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 Glen Payne (October 20, 1926 – October 15, 1999) served for fifty-five years as a Southern gospel music singer. He is known for being the lead singer of The Cathedral Quartet. Early years Payne was a child of the Great Depression. His par ...

(lead), George Younce (bass),

Ernie Haase Raymond Ernest "Ernie" Haase III (born December 12, 1964) is an American Southern gospel singer. He is best known as the tenor vocalist and founder of Ernie Haase and Signature Sound since 2002, as well as being a former tenor vocalist of the Cath ...

(tenor), Scott Fowler (baritone and

bass guitar The bass guitar, electric bass or simply bass (), is the lowest-pitched member of the string family. It is a plucked string instrument similar in appearance and construction to an electric or an acoustic guitar, but with a longer neck and ...

), 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 The Weatherfords (also Weatherford Quartet and Weatherford Trio) is an American southern gospel music vocal group. The Weatherfords were formed by husband and wife Earl Weatherford and Lily Weatherford, who began singing together in the mid-1 ...

lead singer

, tenor Bobby Clark, and baritone Danny Koker. Initially a house group of

Rex Humbard Alpha Rex Emmanuel Humbard (August 13, 1919 – September 21, 2007) was an American television evangelist whose ''Cathedral of Tomorrow'' show was aired on over 600 stations at the peak of its popularity. Life and career Humbard was born o ...

Cathedral of Tomorrow The Cathedral of Tomorrow was a Pentecostal church located in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. History The building was built in 1958 by Rex Humbard. The Cathedral, a round building with the sanctuary in the middle and classrooms and offices around the ed ...

, 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 Records is a Christian record label and is a subsidiary of Word Entertainment. History The label was started in 1965, by Marvin Norcross, for the label's Southern gospel quartets. Their biggest artist to date is the Happy Goodman Fa ...

; Canaan producer Marvin Norcross worked with them and

Florida Boys The Florida Boys were a male vocal quartet in Southern gospel music. The group was founded in 1946 by J. G. Whitfield. Originally named The Gospel Melody Quartet, the group was renamed in 1954. From the 1950s until 2007, the group was led by Les ...

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 The Talleys were a southern gospel trio composed of Roger and Debra Talley, and their daughter Lauren Talley as the lead and soprano singer. Performing over 20 years, they have made appearances all over the world. At the end of 2020 Roger and ...

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 "This Ole House" (sometimes written "This Old House") is an American popular song written by Stuart Hamblen, and published in 1954. Rosemary Clooney's version reached the top of the popular music charts in both the US and the UK in 1954. The so ...

", "Champion Of Love", "I Can See The Hand" (written by

Steven Curtis Chapman Steven Curtis Chapman (born November 21, 1962) is an American contemporary Christian music singer, songwriter, record producer, actor, author, and social activist. Chapman began his career in the late 1980s as a songwriter and performer of conte ...

), 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

, a young tenor from

Indiana Indiana () is a U.S. state in the Midwestern United States. It is the 38th-largest by area and the 17th-most populous of the 50 States. Its capital and largest city is Indianapolis. Indiana was admitted to the United States as the 19th s ...

. 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 ''Gaither Homecoming'' is the name applied to a series of videos, music recordings and concerts, which are organized, promoted and usually presented by Christian music songwriter and impresario Bill Gaither. To date, the ''Gaither Homecoming'' t ...

'' 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 Today (archaically to-day) may refer to: * Day of the present, the time that is perceived directly, often called ''now'' * Current era, present * The current calendar date Arts, entertainment, and media Films * ''Today'' (1930 film), a 1930 ...

'' 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 Statler Brothers (sometimes simply referred to as The Statlers) were an American country music, gospel, and vocal group. The quartet was formed in 1955 performing locally, and from 1964 to 1972, they sang as opening act and backup singers fo ...

The Oak Ridge Boys The Oak Ridge Boys are an American country and gospel vocal quartet originating in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. The group was founded in the 1940s as the Oak Ridge Quartet. They became popular in Southern gospel during the 1950s. Their name was chang ...

Sandi Patty Sandra Faye "Sandi" Patty (born July 12, 1956) is an American Christian music singer, known for her wide soprano vocal range and expressive flexibility. Biography Early life Patty was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, into a family of musician ...

, Guy Penrod, and the Gaither Vocal Band. The Cathedrals would make their final appearance at the

National Quartet Convention The National Quartet Convention (NQC) is an annual gathering of Southern Gospel quartets and musicians. It is held at the Leconte Center in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, United States. History The first National Quartet Convention was held in 1957. ...

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 Akron () is the fifth-largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Summit County. It is located on the western edge of the Glaciated Allegheny Plateau, about south of downtown Cleveland. As of the 2020 Census, the city prop ...

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 Jake Hess (December 24, 1927 – January 4, 2004) was an American Grammy Award-winning southern gospel singer.McNeil, W.K., Ed. (2010). ''Encyclopedia of American Gospel Music''. Routledge. . Pp. 201-202. Life The son of "a sharecropper who was ...

, 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 The 42nd Annual GMA Dove Awards presentation was held on April 20, 2011, at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia. The show was broadcast on GMC on April 24, 2011, hosted by Sherri Shepherd from ''The Newlywed Game''. Nominations were announced on ...

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

ImageSize = width:1100 height:auto barincrement:18 PlotArea = left:90 bottom:77 top:0 right:0 Alignbars = justify DateFormat = dd/mm/yyyy Period = from:01/01/1963 till:01/12/1999 TimeAxis = orientation:vertical format:yyyy Colors = id:tenor1 value:rgb(0.4,0.8,0.4) legend:Tenor 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 id:album value:gray(0.3) legend:Albums id:scale value:rgb(0.777,0.777,1) Legend = orientation:horizontal position:bottom ScaleMajor = unit:year increment:1 start:1963 # gridcolor:scale LineData = width:1 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 TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy PlotData = textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(3,-5) width:11 bar:Clark from:01/01/1963 till:01/10/1967 color:tenor1 bar:Tauton from:01/10/1967 till:01/07/1971 color:tenor1 bar:Horne from:01/07/1971 till:26/08/1972 color:tenor1 bar:Tremble from:26/08/1972 till:01/07/1979 color:tenor1 bar:Tremble from:01/04/1971 till:26/08/1972 color:barit bar:Talley from:01/07/1979 till:15/04/1983 color:tenor1 bar:Funderburk from:15/04/1983 till:01/02/1990 color:tenor1 bar:Young from:01/02/1990 till:01/07/1990 color:tenor1 bar:Haase from:01/07/1990 till:end color:tenor1 bar:Payne from:01/01/1963 till:end color:lead bar:Koker from:01/01/1963 till:14/04/1969 color:barit bar:Webster from:14/04/1969 till:01/04/1971 color:barit bar:Webster from:26/08/1974 till:01/07/1979 color:barit bar:Dykes from:26/08/1972 till:26/08/1974 color:barit 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 bar:Webster from:07/04/1973 till:17/04/1974 color:piano 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