Ernie Haase & Signature Sound
Encyclopedia
Ernie Haase & Signature Sound is a Southern Gospel
vocal quartet founded in 2002 by Ernie Haase
, former Cathedral Quartet
tenor, and Garry Jones, former Gold City
pianist.
announced their farewell tour in 1999. Lead singer Glen Payne
died on October 15, 1999 before the end of the tour. Upon request of Glen Payne, the remaining members finished the tour with pianist Roger Bennett
performing Payne's vocals. Following the tour Bennett and baritone Scott Fowler
formed Legacy Five
while Ernie Haase continued his solo career.
After a time former Cathedrals bass George Younce
and the legendary Jake Hess
along with Bill Gaither formed The Old Friends Quartet
with Ernie Haase
, Wesley Pritchard
, and Garry Jones. The Old Friends Quartet disbanded after about two years on the road, as Hess and Younce's ill health prevented them from doing much traveling.
Haase, along with Jones, still had a love for quartet singing and wished to create a quartet that was 21st Century in image and attitude, but traditional in sound, emulating the great Southern Gospel groups of the 20th Century, including the legendary Statesmen Quartet
, the Stamps Quartet, the Blackwood Brothers and of course, the Cathedral Quartet. Haase and Jones gathered three other young men (lead singer Shane Dunlap
, baritone Doug Anderson
, and bass singer Tim Duncan) with similar love and respect for Gospel music, and the Signature Sound Quartet was born. Jones and Haase dissolved their business relationship after the first year and Roy Webb
was chosen as pianist. Haase's father-in-law George Younce became co-owner of the quartet and was instrumental in getting the group an affiliation with the Gaither Music Group.
From the group's inception their name was heard everywhere, and when audiences saw the fun and energy that the group gave at their concerts, they responded enthusiastically, rocketing the Signature Sound Quartet to instant stardom. With the fame came some controversy, as some Gospel music lovers objected to the "outlandish" look of the group, which included short ties and oddly-colored suits. Still later, the group began styling their hair in "modern" stand-up spiked style, which further added to their controversy. The fan reaction, however, was far more positive than negative, and trade magazines began referring to them as "the next Statesmen", implying that the mold-breaking style they created brought to mind the similarly outside-the-box thinking of the classic group.
In 2004, the group changed its name to Ernie Haase and Signature Sound, reportedly in order to avoid confusion with other similarly titled regional groups. They signed with the Gaither Music Group and became regular performers with the Gaither Homecoming
tours and videos. Like-minded legendary singer/producer Bill Gaither eventually began scheduling a second series of concerts with only Signature Sound and the Gaither Vocal Band
appearing together. Due in part to the popularity of these concerts, the two groups decided to record a single album together,appropriately titled "Together", which debuted in October 2007. On the DVD, it was hinted that future collaborations between Signature Sound and the Vocal Band were upcoming.
In May 2007, pianist Roy Webb came off the road to be with his dad, who was dying of cancer. On May 29, 2007, it was announced that Webb had resigned from the group. Later, it was announced that Gordon Mote would be the group's piano player during their Get Away Jordan summer tour. Producer and songwriter Wayne Haun has served as their pianist since their 2008 Summer tour.
The group's next project was entitled, "Dream On." This was released in late October 2008 and was filmed in Chicago, at the Navy Ballroom Pier. In October 2009 a new Christmas album, the group's second such album, was released entitled "Every light that shines at Christmas."
The group won two GMA Dove Awards in 2008 (both for Get Away, Jordan
) at the 39th GMA Dove Awards, and one in 2009 for their song "Reason Enough" at the 40th GMA Dove Awards.
In September 2009, following a three year hiatus from the National Quartet Convention, southern gospel's premier annual event, Haase and Signature Sound returned to the NQC main stage along with the rest of the Gaither Homecoming performers. The group was greeted with great fanfare and adulation by the thousands in attendance. Many longtime Cathedral Quartet fans however were greatly disappointed when Haase failed to appear with former Cathedrals members Scott Fowler, Gerald Wolfe, Mark Trammell and Danny Funderburk for a NQC special showcase presentation called "The Cathedrals Remembered", a tribute concert at the convention in which the former Cathedral members joined forces to sing many old Cathedral songs and to honor George Younce and Glen Payne. Haase had other engagements over the weekend and had to leave NQC early, prior to the taping.
In January 2009, Ernie Haase announced a The Cathedrals tribute tour was next on the quartet's agenda. The CD and DVD are due out in October 2010.
On December 28, 2009, Ernie announced that Ryan Seaton was leaving the quartet to pursue other interests and that former Karen Peck and New River
lead/tenor Devin McGlamery would be joining as the new lead singer.
The group is currently composed of Ernie Haase
, Devin McGlamery, Doug Anderson
and Ian Owens with noted Southern Gospel songwriter and producer Wayne Haun serving as the group's pianist on most dates.
Also in 2009, the group started touring with a live band that included Wayne Haun on the piano, David Griffith on the bass, Kelly Vaughan on electric guitar and Zak Shumate on the drums.
On January 18, 2011, it was announced that bass singer Tim Duncan had left, and Ian Owens had joined the group as the new bass singer for the group. Haase describes Ian Owens as someone who reminds him of his late father-in-law, George Younce, as a singer first and a bass second.
The group are currently working on a new project due for release in February 2012.
** Honorary member who filled in as the lead singer while the group searched for a fulltime lead
* Haase's wife, Lisa, is the daughter of the late George Younce. Joined Haase as Co-Owner in 2005 and from the group's formation until his death, appeared occasionally with the group as a special guest singer; appeared on group's first project performing a solo "This is Heaven to Me" with the group as back-up.
Southern Gospel
Southern Gospel music—at one time also known as "quartet music"—is music whose lyrics are written to express either personal or a communal faith regarding biblical teachings and Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music...
vocal quartet founded in 2002 by Ernie Haase
Ernie Haase
Ernie Haase started singing as a young boy at Washington Ave. Baptist Church. He is a Christian tenor vocalist known for being the founder of Ernie Haase and Signature Sound...
, former Cathedral Quartet
Cathedral Quartet
The Cathedral Quartet, often known as simply The Cathedrals, was an American southern gospel quartet that lasted from 1964 until their retirement in 1999....
tenor, and Garry Jones, former Gold City
Gold City
Gold City is an American Christian music group that is based in Gadsden, Alabama.-Early years:The Mississippi-based Christianairs were renamed Gold City in Dahlonega, Georgia at the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Eve to begin the year 1980 with bass Dallas Gilliland, tenor Bob Oliver, lead singer...
pianist.
Musical career
The Cathedral QuartetCathedral Quartet
The Cathedral Quartet, often known as simply The Cathedrals, was an American southern gospel quartet that lasted from 1964 until their retirement in 1999....
announced their farewell tour in 1999. Lead singer Glen Payne
Glen Payne
Glen Payne served more than 50 years as a gospel music's singer. At age 17 in 1944, Glen joined the Stamps-Baxter Quartet. He was also a member of the Lester Stamps Quartet, The Stamps All-Stars, and The Stamps-Ozark Quartet...
died on October 15, 1999 before the end of the tour. Upon request of Glen Payne, the remaining members finished the tour with pianist Roger Bennett
Roger Bennett (Southern Gospel performer)
Roger Bennett was a Southern Gospel pianist, singer, songwriter, and co-founder of the award winning Gospel Quartet Legacy Five. Prior to forming Legacy Five, he served nearly 20 years as pianist for The Cathedrals....
performing Payne's vocals. Following the tour Bennett and baritone Scott Fowler
Scott Fowler
Scott Fowler was the baritone vocalist with the Cathedral Quartet from 1991 through 1999. After the retirement of the Cathedrals, he co-founded Legacy Five along with former Cathedral pianist Roger Bennett, in which he sings lead...
formed Legacy Five
Legacy Five
Legacy Five is a Southern Gospel Quartet founded by former Cathedral Quartet members Roger Bennett and Scott Fowler after the owners of the Cathedral Quartet, Glen Payne and George Younce, decided to retire in 1999. Group members attribute their success to the changing face of gospel music and...
while Ernie Haase continued his solo career.
After a time former Cathedrals bass George Younce
George Younce
George Younce was an American bass singer, known for performing with Southern Gospel quartets, especially The Cathedrals.-Biography:...
and the legendary Jake Hess
Jake Hess
Jake Hess was an American Grammy Award-winning southern gospel singer.-Life:Hess was born Manchild Hess December 24, 1927, in Limestone County, Alabama...
along with Bill Gaither formed The Old Friends Quartet
The Old Friends Quartet
The Old Friends Quartet is a vocal group that sings gospel music. They released all their albums with Spring House Productions. In 2002 their DVD Encore, filmed in Mobile, Alabama, won a Southern Gospel Music Association Award.-Members:...
with Ernie Haase
Ernie Haase
Ernie Haase started singing as a young boy at Washington Ave. Baptist Church. He is a Christian tenor vocalist known for being the founder of Ernie Haase and Signature Sound...
, Wesley Pritchard
Wesley Pritchard
K. Wesley Pritchard sang with the Old Friends Quartet from 2000 through 2002. He filled in for Ernie Haase & Signature Sound in 2003, while they were seeking a new lead singer. He has traveled extensively with "Bill Gaither's Homecoming Friends" and can be seen on many of the Gaither Homecoming...
, and Garry Jones. The Old Friends Quartet disbanded after about two years on the road, as Hess and Younce's ill health prevented them from doing much traveling.
Haase, along with Jones, still had a love for quartet singing and wished to create a quartet that was 21st Century in image and attitude, but traditional in sound, emulating the great Southern Gospel groups of the 20th Century, including the legendary Statesmen Quartet
Statesmen quartet
The Statesmen Quartet was a Southern Gospel Music group founded in 1948 by Hovie Lister. Along with the Blackwood Brothers, the Statesmen Quartet was considered the most successful and influential gospel quartet of the 1950s....
, the Stamps Quartet, the Blackwood Brothers and of course, the Cathedral Quartet. Haase and Jones gathered three other young men (lead singer Shane Dunlap
Shane Dunlap
Shane Dunlap was the original lead singer for Ernie Haase & Signature Sound, a Southern Gospel quartet. Prior to that, he was a founding member of N'Harmony. After leaving Signature Sound, he started a solo career....
, baritone Doug Anderson
Doug Anderson (singer)
Doug Anderson is a Christian vocalist.Anderson studied at Purdue University with a scolarship for basketball. He started singing as baritone with the The Mighty Fishermen Quartet and later joined the quartet Lighthouse. When Lighthouse performed with the Cathedral Quartet, he met Ernie Haase...
, and bass singer Tim Duncan) with similar love and respect for Gospel music, and the Signature Sound Quartet was born. Jones and Haase dissolved their business relationship after the first year and Roy Webb
Roy Webb
Roy Webb was a film music composer.Webb has hundreds of composing credits to his name, mainly with RKO Pictures, and while most of the movies he scored were fairly light in content, he is today best known for his dark horror and film noir scores...
was chosen as pianist. Haase's father-in-law George Younce became co-owner of the quartet and was instrumental in getting the group an affiliation with the Gaither Music Group.
From the group's inception their name was heard everywhere, and when audiences saw the fun and energy that the group gave at their concerts, they responded enthusiastically, rocketing the Signature Sound Quartet to instant stardom. With the fame came some controversy, as some Gospel music lovers objected to the "outlandish" look of the group, which included short ties and oddly-colored suits. Still later, the group began styling their hair in "modern" stand-up spiked style, which further added to their controversy. The fan reaction, however, was far more positive than negative, and trade magazines began referring to them as "the next Statesmen", implying that the mold-breaking style they created brought to mind the similarly outside-the-box thinking of the classic group.
In 2004, the group changed its name to Ernie Haase and Signature Sound, reportedly in order to avoid confusion with other similarly titled regional groups. They signed with the Gaither Music Group and became regular performers with the Gaither Homecoming
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...
tours and videos. Like-minded legendary singer/producer Bill Gaither eventually began scheduling a second series of concerts with only Signature Sound and the Gaither Vocal Band
Gaither Vocal Band
The Gaither Vocal Band is a Grammy award-winning Christian music vocal group, headed by Bill Gaither. They originally recorded contemporary Christian music, but after the popularity of the Gaither Homecoming videos, the group has become known for southern gospel.-Group history:The Gaither Vocal...
appearing together. Due in part to the popularity of these concerts, the two groups decided to record a single album together,appropriately titled "Together", which debuted in October 2007. On the DVD, it was hinted that future collaborations between Signature Sound and the Vocal Band were upcoming.
In May 2007, pianist Roy Webb came off the road to be with his dad, who was dying of cancer. On May 29, 2007, it was announced that Webb had resigned from the group. Later, it was announced that Gordon Mote would be the group's piano player during their Get Away Jordan summer tour. Producer and songwriter Wayne Haun has served as their pianist since their 2008 Summer tour.
The group's next project was entitled, "Dream On." This was released in late October 2008 and was filmed in Chicago, at the Navy Ballroom Pier. In October 2009 a new Christmas album, the group's second such album, was released entitled "Every light that shines at Christmas."
The group won two GMA Dove Awards in 2008 (both for Get Away, Jordan
Get Away, Jordan
Get Away, Jordan is a live CD/DVD released by Christian gospel quartet Ernie Haase & Signature Sound. The album was produced by Gaither Music Group and released on January 23, 2007.-Track listing:# "Someday" - 2:30...
) at the 39th GMA Dove Awards, and one in 2009 for their song "Reason Enough" at the 40th GMA Dove Awards.
In September 2009, following a three year hiatus from the National Quartet Convention, southern gospel's premier annual event, Haase and Signature Sound returned to the NQC main stage along with the rest of the Gaither Homecoming performers. The group was greeted with great fanfare and adulation by the thousands in attendance. Many longtime Cathedral Quartet fans however were greatly disappointed when Haase failed to appear with former Cathedrals members Scott Fowler, Gerald Wolfe, Mark Trammell and Danny Funderburk for a NQC special showcase presentation called "The Cathedrals Remembered", a tribute concert at the convention in which the former Cathedral members joined forces to sing many old Cathedral songs and to honor George Younce and Glen Payne. Haase had other engagements over the weekend and had to leave NQC early, prior to the taping.
In January 2009, Ernie Haase announced a The Cathedrals tribute tour was next on the quartet's agenda. The CD and DVD are due out in October 2010.
On December 28, 2009, Ernie announced that Ryan Seaton was leaving the quartet to pursue other interests and that former Karen Peck and New River
Karen Peck and New River
Karen Peck and New River is a southern gospel trio based in Gainesville, Georgia.-Music career:The youngest of three daughters, Karen was exposed to the traditional sounds of gospel music at a very early age...
lead/tenor Devin McGlamery would be joining as the new lead singer.
The group is currently composed of Ernie Haase
Ernie Haase
Ernie Haase started singing as a young boy at Washington Ave. Baptist Church. He is a Christian tenor vocalist known for being the founder of Ernie Haase and Signature Sound...
, Devin McGlamery, Doug Anderson
Doug Anderson (singer)
Doug Anderson is a Christian vocalist.Anderson studied at Purdue University with a scolarship for basketball. He started singing as baritone with the The Mighty Fishermen Quartet and later joined the quartet Lighthouse. When Lighthouse performed with the Cathedral Quartet, he met Ernie Haase...
and Ian Owens with noted Southern Gospel songwriter and producer Wayne Haun serving as the group's pianist on most dates.
Also in 2009, the group started touring with a live band that included Wayne Haun on the piano, David Griffith on the bass, Kelly Vaughan on electric guitar and Zak Shumate on the drums.
On January 18, 2011, it was announced that bass singer Tim Duncan had left, and Ian Owens had joined the group as the new bass singer for the group. Haase describes Ian Owens as someone who reminds him of his late father-in-law, George Younce, as a singer first and a bass second.
The group are currently working on a new project due for release in February 2012.
Members
- Ernie HaaseErnie HaaseErnie Haase started singing as a young boy at Washington Ave. Baptist Church. He is a Christian tenor vocalist known for being the founder of Ernie Haase and Signature Sound...
: Tenor & Founder (2002–Present)) - Shane DunlapShane DunlapShane Dunlap was the original lead singer for Ernie Haase & Signature Sound, a Southern Gospel quartet. Prior to that, he was a founding member of N'Harmony. After leaving Signature Sound, he started a solo career....
: Lead (2002–03) - Doug AndersonDoug Anderson (singer)Doug Anderson is a Christian vocalist.Anderson studied at Purdue University with a scolarship for basketball. He started singing as baritone with the The Mighty Fishermen Quartet and later joined the quartet Lighthouse. When Lighthouse performed with the Cathedral Quartet, he met Ernie Haase...
: Baritone (2002–Present) - Tim Duncan: Bass (2002–2011)
- George YounceGeorge YounceGeorge Younce was an American bass singer, known for performing with Southern Gospel quartets, especially The Cathedrals.-Biography:...
: Co-owner and Guest Singer (2003–2005)* - Wesley PritchardWesley PritchardK. Wesley Pritchard sang with the Old Friends Quartet from 2000 through 2002. He filled in for Ernie Haase & Signature Sound in 2003, while they were seeking a new lead singer. He has traveled extensively with "Bill Gaither's Homecoming Friends" and can be seen on many of the Gaither Homecoming...
: Lead (2003)** - Ryan SeatonRyan SeatonRyan Seaton was the lead singer for Ernie Haase & Signature Sound, a Southern Gospel quartet, from 2003 to December 2009.- External links :* , personal website* , personal website...
: Lead (2003–2009) - Devin McGlamery: Lead (2010–Present)
- Ian Owens: Bass (2011–Present)
Musicians
- Garry Jones: Pianist & Co-founder (2002–03)
- Roy Webb: Pianist (2003–2007)
- Gordon Mote: Pianist (2007 summer tour)
- Wayne Haun: Pianist (2008–present)
- David Griffith: Bassist (2009–present)
- Greg Ritchie: Drummer (2009)
- Zak Shumate: Drummer (2010–Present)
- Kelly Vaughn: Guitar (2010–Present)
Discography
- Stand by Me (2002)
- Building a Bridge (2003)
- Glory to His Name (2003)
- The Ground is Level (2004)
- Great Love (2004)
- Christmas with Ernie Haase & Signature Sound (2004)
- Stand by Me: Live (2005)*
- Ernie Haase & Signature SoundErnie Haase & Signature Sound (album)Ernie Haase & Signature Sound is an eponymous album released by the Christian gospel quartet of the same name. The album was produced by Gaither Music Group and released on October 25, 2005.-Track listing:# "Shout, Brother, Shout" - 2:14...
(2005) - Get Away, JordanGet Away, JordanGet Away, Jordan is a live CD/DVD released by Christian gospel quartet Ernie Haase & Signature Sound. The album was produced by Gaither Music Group and released on January 23, 2007.-Track listing:# "Someday" - 2:30...
(2007) - Together (2007) - Recorded with the Gaither Vocal BandGaither Vocal BandThe Gaither Vocal Band is a Grammy award-winning Christian music vocal group, headed by Bill Gaither. They originally recorded contemporary Christian music, but after the popularity of the Gaither Homecoming videos, the group has become known for southern gospel.-Group history:The Gaither Vocal...
. - Influenced (2008) - Table project, only available at concerts.
- Dream On (2008)
- Every Light That Shines at Christmas (2009)
- Influenced: Spirituals & Southern Classics (2010)
- Greatest Hits (2010)
- A Tribute to the Cathedral QuartetA Tribute to the Cathedral QuartetA Tribute to the Cathedral Quartet is a CD/DVD released by Christian gospel quartet Ernie Haase & Signature Sound. The album is a tribute to the legendary gospel group The Cathedral Quartet with whom tenor singer Ernie Haase performed from 1990 to 1999...
(2010) - Here We Are Again (Coming Soon on February 2012)
GMA Dove Awards
| Year | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 Dove Awards of 2006 The 37th Annual GMA Dove Awards, also called the 37th Annual GMA Music Awards, were held on April 5, 2006 recognizing accomplishments of Christian musicians for the year 2005. The show was held at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, Tennessee, and was hosted by Rebecca St. James and Kirk Franklin... |
New Artist of the Year | |
| Southern Gospel Album of the Year (Ernie Haase & Signature Sound) | ||
| 2008 Dove Awards of 2008 The 39th Annual GMA Dove Awards were held on April 23, 2008 recognizing accomplishments of musicians for the year 2007. The show was held at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, Tennessee.Nominations were announced on February 14, 2008 by singer Michael W... |
Group of the Year | |
| Southern Gospel Album of the Year (Get Away, Jordan Get Away, Jordan Get Away, Jordan is a live CD/DVD released by Christian gospel quartet Ernie Haase & Signature Sound. The album was produced by Gaither Music Group and released on January 23, 2007.-Track listing:# "Someday" - 2:30... ) |
||
| Southern Gospel Recorded Song of the Year ("Get Away Jordan") | ||
| Long Form Music Video of the Year (Get Away, Jordan) | ||
| 2009 Dove Awards of 2009 The 40th Annual GMA Dove Awards were held on April 23, 2009 recognizing accomplishments of musicians for the year 2008. The show was held at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, Tennessee, and was hosted by Rebecca St... |
Group of the Year | |
| Male Vocalist of the Year (Ernie Haase Ernie Haase Ernie Haase started singing as a young boy at Washington Ave. Baptist Church. He is a Christian tenor vocalist known for being the founder of Ernie Haase and Signature Sound... ) |
||
| Song of the Year ("Reason Enough") | ||
| Southern Gospel Recorded Song of the Year ("Reason Enough") | ||
| 2010 | Country Recorded Song of the Year ("Thank God for Kids") | |
| Christmas Album of the Year (Every Light That Shines at Christmas) | ||
| 2011 | Artist of the Year | |
| Group of the Year | ||
| Southern Gospel Recorded Song of the Year ("I Thirst") | ||
| Southern Gospel Album of the Year (A Tribute to the Cathedral Quartet A Tribute to the Cathedral Quartet A Tribute to the Cathedral Quartet is a CD/DVD released by Christian gospel quartet Ernie Haase & Signature Sound. The album is a tribute to the legendary gospel group The Cathedral Quartet with whom tenor singer Ernie Haase performed from 1990 to 1999... ) |
||
| Long Form Music Video of the Year (A Tribute to the Cathedral Quartet) | ||