Lanny Wolfe
Encyclopedia
Lanny Wolfe is an American songwriter in Gospel music
, Southern Gospel
, and Contemporary Christian music
genres. He has won two Dove Awards (Gospel Music Association
) in 1984 for Song of the Year, and Songwriter of the Year for his song, More than Wonderful, a song whose recording by gospel singers Sandi Patti & Larnelle Harris
earned them a Grammy award. He has also served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Gospel Music Association.
music.
Though he heavily influenced the greater world of gospel music during the 1970s and 1980s, it was through his work within his own particular religious denomination, the United Pentecostal Church, International, that this work was accomplished. While people throughout Christianity may be able to hum a Lanny Wolfe tune, most of his day-to-day career was spent as the Dean of the School of Music at a Pentecostal Bible school, Jackson College of Ministries.
Lanny Wolfe influenced gospel music in two ways: 1) through recordings of original music, and 2) through his once-popular National Music Ministry Conference, an annual conference hosted by the aforementioned bible school and the First Pentecostal Church of Jackson, Mississippi, where Wolfe worked from 1974 until 1993. He is a brilliant composer – using his education in music to introduce more sophisticated music styles to church audiences more familiar with southern or folk gospel. Using a tantalizing mix of Southern gospel song formulas, emotionally expressive musical phrasings more common in black churches, and classical, popular, or even “jazzy” music arrangements, he played an integral part in elevating the type and styles of music performed in worship services in the United Pentecostal Church and among many other Christian congregations.
His original music was performed and released by his trio, the Lanny Wolfe Trio, originally composed of himself, his then-wife, Marietta Wolfe, and Dave Petersen. During the 80’s, the group added others as Dave Petersen departed, followed by his wife who left to raise their children. Eventually, the group performed as Lanny Wolfe and the Lanny Wolfe Trio—the trio itself comprising young talent mostly taken from the student body of the Jackson College of Ministries. His last three albums listed the troupe simply as The Lanny Wolfe Singers. On his last album, the “Singers” were from a local church where he ministered at, since he was no longer affiliated with JCM.
He founded the National Music Ministry Conference as an effort to improve worship music in churches within the United Pentecostal Church, although it’s influence eventually expanded outside of that denomination. Each annual conference, held in the spring, offered classes in the many aspects of church worship, musicianship, sound control and production, and taught ordinary church musicians important tools in creating a professional sound in church worship. Each conference was capped at the end of the week by the performance of the National Music Ministry Conference Mass Choir (later dubbed Jackson Mass Choir) —made up of participants in the conference, and notable musicians and singers from within the United Pentecostal Church. It was considered an honor among UPCI musical artists to be asked to perform by Wolfe during this concert. Songs made popular by these Mass Choir concerts were often copied by worship teams in the UPCI and other Pentecostal-style churches coast-to-coast. These recordings also brought to the attention of other worship leaders of different faiths this music that Wolfe was introducing to the Pentecostal/Charismatic community—some songs presented there would invariably end up being recorded by more prestigious artists or choirs, such as the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir.
Music at his conference, except for a few select songs, was not original to him. He busily mined other non-mainstream gospel genres for material, often using music recorded by gospel
choirs (such as Mississippi Mass Choir, or Rev. Milton Brunson and the Thompson Community Singers) for material. The spirited style of these songs went over well in a denomination known for expressive worship and spiritual dance, which seemed a bit odd considering that many congregations within the United Pentecostal Church at that time were all-white or nearly all-white. The mixture was ingenious, and a natural fit, since the expressive worship styles of white Pentecostals themselves were inherited from the beginnings of the Pentecostal movement, which started off as an inner-city, inter-racial religious movement.
His songs, musical style, along with the artistry of the Lanny Wolfe Trio continue to impact Pentecostal/Charismatic worship music since many worship leaders are well adept at finding or creating the same sound. Many Christian recording artists, songwriters, Ministers Of Music, and Christian educators have studied under his leadership, such as Geron Davis
(“Standing on Holy Ground”); Becky Davis, Shelton and Alyson Lovern, artists with Geron Davis and Kindred Souls; Vicki Yohe, TBN Artist and Guest Soloist with the Benny Hinn
Crusades; Becky Fender ("I Give You Jesus"); Vonnie Lopez, Artist with the Kurt Carr
Singers; Dan Dean, Minister, Songwriter and Artist with Phillips, Craig, and Dean; Jeannie Tenney ("One Night With The King"); John Ragsdale, Artist, Songwriter, Evangelist, former member of "The Awakening" TV ministry; Karen Harding, winner of the 2003 Exalting Him Talent Search and recording artist with Daywind Music Group; Hector Soto, Music Pastor, Grace Church, Humble, TX and recording artist, Israel Houghton
's "Alive in South Africa" project; Melanie Jones, Artist, Israel Houghton's "Alive in South Africa" project; Wayne Goodine, Chairman of the Music Department, International Bible College,San Antonio; Mark Carouthers, Minister of Music, Artist, Songwriter (“Mercy Seat”), Steven Gregory, Pastor of Media and Arts, Venture Church, San Jose, CA; Dedie Cooley, Music Instructor, Texas Bible College, Lufkin, TX, among others.
and received his baccalaureate degree in Business education, and began teaching public schools. Going to night school, he finished his MBA there as well.
Being a talented church musician, he was offered a job at a Pentecostal bible school in California to teach worship music – which led him to return to a traditional learning atmosphere where he eventually received his bachelor’s degree in Music Education from San Jose State University
. He eventually finished a second Master’s in the same field.
He headed the music departments at the following bible schools affiliated with the United Pentecostal Church, International: Christian Life College in Stockton, California from 1965 to 1966; Gateway College of Evangelism in St. Louis, Missouri from 1968 to 1974; and at Jackson College of Ministries in Jackson, Mississippi from 1974 to 1993.
Since 1993,he has served as music director at a charismatic non-denominational church in Houston, as well as being a music instructor at South Texas Bible Institute, also in Houston, Texas. Lanny is presently serving as CEO for Paradigm Music Productions, writing, conducting choir clinics at churches across the country and accompanying members of the original Lanny Wolfe Trio for reunion concerts at selected churches and venues throughout the nation.
Nominated eight times by the Gospel Music Association for Gospel Songwriter of the Year
Dove Award, Gospel Music Association, Gospel Songwriter of the Year, 1984
Dove Award, Gospel Music Association, "More Than Wonderful" voted Song of the Year(1984)
Grammy Award to Sandi Patty and Larnelle Harris for their performance of "More Than Wonderful" (1984)
Lanny Wolfe Trio received Billboard's Magazine Award of the Year for Top Contemporary Trio (1977)
Voted in Top Five Inspirational Albums of the Year (various years) by Gospel Music Association:
Rejoicing Live, Have A Nice Day, Can't Stop The Music
Voted in the Top Ten Songs for various years:
Greater Is He, God's Wonderful People, Surely The Presence of the Lord Is In This Place, More Than Wonderful
Nominated for NARAS Grammy Awards:
Make A Joyful Noise, 1980; Can't Stop the Music, 1981
"Greater Is He" was the official closing song for the Oral Roberts TV broadcast for a six year period
Listed in Who's Who in Mississippi
Received an Honorary Doctorate from Pacific Coast Bible College (1983)
Elected member of the Gospel Music Association Board of Directors
Recipient of the "Legendary Bard Award" from the Bard Project for "Historic and exemplary contributions to the faith and worship heritage of the Body of Christ."
The Wolfe Trio
Marietta Wolfe and The Lanny Wolfe Chorale
Lanny and Marietta Wolfe
National Music Ministry Conference Mass Choir Live Recordings
Lanny Wolfe Trio Studio Projects
The Lanny Wolfe Singers Studio Projects
Lanny Wolfe Trio Collectors Editions
The Lanny Wolfe Singers Live Projects
Special Projects
Significant Songs of Interest
Gospel music
Gospel music is music that is written to express either personal, spiritual or a communal belief regarding Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music....
, Southern Gospel
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...
, and Contemporary Christian music
Contemporary Christian music
Contemporary Christian music is a genre of modern popular music which is lyrically focused on matters concerned with the Christian faith...
genres. He has won two Dove Awards (Gospel Music Association
Gospel Music Association
The Gospel Music Association was founded in 1964 for the purpose of supporting and promoting the development of all forms of Gospel music. There are currently about 4,000 members worldwide...
) in 1984 for Song of the Year, and Songwriter of the Year for his song, More than Wonderful, a song whose recording by gospel singers Sandi Patti & Larnelle Harris
Larnelle Harris
Larnelle Steward Harris is a gospel singer and songwriter. During his 30-plus years of ministry, Harris has recorded 18 albums, won five Grammy Awards and 18 Dove Awards, and has had several number one songs on the inspirational music charts.-Early life:A native of Danville, Kentucky, Harris...
earned them a Grammy award. He has also served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Gospel Music Association.
Influence on Gospel Music
Lanny Wolfe’s influence on gospel music is tremendous. Though better known to church worship leaders, other songwriters, and other Gospel music performers than to the general church-going public, he was a pioneer in progressing modern church music in Pentecostal and Charismatic churches from traditional hymns or folk-style singing to more sophisticated worship styles with arranged or pre-recorded music, using styles of music influenced by pop-culture and black gospelUrban contemporary gospel
Traditional black gospel is music that is written to express either personal or a communal belief regarding Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music...
music.
Though he heavily influenced the greater world of gospel music during the 1970s and 1980s, it was through his work within his own particular religious denomination, the United Pentecostal Church, International, that this work was accomplished. While people throughout Christianity may be able to hum a Lanny Wolfe tune, most of his day-to-day career was spent as the Dean of the School of Music at a Pentecostal Bible school, Jackson College of Ministries.
Lanny Wolfe influenced gospel music in two ways: 1) through recordings of original music, and 2) through his once-popular National Music Ministry Conference, an annual conference hosted by the aforementioned bible school and the First Pentecostal Church of Jackson, Mississippi, where Wolfe worked from 1974 until 1993. He is a brilliant composer – using his education in music to introduce more sophisticated music styles to church audiences more familiar with southern or folk gospel. Using a tantalizing mix of Southern gospel song formulas, emotionally expressive musical phrasings more common in black churches, and classical, popular, or even “jazzy” music arrangements, he played an integral part in elevating the type and styles of music performed in worship services in the United Pentecostal Church and among many other Christian congregations.
His original music was performed and released by his trio, the Lanny Wolfe Trio, originally composed of himself, his then-wife, Marietta Wolfe, and Dave Petersen. During the 80’s, the group added others as Dave Petersen departed, followed by his wife who left to raise their children. Eventually, the group performed as Lanny Wolfe and the Lanny Wolfe Trio—the trio itself comprising young talent mostly taken from the student body of the Jackson College of Ministries. His last three albums listed the troupe simply as The Lanny Wolfe Singers. On his last album, the “Singers” were from a local church where he ministered at, since he was no longer affiliated with JCM.
He founded the National Music Ministry Conference as an effort to improve worship music in churches within the United Pentecostal Church, although it’s influence eventually expanded outside of that denomination. Each annual conference, held in the spring, offered classes in the many aspects of church worship, musicianship, sound control and production, and taught ordinary church musicians important tools in creating a professional sound in church worship. Each conference was capped at the end of the week by the performance of the National Music Ministry Conference Mass Choir (later dubbed Jackson Mass Choir) —made up of participants in the conference, and notable musicians and singers from within the United Pentecostal Church. It was considered an honor among UPCI musical artists to be asked to perform by Wolfe during this concert. Songs made popular by these Mass Choir concerts were often copied by worship teams in the UPCI and other Pentecostal-style churches coast-to-coast. These recordings also brought to the attention of other worship leaders of different faiths this music that Wolfe was introducing to the Pentecostal/Charismatic community—some songs presented there would invariably end up being recorded by more prestigious artists or choirs, such as the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir.
His Music
Like his method of musical contribution, music styles attributed to Lanny Wolfe were also varied. His original music picked up on styles within pop culture, and often included the soft, symphonic style of pop music during the ‘70s. In his song, I Feel Good, he even pulled off adapting a little bit of the “James Brown Sound” to that up-tempo song. His trio often recorded using London-based orchestras, often arranged by the famed gospel music producer, Lari Goss.Music at his conference, except for a few select songs, was not original to him. He busily mined other non-mainstream gospel genres for material, often using music recorded by gospel
Urban contemporary gospel
Traditional black gospel is music that is written to express either personal or a communal belief regarding Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music...
choirs (such as Mississippi Mass Choir, or Rev. Milton Brunson and the Thompson Community Singers) for material. The spirited style of these songs went over well in a denomination known for expressive worship and spiritual dance, which seemed a bit odd considering that many congregations within the United Pentecostal Church at that time were all-white or nearly all-white. The mixture was ingenious, and a natural fit, since the expressive worship styles of white Pentecostals themselves were inherited from the beginnings of the Pentecostal movement, which started off as an inner-city, inter-racial religious movement.
His songs, musical style, along with the artistry of the Lanny Wolfe Trio continue to impact Pentecostal/Charismatic worship music since many worship leaders are well adept at finding or creating the same sound. Many Christian recording artists, songwriters, Ministers Of Music, and Christian educators have studied under his leadership, such as Geron Davis
Geron Davis
Geron Davis is a musician best known as a composer. He was first signed by Meadowgreen Music and best known for penning the song "Holy Ground"...
(“Standing on Holy Ground”); Becky Davis, Shelton and Alyson Lovern, artists with Geron Davis and Kindred Souls; Vicki Yohe, TBN Artist and Guest Soloist with the Benny Hinn
Benny Hinn
Toufik Benedictus "Benny" Hinn הין; born December 3, 1952) is a televangelist, best known for his regular "Miracle Crusades" – revival meeting/faith healing summits that are usually held in large stadiums in major cities, which are later broadcast worldwide on his television program, This Is Your...
Crusades; Becky Fender ("I Give You Jesus"); Vonnie Lopez, Artist with the Kurt Carr
Kurt Carr
Kurt Carr is an American gospel music composer and performer. While living in the city of Hartford, Connecticut he served as Minister of Music at The First Baptist Church of Hartford located at the time on Greenfield Street...
Singers; Dan Dean, Minister, Songwriter and Artist with Phillips, Craig, and Dean; Jeannie Tenney ("One Night With The King"); John Ragsdale, Artist, Songwriter, Evangelist, former member of "The Awakening" TV ministry; Karen Harding, winner of the 2003 Exalting Him Talent Search and recording artist with Daywind Music Group; Hector Soto, Music Pastor, Grace Church, Humble, TX and recording artist, Israel Houghton
Israel Houghton
-Other recordings :* "Champions for Christ" - Hi5 * "Where Are the Fathers?" from He-Motions * "Send Me to the Nations" from A Wing & A Prayer...
's "Alive in South Africa" project; Melanie Jones, Artist, Israel Houghton's "Alive in South Africa" project; Wayne Goodine, Chairman of the Music Department, International Bible College,San Antonio; Mark Carouthers, Minister of Music, Artist, Songwriter (“Mercy Seat”), Steven Gregory, Pastor of Media and Arts, Venture Church, San Jose, CA; Dedie Cooley, Music Instructor, Texas Bible College, Lufkin, TX, among others.
Biography
Lanny Wolfe learned how to play the piano by ear, a talent that was used in his local church growing up. He went to Ohio State UniversityOhio State University
The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
and received his baccalaureate degree in Business education, and began teaching public schools. Going to night school, he finished his MBA there as well.
Being a talented church musician, he was offered a job at a Pentecostal bible school in California to teach worship music – which led him to return to a traditional learning atmosphere where he eventually received his bachelor’s degree in Music Education from San Jose State University
San José State University
San Jose State University is a public university located in San Jose, California, United States...
. He eventually finished a second Master’s in the same field.
He headed the music departments at the following bible schools affiliated with the United Pentecostal Church, International: Christian Life College in Stockton, California from 1965 to 1966; Gateway College of Evangelism in St. Louis, Missouri from 1968 to 1974; and at Jackson College of Ministries in Jackson, Mississippi from 1974 to 1993.
Since 1993,he has served as music director at a charismatic non-denominational church in Houston, as well as being a music instructor at South Texas Bible Institute, also in Houston, Texas. Lanny is presently serving as CEO for Paradigm Music Productions, writing, conducting choir clinics at churches across the country and accompanying members of the original Lanny Wolfe Trio for reunion concerts at selected churches and venues throughout the nation.
Awards and honors
SESAC'S Gospel Composer of The Year, 1975 and 1976Nominated eight times by the Gospel Music Association for Gospel Songwriter of the Year
Dove Award, Gospel Music Association, Gospel Songwriter of the Year, 1984
Dove Award, Gospel Music Association, "More Than Wonderful" voted Song of the Year(1984)
Grammy Award to Sandi Patty and Larnelle Harris for their performance of "More Than Wonderful" (1984)
Lanny Wolfe Trio received Billboard's Magazine Award of the Year for Top Contemporary Trio (1977)
Voted in Top Five Inspirational Albums of the Year (various years) by Gospel Music Association:
Rejoicing Live, Have A Nice Day, Can't Stop The Music
Voted in the Top Ten Songs for various years:
Greater Is He, God's Wonderful People, Surely The Presence of the Lord Is In This Place, More Than Wonderful
Nominated for NARAS Grammy Awards:
Make A Joyful Noise, 1980; Can't Stop the Music, 1981
"Greater Is He" was the official closing song for the Oral Roberts TV broadcast for a six year period
Listed in Who's Who in Mississippi
Received an Honorary Doctorate from Pacific Coast Bible College (1983)
Elected member of the Gospel Music Association Board of Directors
Recipient of the "Legendary Bard Award" from the Bard Project for "Historic and exemplary contributions to the faith and worship heritage of the Body of Christ."
Discography
Studio & Live Recordings (Albums)The Wolfe Trio
- Song In My Soul
Marietta Wolfe and The Lanny Wolfe Chorale
- Something To Sing About
Lanny and Marietta Wolfe
- Long Road "He Writes, She Sings"
- No Valleys Tomorrow
National Music Ministry Conference Mass Choir Live Recordings
- 18 Titles
Lanny Wolfe Trio Studio Projects
- There’s Something in the Air
- Let’s Sing a Song About Jesus
- Come On, Let’s Praise Him
- Shout It, Jesus is Coming!
- A Brand New Touch
- Have A Nice Day
- Rejoice with Exceeding Great Joy
- Can’t Stop the Music
- Through the Years
- I’m Gonna Praise the Lord (Anyway that I can)
- Children of Azusa Street
The Lanny Wolfe Singers Studio Projects
- Just Keep Praising Him
- Father Love
- Never Have to Say Goodbye Again
Lanny Wolfe Trio Collectors Editions
- The Lanny Wolfe Trios Greatest Hits-Collectors Edition
- The Lanny Wolfe Trios Favorites-Collectors Edition 2 CD set
- The Lanny Wolfe Trio BEST OF LIVE Sessions-Collectors Edition 2 CD set
The Lanny Wolfe Singers Live Projects
- Rejoice . . . LIVE
- An Evening with the Lanny Wolfe Trio
- Make a Joyful Noise
- Lanny Wolfe and the Lanny Wolfe Trio LIVE
Special Projects
- The Together Project
Musicals
- Greater Is He
- We Are The Church
- In Everything Give Thanks
- Noel, Jesus Is Born
- Thou Shall Call His Name Jesus!
- Behold He Cometh!
- Sing Noel!
- Don't Miss Christmas
- Jesus, The Heart Of Christmas
- A Season, A Savior, A Star
- The Greatest Story
- Love Found A Way!
- Praise The Lamb
- Jesus, We Crown You With Praise
Significant Songs of Interest
- Surely the Presence (of the Lord is in this Place)
- More than Wonderful
- Greater is He that is in Me
- Only Jesus Can Satisfy Your Soul
- Jesus, We Crown You With Praise
- God’s Wonderful People
- I Keep Falling In Love With Him (Over and Over Again)
- My House Is Full (But My Field Is Empty)
- In Everything Give Him Thanks
- One Day Too Late
- I Feel Good
- Jesus Will Be What Makes It Heaven For Me
- Jesus Made A Believer Out Of Me
- Make A Joyful Noise
- The Sounds Of His Coming
- Rejoice With Exceeding Great Joy
- Jesus Be The Lord Of All
- Precious Blood
- Someone is Praying for You
- Whatever it Takes
- A Brand New Touch
- More Than Ever Before
- The Church Will Stand
- Stirred, But Not Changed
- Together, We Can Make A Difference
- Children of Azusa Street
- No Room
- Seeking For Me
- Cherish That Name
- Wise Men Still Seek Him Today
External links
- Lanny Wolfe’s personal website detailing his bio and music portfolio. Alternate address is http://paradigmmusic.net
- The United Pentecostal Church, International The official website of the most prominent Oneness Pentecostal denomination in the United States.