Cathedral Quartet

The Cathedral Quartet, also known as the Cathedrals, was an American southern gospel quartet who performed from 1964 to December 1999.[3] 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).

Cathedral Quartet
Origin	Akron, Ohio[1]
Genres	Southern gospel
Years active	1963–1999
Labels	Heart Warming Eternal Homeland Chapel[2]
Past members	Glen Payne Danny Koker Bobby Clark George Younce George Amon Webster Mack Taunton Lorne Matthews Roger Horne Haskell Cooley Jim Garstang Roy Tremble Bill Dykes Steve Lee Kurt Young Roger Bennett Mark Trammell Danny Funderburk Gerald Wolfe Ernie Haase Scott Fowler Kirk Talley

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.[4] 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.[5]

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.[6] 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.

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. 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,[7] 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.[8]

Members

1963-1964 (As the Cathedral Trio)	1964-1967 (As the Cathedral Quartet)	1967-1969
Bobby Clark – tenor Glen Payne – lead Danny Koker – baritone, piano	Bobby Clark – tenor Glen Payne – lead Danny Koker – baritone, piano George Younce – bass	Mack Taunton – tenor Glen Payne – lead Danny Koker – baritone, piano George Younce – bass
1969-1971	1971	1971-1972
Mack Taunton – tenor Glen Payne – lead George Webster – baritone, piano George Younce – bass	Mack Taunton – tenor Glen Payne – lead George Amon Webster – baritone George Younce – bass Lorne Matthews – piano	Roger Horne – tenor Glen Payne – lead Roy Tremble – baritone George Younce – bass Lorne Matthews – piano, vocals
1972	1972-1973	1973-1974
Bobby Clark – tenor Glen Payne – lead Roy Tremble – baritone George Younce – bass Lorne Matthews – piano	Roy Tremble – tenor Glen Payne – lead Bill Dykes – baritone George Younce – bass Jim Garstang – piano	Roy Tremble – tenor Glen Payne – lead Bill Dykes – baritone George Younce – bass George Amon Webster – piano
1974-1979	1979	1979
Roy Tremble – tenor Glen Payne – lead George Amon Webster – baritone, bass guitar George Younce – bass Haskell Cooley – piano	Roy Tremble – tenor Glen Payne – lead George Amon Webster – baritone, bass guitar George Younce – bass Lorne Matthews – piano	Kirk Talley – tenor Glen Payne – lead Steve Lee – baritone, piano George Younce – bass
1979-1980	1980	1980-1983
Kirk Talley – tenor Glen Payne – lead Steve Lee – baritone, bass guitar George Younce – bass Roger Bennett – piano	Kirk Talley – tenor Glen Payne – lead Roger Horne – baritone George Younce – bass Roger Bennett – piano	Kirk Talley – tenor Glen Payne – lead Mark Trammell – baritone, bass guitar George Younce – bass Roger Bennett – piano, vocals
1983-1986	1986-1988	1988-1990
Danny Funderburk – tenor Glen Payne – lead Mark Trammell – baritone, bass guitar George Younce – bass Roger Bennett – piano, vocals	Danny Funderburk – tenor Glen Payne – lead Mark Trammell – baritone, bass guitar George Younce – bass Gerald Wolfe – piano, vocals	Danny Funderburk – tenor Glen Payne – lead Mark Trammell – baritone, bass guitar George Younce – bass Roger Bennett – piano
1990	1990	1990-1999
Kurt Young – tenor Glen Payne – lead Mark Trammell – baritone, bass guitar George Younce – bass Roger Bennett – piano	Ernie Haase – tenor Glen Payne – lead Scott Fowler – baritone, bass guitar George Younce – bass Roger Bennett – piano, vocals	Ernie Haase – tenor Glen Payne – lead Scott Fowler – baritone, bass guitar George Younce – bass Roger Bennett – piano, vocals

Backing musicians

• George Amon Webster: bass guitar (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

Cathedrals Family Reunion members

2009 (As Cathedrals Remember The Music)	2012	2013–2014 (As Cathedrals Family Reunion)
Danny Funderburk – tenor Scott Fowler – lead Mark Trammell – baritone, bass guitar Glenn Dustin – bass Tim Parton – piano Gerald Wolfe – piano, vocals	Ernie Haase – tenor Scott Fowler – lead Mark Trammell – baritone, bass guitar Glenn Dustin – bass Gerald Wolfe – piano, vocals	Danny Funderburk – tenor Ernie Haase – tenor Scott Fowler – lead Mark Trammell – baritone, bass guitar Pat Barker – bass Matt Fouch – bass Paul Harkley – bass Trey Ivey – piano Gerald Wolfe – piano, vocals

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 (later released in 2001)
• 1981: Colors of His Love
• 1982: Something Special
• 1982: Greater (later released in 2001)
• 1982: Oh Happy Day
• 1983: Individually (later released in 2001)
• 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: I’ve Just Started Living
• 1989: 25th Anniversary
• 1990: Climbing Higher and Higher
• 1991: The Best of Times
• 1992: Camp Meeting
• 1993: High and Lifted Up (Canaan)
• 1993: Worship His Glory: Acapella Praise
• 1994: Raise the Roof: 30th Anniversary
• 1995: A Reunion (K-Tel Distribution)
• 1996: Radio Days
• 1997: Alive! Deep in the Heart of Texas
• 1998: Faithful
• 1999: A Farewell Celebration
• 1999: Live in Jacksonville
• 2012: Moody Radio Presents... Live In Chicago (recorded live in 1996)

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)[9]

References

1. Mount, Daniel. "History | Southern Gospel Journal". Southern Gospel Journal. Archived from the original on January 31, 2018.
2. "The Cathedral Quartet". Discogs. January 31, 2018. Archived from the original on January 31, 2018.
3. "Southern Gospel History | C / CathedralQuartet". sghistory.com. Retrieved October 3, 2019.
4. DeBoer, Terry (September 6, 1991). "Gospel music is quartet's mainstay". The Grand Rapids Press. ProQuest 284364580.
5. "The Cathedral Quartet - Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
6. "The Cathedral Quartet biography". Last.fm. Retrieved October 3, 2019.
7. "George W. Younce obituary, Akron Beacon Journal". Legacy.com. April 13, 2005. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
8. "Dove Awards". Archived from the original on July 10, 2011. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
9. "The Cathedral Quartet". Allmusic. Retrieved March 2, 2020.

External links

• Cathedrals History and Discography