The Cathedrals

The Cathedral Quartet, also known as the Cathedrals, was an American southern gospel quartet who performed from 1964 to December 1999. The group's final lineup consisted of Glen Payne (lead), George Younce (bass), Ernie Haase (tenor), Scott Fowler (baritone and bass guitar), and Roger Bennett (piano and rhythm guitar).

History

Formation and early years

The Cathedrals formed in 1963 as a trio consisting of the California Weatherford Quartet lead singer Glen Payne, tenor Bobby Clark, and baritone Danny Koker. Initially a house group of Rex Humbard's Cathedral of Tomorrow, they called themselves the Cathedral Trio. The group became a quartet with the addition of Blue Ridge Quartet bass singer George Younce in 1964. They decided to become a full-time touring group in 1969, leaving the Cathedral of Tomorrow. Koker and Clark left the group to pursue other interests, and were replaced by tenor Mack Taunton and baritone-pianist George Amon Webster. The group signed with Canaan Records; Canaan producer Marvin Norcross worked with them and Florida Boys lead singer Les Beasley to help the group gain exposure. Norcross gave them performance time on the nationally syndicated television ''Gospel Singing Jubilee''. With Canaan, the group experimented with different styles of dress and performance to find their identity.

Rise to prominence

Gospel singer Bill Gaither invited the group to perform at his annual Praise Gathering in Indianapolis, and they received more requests for appearances. Gaither collaborated with Younce and Payne to produce their future albums for Word Records. The group began incorporating Younce and Payne's comedy routines, and added Roy Tremble as a tenor. Tremble, Webster, and pianist Lorne Matthews left the group and started their own trio in 1979. Their first replacement, Kirk Talley of the Hoppers, was a tenor; Steve Lee was added to sing baritone and play piano. Shortly before 1980, the group hired Roger Bennett as their pianist after hearing him play for their opening act. Lee left the group, and former member Roger Horne filled in briefly before bass guitarist and Kingsmen baritone Mark Trammell joined the group. They left Canaan (Word), and signed with Riversong (Benson).

1980s

Kirk Talley left the group in the fall of 1983 to form the Talleys with his brother, Roger, and sister-in-law, Debra. Danny Funderburk of the Singing Americans was chosen to replace him in December of that year. This lineup remained in place for several years, until Roger Bennett left to help found Journey Records. Bennett was replaced by young, classically trained pianist and vocalist Gerald Wolfe. With Wolfe at the piano and singing, the group contributed to ''Symphony of Praise'' a 1987 album with the London Philharmonic Orchestra. The album included "This Ole House", "Champion Of Love", "I Can See The Hand" (written by Steven Curtis Chapman), and "I've Just Started Living". During this period, the group added Trammell's bass guitar and a synthesizer to its quartet vocals.

1990s: Gaither Homecoming years

In February 1990, Funderburk left to help form the quartet Perfect Heart. The Cathedrals hired tenor Kurt Young to replace him, but Young left the quartet after two months. Young was replaced by Ernie Haase, a young tenor from Indiana. Later that year, Trammell left to form Greater Vision with Gerald Wolfe. Scott Fowler, former lead singer of the Sound, became the quartet's baritone and bass guitarist; this was the final version of the Cathedrals. The full group (including present and former members) recorded a concert, ''The Cathedral Quartet: A Reunion'', in 1995.

Bill Gaither and the Gaither Vocal Band recorded ''Homecoming'', a tribute to Southern gospel music, during the early 1990s. Gaither enlisted George Younce and Glen Payne for the album (which inspired the ''Gaither Homecoming'' videos), and the Cathedral Quartet was included on later videos in the series. In addition to touring and appearing in the ''Gaither Homecoming'' videos, the group appeared three times on NBC's ''Today'' show during the decade.

Final years and farewell tour

Younce and Payne's health began to decline; Younce had kidney failure and heart disease by 1999, and Payne was diagnosed with liver cancer. They decided to disband the group after a farewell tour, as the group's health permitted. The Gaithers and the Cathedrals recorded a live Cathedrals Farewell Celebration video on May 18, 1999, on which they were joined by The Statler Brothers, The Oak Ridge Boys, Sandi Patty, Guy Penrod, and the Gaither Vocal Band. The Cathedrals would make their final appearance at the National Quartet Convention without Payne. During a performance Payne called via telephone from his hospital bed, he sang the song ''I Won't Have to Cross Jordan Alone'' to which the audience gave him a standing ovation at the end. On October 15, 1999, Glen Payne died from liver cancer at aged 72. After Glen's death, Roger Bennett sung Glen's part until the group final concert on December 11, 1999, in Akron, Ohio.

After the group

In 2000, former Cathedrals Scott Fowler and Roger Bennett formed the Southern gospel group Legacy Five; Fowler was the lead singer and bass guitarist, and Bennett was the group's emcee and pianist. Haase continued a solo career he had begun and, with Gaither's help, formed The Old Friends Quartet with Younce, Jake Hess, Wesley Pritchard, and Gold City alumnus Garry Jones on piano. They recorded two albums and a concert video for the ''Gaither Homecoming'' series, but Younce and Hess's poor health brought an end to the Old Friends two years later. In 2003, Haase and Garry Jones formed the Signature Sound Quartet. After Jones and Haase developed artistic differences, Jones left. The Signature Sound became associated with Gaither and his Homecoming tour, and changed its name to Ernie Haase & Signature Sound.

After leaving the Cathedrals, Mark Trammell was the original baritone of Greater Vision before leaving to join Gold City. In 2002, Trammell formed his own quartet called Mark Trammell Quartet. Gerald Wolfe sings lead with Greater Vision and Danny Funderburk has recorded solo and has been in several groups since leaving Perfect Heart. Kirk Talley had a solo career from the Talleys breakup to December 2012, when he developed vocal problems. On April 11, 2005, George Younce died from kidney failure, aged 75. On March 17, 2007, Roger Bennett died at the age of 48 after battling 11 and a half year of leukemia. Ernie Haase & Signature Sound released '' A Tribute to the Cathedral Quartet'' in 2010, a nominee for Southern Gospel Album of the Year at the 42nd GMA Dove Awards.

Members

Backing musicians

* George Amon Webster: bass guitar (1971, 1974–79)
*Steve Lee: bass guitar (1979–80)
* Kirk Talley: bass guitar (1979–83)
*Victor Clay: rhythm guitar (occasional appearances from 1964)
*Roger Bennett: rhythm guitar (1985)
*Robbie Willis: drums (occasionally)

Timeline

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id:lead value:rgb(0.2,0.6,0.9) legend:Lead
id:barit value:rgb(1,0,0) legend:Baritone
id:bass value:rgb(0.9,0.9,0) legend:Bass
id:piano value:rgb(1,0.4,0) legend:Pianist
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at:04/02/1963 color:album layer:back # Introducing the Cathedral Trio
at:04/08/1963 color:album layer:back # When the Saints go Marching in
at:04/02/1964 color:album layer:back # Presenting The Cathedral Trio, Mariner’s Quartet, Gospel Harmony Boys
at:04/08/1964 color:album layer:back # Beyond the Sunset
at:04/02/1965 color:album layer:back # Taller than the trees
at:04/08/1965 color:album layer:back # Presenting The Cathedral Quartet, Mariner’s Quartet, Gospel Harmony Boys
at:04/12/1965 color:album layer:back # The Cathedral Quartet with Strings
at:04/02/1966 color:album layer:back # The Cathedral Quartet with Brass
at:04/08/1966 color:album layer:back # Greatest Gospel Hits
at:04/12/1966 color:album layer:back # Land of the Bible
at:04/02/1968 color:album layer:back # Family Album
at:04/08/1968 color:album layer:back # Focus on Glen Payne
at:04/12/1968 color:album layer:back # I Saw The Light
at:04/02/1969 color:album layer:back # Jesus is Coming Soon
at:04/02/1970 color:album layer:back # I'm Nearer Home
at:04/08/1970 color:album layer:back # A Little Bit of Everything
at:04/02/1971 color:album layer:back # Everything's Alright
at:04/08/1971 color:album layer:back # Somebody Loves Me
at:04/12/1971 color:album layer:back # Right On
at:04/10/1972 color:album layer:back # Welcome to Our World
at:04/02/1973 color:album layer:back # Seniors in Session
at:04/08/1973 color:album layer:back # Town and Country
at:04/12/1973 color:album layer:back # The Last Sunday
at:04/02/1974 color:album layer:back # Our Statue of Liberty
at:04/08/1974 color:album layer:back # Live in Concert
at:04/02/1975 color:album layer:back # Plain Ole Gospel
at:04/09/1975 color:album layer:back # For Keeps
at:04/02/1976 color:album layer:back # The Cathedrals sing Albert Brumley Classics
at:04/09/1976 color:album layer:back # Easy on the Ears, Heavy on the Heart
at:04/07/1977 color:album layer:back # Then and Now
at:04/02/1978 color:album layer:back # One at a Time
at:04/08/1978 color:album layer:back # Oh What a Love
at:04/12/1978 color:album layer:back # Sunshine and Roses
at:04/02/1979 color:album layer:back # You ain't Heard Nothing Yet
at:04/04/1979 color:album layer:back # Live
at:04/08/1979 color:album layer:back # Keep on Singing
at:04/12/1979 color:album layer:back # Interwoven
at:04/02/1980 color:album layer:back # Smooth as Silk
at:04/08/1980 color:album layer:back # Better Than Ever
at:04/12/1980 color:album layer:back # Telling the World About His Love
at:04/02/1981 color:album layer:back # Cherish That Name
at:04/08/1981 color:album layer:back # Colors of His Love
at:04/02/1982 color:album layer:back # Greater
at:04/08/1982 color:album layer:back # Oh Happy Day
at:04/12/1982 color:album layer:back # Something Special
at:04/02/1983 color:album layer:back # Favorites Old and New
at:04/04/1983 color:album layer:back # Individually
at:04/08/1983 color:album layer:back # Voices in Praise Acapella
at:04/12/1983 color:album layer:back # Live in Atlanta
at:04/04/1984 color:album layer:back # Distinctively
at:04/09/1984 color:album layer:back # The Prestigious Cathedral Quartet
at:04/02/1985 color:album layer:back # An Old Convention Song
at:04/08/1985 color:album layer:back # Especially For You
at:04/12/1985 color:album layer:back # A Cathedral Christmas Acapella
at:04/06/1986 color:album layer:back # Master Builder
at:04/12/1986 color:album layer:back # Travellin' Live
at:04/03/1987 color:album layer:back # Land of The Living
at:04/09/1987 color:album layer:back # Symphony of Praise
at:04/07/1988 color:album layer:back # Goin' in Style
at:04/04/1989 color:album layer:back # I've Just Started Living
at:04/09/1989 color:album layer:back # 25th Anniversary
at:04/10/1990 color:album layer:back # Climbing Higher and Higher
at:04/07/1991 color:album layer:back # The Best of Times
at:04/08/1992 color:album layer:back # Camp Meeting
at:04/04/1993 color:album layer:back # High and Lifted Up
at:04/09/1993 color:album layer:back # Worship His Glory
at:04/05/1994 color:album layer:back # Raise The Roof: 30th Anniversary
at:04/08/1995 color:album layer:back # A Reunion
at:04/03/1996 color:album layer:back # Radio Days
at:04/12/1996 color:album layer:back # Live in Chicago
at:04/08/1997 color:album layer:back # Alive! Deep in The Heart of Texas
at:04/08/1998 color:album layer:back # Faithful
at:04/05/1999 color:album layer:back # Live in Jacksonville, Florida
at:04/09/1999 color:album layer:back # A Farewell Celebration

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bar:Payne from:01/01/1963 till:end color:lead
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bar:Lee from:01/07/1979 till:01/07/1980 color:barit
bar:Trammell from:01/07/1980 till:01/11/1990 color:barit
bar:Fowler from:01/11/1990 till:end color:barit
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bar:Younce from:01/07/1964 till:end color:bass
bar:Matthews from:01/04/1971 till:17/04/1972 color:piano
bar:Garstang from:17/04/1972 till:17/04/1973 color:piano
bar:Cooley from:17/04/1974 till:17/06/1979 color:piano
bar:Bennett from:17/06/1979 till:01/04/1986 color:piano
bar:Bennett from:01/09/1988 till:01/12/1999 color:piano
bar:Wolfe from:01/04/1986 till:01/09/1988 color:piano

Cathedrals Family Reunion members

Discography

Albums

* 1963: ''Introducing the Cathedral Trio''
* 1963: ''When the Saints Go Marching In''
* 1964: ''Beyond the Sunset''
* 1965: ''Taller Than Trees''
* 1965: ''Presenting the Cathedral Quartet, Mariner’s Quartet, Gospel Harmony Boys''
* 1965: ''The Cathedral Quartet with Strings''
* 1966: ''The Cathedral Quartet with Brass''
* 1966: ''Greatest Gospel Hits''
* 1966: ''Land of the Bible''
* 1967: ''I Saw the Light''
* 1968: ''Family Album''
* 1968: ''Focus On Glen Payne''
* 1969: ''Jesus is Coming Soon
*1970: ''I’m Nearer Home''
*1970: ''It’s Music Time''
*1970: ''A Little Bit of Everything''
*1971: ''Everything’s Alright''
*1971: ''Somebody Loves Me''
*1971: ''Right On''
*1972: ''Welcome to Our World''
*1973: ''Seniors in Session''
*1973: ''Town and Country''
*1973: ''The Last Sunday''
*1974: ''Our Statue of Liberty''
*1974: ''Live in Concert''
*1975: ''Plain Ole Gospel''
*1975: ''For Keeps''
*1976: ''The Cathedral Quartet Sings Albert E. Brumley Classics''
*1976: ''Easy on the Ears, Heavy on the Heart''
*1977: ''Then and Now''
*1978: ''One at a Time''
*1978: ''The Cathedral Quartet Featuring Oh, What a Love''
*1978: ''Sunshine And Roses''
*1979: ''You Ain’t Heard Nothing Yet''
*1979: ''Then I Found Jesus''
*1979: ''Live With The Cathedral Quartet''
*1979: ''Keep On Singing'' (2 Versions)
* 1979 ''Smooth as Silk''
* 1980 ''Interwoven''
* 1980 ''Better Than Ever''
* 1980 ''Telling the World About His Love''
* 1981 ''Cherish That Name''
* 1981 ''Colors of His Love''
* 1982 ''Something Special''
* 1982 ''Greater''
* 1982 ''Oh Happy Day''
* 1983 ''Individually''
* 1983 ''Voices in Praise/A Cappella''
* 1983 ''Favorites Old and New''
* 1983 ''Live in Atlanta''
* 1983 ''Featuring George Younce''
* 1983 ''Featuring Glen Payne''
* 1984 ''Distinctively''
* 1984 ''The Prestigious Cathedral Quartet''
* 1985 ''An Old Convention Song''
* 1985 ''Especially For You''
* 1985 ''A Cathedral Christmas A Cappella''
* 1986 ''Master Builder''
* 1986 ''Travelin’ Live''
* 1987 ''Land Of Living''
* 1987 ''Symphony of Praise''
* 1988 ''Goin’ In Style''
* 1989 ''25th Anniversary''
* 1990 ''Climbing Higher and Higher''
* 1991 ''The Best of Times''
* 1992 ''Camp Meeting (Live)''
* 1993 ''High and Lifted Up''
* 1998 ''Faithful''
*1999: ''A Farewell Celebration''
*1999: ''Live in Jacksonville''
*2012: ''Moody Radio Presents... Live In Chicago'' (recorded live in 1996)
*2013: ''Cathedrals Family Reunion''
*2014: ''Cathedrals Family Reunion: Past Members Reunite Live In Concert''

Compilations

*1998: ''20 Gospel Classics'' (Landmark)
*2000: ''Convention Classics'' (Diamante)
*2000: ''Signature Songs, Vol. 1'' (Homeland)
*2001: ''Cherish That Name'' (Cathedral)
*2002: ''Signature Songs, Vol. 2'' (Homeland)
*2002: ''Years Gone By, Vol 1'' (Homeland)
*2002: ''The Best of the Cathedrals'' (Canaan)
*2003: ''Live in Concert: Live With the Cathedral Quartet'' (Cathedral)

References

External links

Cathedrals History and Discography

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cathedral Quartet, The
American Christian musical groups
Gospel quartets
Musical groups disestablished in 1999
Musical groups established in 1964
Musical groups from Ohio
Southern gospel performers