Rodney Griffin
Encyclopedia
Rodney Griffin is a Southern Gospel
singer and songwriter currently performing with Greater Vision
. Griffin was named favorite songwriter in the Singing News Fan Awards
every year from 1998 to 2011. He was also named Favorite Baritone in 2006. Many of his songs, including My Name is Lazarus (1999) and Just One More Soul (2000), have won Favorite Song.
in Berea, Kentucky
in 1988. Until 1990, he worked at a shipyard in Virginia
, but always had a desire to sing gospel music. He spent time with an amateur group from Chesapeake, Virginia
called The Galileans, but wanted to sing professionally. He joined a professional group called Higher Dedication. When Higher Dedication disbanded, Griffin moved on to an Arkansas-based family singing group called The Brashears, and later joined the Dixie Melody Boys
serving as baritone vocalist and bass guitarist from 1991-1993.
to replace baritone
Mark Trammell
, who left the trio in 1993. Besides being a talented singer, Griffin began writing many of Greater Vision
's songs including the hits He'd Still Been God, Common Garments, Faces, A Pile of Crowns, Just One More Soul, and My Name is Lazarus. Griffin has also written songs performed by other groups, including Don't Let the Sandals Fool Ya (Triumphant) and Temporary Tomb (Legacy Five
).
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...
singer and songwriter currently performing with Greater Vision
Greater Vision
Greater Vision is a Southern Gospel trio founded in 1990 by Gerald Wolfe, Mark Trammell, and Chris Allman, and often accompanied by pianist Stan Whitmire . Over the last several years, this trio has consistently been named Southern Gospel's favorite trio of the year in the Singing News Fan Awards...
. Griffin was named favorite songwriter in the Singing News Fan Awards
Singing News Fan Awards
The Singing News Fan Awards is an annual award ceremony held on the Saturday night program of the National Quartet Convention and honors the achievements of professional Southern Gospel artists, songwriters and DJ's.-Award Selection:...
every year from 1998 to 2011. He was also named Favorite Baritone in 2006. Many of his songs, including My Name is Lazarus (1999) and Just One More Soul (2000), have won Favorite Song.
Early years
Griffin earned a bachelor's degree from Berea CollegeBerea College
Berea College is a liberal arts work college in Berea, Kentucky , founded in 1855. Current full-time enrollment is 1,514 students...
in Berea, Kentucky
Berea, Kentucky
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 9,851 people, 3,693 households, and 2,426 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,055.4 people per square mile . There were 4,115 housing units at an average density of 440.9 per square mile...
in 1988. Until 1990, he worked at a shipyard in Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, but always had a desire to sing gospel music. He spent time with an amateur group from Chesapeake, Virginia
Chesapeake, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 199,184 people, 69,900 households, and 54,172 families residing in the city. The population density was 584.6 people per square mile . There were 72,672 housing units at an average density of 213.3 per square mile...
called The Galileans, but wanted to sing professionally. He joined a professional group called Higher Dedication. When Higher Dedication disbanded, Griffin moved on to an Arkansas-based family singing group called The Brashears, and later joined the Dixie Melody Boys
Dixie Melody Boys
The Dixie Melody Boys are an American Southern Gospel quartet from Kinston, North Carolina. They have been active for over 45 years.The group was founded in 1960 by Avis Adkins; Ed O'Neal, their bass singer, joined in 1961, and subsequently became the group's leader and manager...
serving as baritone vocalist and bass guitarist from 1991-1993.
Greater Vision
Griffin joined Greater VisionGreater Vision
Greater Vision is a Southern Gospel trio founded in 1990 by Gerald Wolfe, Mark Trammell, and Chris Allman, and often accompanied by pianist Stan Whitmire . Over the last several years, this trio has consistently been named Southern Gospel's favorite trio of the year in the Singing News Fan Awards...
to replace baritone
Baritone
Baritone is a type of male singing voice that lies between the bass and tenor voices. It is the most common male voice. Originally from the Greek , meaning deep sounding, music for this voice is typically written in the range from the second F below middle C to the F above middle C Baritone (or...
Mark Trammell
Mark Trammell
Mark Trammell played bass and was a part-time vocalist for Kingsmen Quartet from 1979 until 1980, and he was the baritone vocalist and bass guitar with the Cathedral Quartet from 1980 through 1990. After leaving the Cathedrals, he sang with Greater Vision from 1990 through 1993 and with Gold City...
, who left the trio in 1993. Besides being a talented singer, Griffin began writing many of Greater Vision
Greater Vision
Greater Vision is a Southern Gospel trio founded in 1990 by Gerald Wolfe, Mark Trammell, and Chris Allman, and often accompanied by pianist Stan Whitmire . Over the last several years, this trio has consistently been named Southern Gospel's favorite trio of the year in the Singing News Fan Awards...
's songs including the hits He'd Still Been God, Common Garments, Faces, A Pile of Crowns, Just One More Soul, and My Name is Lazarus. Griffin has also written songs performed by other groups, including Don't Let the Sandals Fool Ya (Triumphant) and Temporary Tomb (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...
).