the group is made up of Gerald Wolfe, Rodney Griffin, Chris Allman and Jon Epley. Over the last several years, this trio has consistently been named Southern gospel's top male trio, winning the Singing News Awards, Gospel Music Association Dove Awards, and have placed numerous top songs on the Southern Gospel Charts and Radio.

Group history

The group formed in December 1990 when Mark Trammell left the Cathedral Quartet and teamed with Cathedrals alum Gerald Wolfe in forming the group. They recruited tenor Chris Allman. The group quickly became a success. Their first project, ''On A Journey'' (1990), propelled them into seemingly overnight popularity. The group followed up with the albums ''You Can Have A Song'' (1992), ''20 Inspirational Favorites'' (1993) and ''Serving A Risen Savior'' (1994), were all released on the ''Riversong/Benson Music Group'' label and was well received among fans and industry.

Personnel changes

In 1993, Mark Trammell departed for Gold City and was replaced by Dixie Melody Boys baritone singer and bass guitarist Rodney Griffin. Allman left in late 1995 to attend seminary studies and was replaced by Jason Waldroup. This lineup of Wolfe, Griffin, and Waldroup stayed intact for 13 years and was both immensely popular and successful. Waldroup's smooth tenor and Griffin's strong baritone and songwriting ability launched the group into the forefront of the gospel music scene. 1997's ''When I See The Cross'' became the group's highest charting project. The group had also left the Riversong label and signed with Daywind Records. In 1999, the group recorded with the Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra and released Far Beyond This Place. The Griffin penned "My Name is Lazarus" became on perhaps their most iconic song, reaching number one song on the Southern Gospel Charts. The Group also released ''He's Still Waiting By The Well'' off their 2000 project ''Perfect Candidate''. In 2008, Waldroup decided to leave to pursue a seminary education. In May, Jacob Kitson was announced as the new tenor. Kitson’s stay was short-lived. In 2010, Chris Allman returned after an almost fifteen-year absence, thus coming back full circle to the almost original blend and sound.

Second-Half quartet

In 2014, Greater Vision and the Mark Trammell Quartet appeared the same night at an event in Marion, Illinois. By combining the two groups during the second half of the concert, the moniker "Second Half Quartet" was formed. In 2015, Gerald Wolfe, Mark Trammell, Pat Barker, Rodney Griffin and Chris Allman took home a variety of awards at Gospel Music's premier award show, the Singing News Fan Awards. Mark Trammell was voted Favorite Baritone of the Year by fans, becoming the first Gospel singer to win such an award in four separate decades; Pat Barker took home the Favorite New Soloist award; Greater Vision's song, “For All He’s Done,” was voted Song of the Year and once again, Rodney Griffin was the recipient of the Favorite Songwriter Award.

Current lineup

In 2017, the group added Kentucky native Jon Epley to the group to sing baritone. Wolfe became emcee and piano player while Griffin moved into the lead slot and continued on the bass guitar, and Allman remained at tenor.

Members (past and present)

Line-ups

Second-Half quartet members

Line-ups

Cathedrals Family Reunion members

Line-ups

Discography

Studio and Live Albums

*1991 You Can Have A Song
*1991 On a Journey
*1992 It's Just Like Heaven (also released in the Encore Series in 2005)(i)
*1993 The King Came Down
*1993 20 Inspirational Favorites
*1994 Serving a Risen Savior
*1994 Where He Leads Me
*1995 Take Him at His Word
*1996 The Shepherds Found a Lamb
*1996 Sing It Again!
*1997 When I See the Cross
*1999 Far Beyond This Place
*1999 A Greater Vision Christmas
*2000 Perfect Candidate
*2002 Live at First Baptist Church in Atlanta
*2003 Quartets
*2003 Live At The Palace (with Legacy Five)
*2004 Faces
*2006 My Favorite Place
*2005 Fifteen
*2006 Hymns of the Ages
*2007 Everyday People
*2008 Not Alone
*2009 Live at Oak Tree
*2010 20 Years: Live In Texas
*2010 Welcome Back
*2011 The Only Way
*2012 Hymns of the Ages (Re-Issued)
*2012 Our Most Requested... LIVE!
*2013 For All He's Done
*2015 As We Speak
*2015 Jubilee Christmas Again
*2017 Still
*2019 You’ve Arrived

Compilation albums

*1996 The Church Hymnal Series Volume One
*1996 Sing It Again
*1999 The Church Hymnal Series Volume Two
*2000 Through The Years With Greater Vision: Our Southern Gospel Hits
*2001 The Church Hymnal Series Volume Three
*2004 Songs From the Stories
*2005 Now & Then
*2005 The Church Hymnal Series Volume Four
*2008 Favorites From The Church Hymnal Series
*2008 Featuring Jason Waldroup-13 Great Years, 13 Unforgettable Songs
*2008 Memories Made New
*2009 Jubilee (with The Booth Brothers and Legacy Five)
*2009 Nothin' But Fast
*2010 Jubilee 2
*2010 Everything Christmas
*2011 Sing It Again (Re-Issued)
*2011 The Ones that Got Away (Songs from the Pen of Rodney Griffin)
*2012 Jubilee 3
*2012 Jubilee Christmas
*2013 Jubilee Christmas A' CAPPELLA
*2014 Where He Leads Me (Re-Issued)
*2014 Because You Asked

Number One Songs

*1999 My Name is Lazarus
*1999 Just One More Soul
*2001 He’s Still Waiting By the Well
*2011 Never Been
*2012 I Know a Man Who Can
*2013 Looking for the Grace
*2014 Preacher Tell Me Like it Is
*2014 For All He’s Done
*2015 Put Out the Fire
*2017 Never Will I Ever Again
*2018 Still
*2018 God Doesn’t Care
*2019 Rolled Back Stone

References

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American musical trios
Musical groups from Tennessee
Southern gospel performers