The Cathedral Quartet | |
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Also known as | The Cathedrals The Cathedral Trio (1963–64) |
Origin | Stow, Ohio |
Genres | Southern gospel |
Years active | 1963 | –1999
Associated acts | Legacy Five, Ernie Haase & Signature Sound, Greater Vision, Mark Trammell Quartet, The Weatherford Quartet, Old Friends Quartet, Gold City, The Kingsmen Quartet |
For the books collectively known by this title, see William Mayne.
The Cathedral Quartet, often known as simply The Cathedrals, was an American southern gospel quartet that performed from 1964 until their retirement in December 1999. The last incarnation of the group featured Glen Payne (lead), George Younce (bass), Ernie Haase (tenor), Scott Fowler (baritone and bass guitar), and Roger Bennett (piano and rhythm guitar).
The Cathedrals began in 1963 as a trio consisting of former California based Weatherford Quartet lead singer Glen Payne, tenor Bobby Clark, and baritone Danny Koker. Initially an evangelical house gospel group of The Cathedral of Tomorrow, the Weatherfords moved on and the group used the Cathedral as inspiration for naming themselves The Cathedral Trio. The group became a quartet by adding Blue Ridge Quartet bass singer George Younce in 1964, which caused the newly formed quartet became even more popular. In 1969 the group decided to pursue a full-time status as a traveling quartet, leaving the Cathedral of Tomorrow ministry. Koker and Clark would then leave the group to move on to other interests, and were replaced by tenor Mack Taunton and baritone/pianist George Amon Webster completing the first full version of the Cathedral Quartet. The group signed on with the Canaan records label. Canaan records producer Marvin Norcross worked with the group and Florida Boys lead singer Les Beasley to gain the group exposure, such as by giving them performance time on the nationally syndicated TV show The Gospel Singing Jubilee. The group continued to record with Canaan while featuring different styles of dress and stage performance to find their identity as a group.