Roger Bennett (Southern Gospel performer)
Encyclopedia
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.
. He was raised in a Missionary Baptist home. In November 1979, Roger fulfilled his life-long dream of being a part of professional Southern Gospel
music when he was invited by Glen Payne and George Younce to join the legendary Cathedral Quartet
. Though he would leave the group for two years (1987–1989) to serve as the president of Journey Records, Roger was the group's pianist at the time of the quartet's retirement in 1999. Roger also served as the Cathedral's lead singer for the final three months of the group's farewell tour in 1999, following the passing of long-time lead Glen Payne.
You can hear a early interview with Roger (6th Anniversary with the Cathedrals)
. In 2004, Roger fulfilled another dream (having his own successful quartet) when readers of Singing News
voted Legacy Five
as the Favorite Traditional Male Quartet.
Although an excellent singer, Roger is best remembered as pianist—and often a comedian—for the Cathedrals and Legacy Five
. Roger received the Singing News
Fan Award for Favorite Southern Gospel
Pianist 14 years in row (1993–2006).
Songwriting was another forte' of Roger Bennett. Many of his songs appeared on the recordings of the Cathedrals, Legacy Five
and many others. His writing talent was not limited to just songs, however. Roger was a contributing editor to Singing News, writing "Midnight Meditations."
. He spent some time off the road while the rest of the group continued touring. His leukemia battle would be a struggle off and on over the next twelve years. During his various periods of remission, and as often as his health permitted when the cancer relapsed, he continued to travel with the Cathedrals and Legacy Five. He received three bone-marrow transplants at the M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas
as well as extensive chemotherapy and radiation treatments. However, his leukemia continued to progress, and the cancer treatments led to different health problems, including different kinds of cancer and many infections. He died on March 17, 2007.
He was voted "Favorite Pianist" by Southern Gospel fans 15 years in a row, and was voted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame
in 2007.
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...
pianist, singer, songwriter, and co-founder of the award winning Gospel
Gospel
A gospel is an account, often written, that describes the life of Jesus of Nazareth. In a more general sense the term "gospel" may refer to the good news message of the New Testament. It is primarily used in reference to the four canonical gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John...
Quartet
Quartet
In music, a quartet is a method of instrumentation , used to perform a musical composition, and consisting of four parts.-Western art music:...
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...
. Prior to forming 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...
, he served nearly 20 years as pianist for The Cathedrals.
Early life
Born March 10, 1959, grew up in Strawberry, ArkansasStrawberry, Arkansas
Strawberry is a town in Lawrence County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 283 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Strawberry is located at ....
. He was raised in a Missionary Baptist home. In November 1979, Roger fulfilled his life-long dream of being a part of professional 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...
music when he was invited by Glen Payne and George Younce to join the legendary 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....
. Though he would leave the group for two years (1987–1989) to serve as the president of Journey Records, Roger was the group's pianist at the time of the quartet's retirement in 1999. Roger also served as the Cathedral's lead singer for the final three months of the group's farewell tour in 1999, following the passing of long-time lead Glen Payne.
You can hear a early interview with Roger (6th Anniversary with the Cathedrals)
Further career
Following the retirement of the Cathedrals, Roger and fellow Cathedrals member Scott Fowler launched Legacy FiveLegacy 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...
. In 2004, Roger fulfilled another dream (having his own successful quartet) when readers of Singing News
Singing News
The Singing News is an American magazine which focuses on the Southern Gospel music industry....
voted 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...
as the Favorite Traditional Male Quartet.
Although an excellent singer, Roger is best remembered as pianist—and often a comedian—for the Cathedrals and 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...
. Roger received the Singing News
Singing News
The Singing News is an American magazine which focuses on the Southern Gospel music industry....
Fan Award for Favorite 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...
Pianist 14 years in row (1993–2006).
Songwriting was another forte' of Roger Bennett. Many of his songs appeared on the recordings of the Cathedrals, 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...
and many others. His writing talent was not limited to just songs, however. Roger was a contributing editor to Singing News, writing "Midnight Meditations."
Illness & Death
In 1995, Bennett was diagnosed with leukemiaLeukemia
Leukemia or leukaemia is a type of cancer of the blood or bone marrow characterized by an abnormal increase of immature white blood cells called "blasts". Leukemia is a broad term covering a spectrum of diseases...
. He spent some time off the road while the rest of the group continued touring. His leukemia battle would be a struggle off and on over the next twelve years. During his various periods of remission, and as often as his health permitted when the cancer relapsed, he continued to travel with the Cathedrals and Legacy Five. He received three bone-marrow transplants at the M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
as well as extensive chemotherapy and radiation treatments. However, his leukemia continued to progress, and the cancer treatments led to different health problems, including different kinds of cancer and many infections. He died on March 17, 2007.
He was voted "Favorite Pianist" by Southern Gospel fans 15 years in a row, and was voted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame
Gospel Music Hall of Fame
The Gospel Music Hall of Fame, created in 1971 by the Gospel Music Association, is a Hall of Fame dedicated exclusively to recognizing meaningful contributions by individuals and groups in all forms of gospel music.-Inductees:...
in 2007.