Cathedral Quartet


The Cathedral Quartet, also known as the Cathedrals, or the Cathedral Trio was an American southern gospel quartet who performed from 1964 to December 1999. The group's final lineup consisted of Glen Payne, George Younce, Ernie Haase, Scott Fowler, and Roger Bennett.

History

Formation and early years

The Cathedrals formed in 1963 as a trio consisting of the California Weatherford Quartet lead singer Glen Payne, tenor Bobby Clark, and baritone Danny Koker. Initially a house group of Rex Humbard's Cathedral of Tomorrow, they called themselves the Cathedral Trio. The group became a quartet with the addition of Blue Ridge Quartet bass singer George Younce in 1964. They decided to become a full-time touring group in 1969, leaving the Cathedral of Tomorrow. Koker and Clark left the group to pursue other interests, and were replaced by tenor Mack Taunton and baritone-pianist George Amon Webster. The group signed with Canaan Records; Canaan producer Marvin Norcross worked with them and Florida Boys lead singer Les Beasley to help the group gain exposure. Norcross gave them performance time on the nationally syndicated television The Gospel Singing Jubilee. With Canaan, the group experimented with different styles of dress and performance to find their identity.

Rise to prominence

Gospel singer Bill Gaither invited the group to perform at his annual Praise Gathering in Indianapolis, and they received more requests for appearances. Gaither collaborated with Younce and Payne to produce their future albums for Word Records. The group began incorporating Younce and Payne's comedy routines, and added Roy Tremble as a tenor. Tremble, Webster, and pianist Lorne Matthews left the group and started their own trio called "The Brothers" in 1979. Their first replacement, Kirk Talley of the Hoppers, was a tenor; Steve Lee was added to sing baritone and play piano. Shortly before 1980, the group hired Roger Bennett as their pianist after hearing him play for their opening act. Lee left the group, and former member Roger Horne filled in briefly before Kingsmen Quartet|Kingsmen] bass guitarist and baritone Mark Trammell joined the group. In 1983 they left Canaan, and signed with Riversong.

1980s

Talley left the group in the summer of 1983 to form the Talleys with his brother, Roger, and sister-in-law, Debra. Danny Funderburk of the Singing Americans was chosen to replace him in December of that year. This lineup remained in place for several years, until Bennett left to help found Journey Records. Bennett was replaced by young, classically trained pianist and vocalist Gerald Wolfe. With Wolfe at the piano and singing, the group contributed to Symphony of Praise a 1987 album with the London Philharmonic Orchestra. The album included "This Ole House", "Champion Of Love", "I Can See The Hand", and "I've Just Started Living". During this period, the group added Trammell's bass guitar and a synthesizer to its quartet vocals.

Gaither Homecoming years">1990s: Gaither Homecoming years

In February 1990, Funderburk left to help form the quartet Perfect Heart. The Cathedrals hired tenor Kurt Young to replace him, but Young left the quartet after two months. Young was replaced by Ernie Haase, a young tenor from Indiana. Later that year, Trammell left to form Greater Vision with Gerald Wolfe. Scott Fowler, former lead singer of the Sound, became the quartet's baritone and bass guitarist; this was the final version of the Cathedrals. The full group recorded a concert, The Cathedral Quartet: A Reunion, in 1995.
Bill Gaither and the Gaither Vocal Band recorded Homecoming, a tribute to Southern gospel music, during the early 1990s. Gaither enlisted George Younce and Glen Payne for the album, and the Cathedral Quartet was included on later videos in the series. In addition to touring and appearing in the Gaither Homecoming videos, the group appeared three times on NBC's Today show during the decade.

Final years and farewell tour

Younce and Payne's health began to decline; Younce had kidney failure and heart disease by 1999, and Payne was diagnosed with liver cancer. They decided to disband the group after a farewell tour, as the group's health permitted. The Gaithers and the Cathedrals recorded a live Cathedrals Farewell Celebration video on May 18, 1999, on which they were joined by The Statler Brothers, The Oak Ridge Boys, Sandi Patty, Guy Penrod, and the Gaither Vocal Band. The Cathedrals would make their final appearance at the National Quartet Convention without Payne. During a performance Payne called via telephone from his hospital bed, he sang the song I Won't Have to Cross Jordan Alone to which the audience gave him a standing ovation at the end. On October 15, 1999, Payne died from liver cancer aged 72. After Payne's death, Bennett sang Payne's part until the group's final concerts on December 9, 10, and 11, 1999 in Akron, Ohio.

After the group

In 2000, former members Fowler and Bennett formed the Southern gospel group Legacy Five; Fowler was the lead singer and bass guitarist, and Bennett was the group's emcee and pianist. Haase continued a solo career he had begun and, with Gaither's help, formed The Old Friends Quartet with Younce, Jake Hess, Wesley Pritchard, and Gold City alumnus Garry Jones on piano. They recorded two albums and a concert video for the Gaither Homecoming series, but Younce and Hess's poor health brought an end to the Old Friends two years later. In 2003, Haase and Garry Jones formed the Signature Sound Quartet. After Jones and Haase developed artistic differences, Jones left. Signature Sound Quartet became associated with Gaither and his Homecoming tour, and changed its name to Ernie Haase & Signature Sound.
After leaving the Cathedrals, Trammell was the original baritone of Greater Vision before leaving to join Gold City. In 2002, Trammell formed his own quartet called Mark Trammell Quartet. Gerald Wolfe is emcee and piano player with Greater Vision and Danny Funderburk has recorded solo and has been in several groups since leaving Perfect Heart. Kirk Talley had a solo career from the Talleys breakup to December 2012, when he developed vocal problems. On April 11, 2005, George Younce died from kidney failure, aged 75. On March 17, 2007, Roger Bennett died aged 48 after a 12-year battle with leukemia On February 17, 2008 original baritone Danny Koker died aged 74. In 2010, Ernie Haase & Signature Sound released A Tribute to the Cathedral Quartet DVD/album set and was nominated for Southern Gospel Album of the Year at the 42nd GMA Dove Awards.
On September 28, 2013 Webster died aged 67 from cancer. In 2014, former members Haase, Fowler, Funderburk, Trammell and Wofle released the Cathedrals Family Reunion, a DVD/album set to commemorate the Cathedrals 35 years journey in stories and songs. On May 22, 2014 original tenor Bobby Clark died aged 78 from a stroke. In December 2017, Steve Lee died. On June 13, 2023 Roy Tremble died aged 76 from a brief illness.
On September 28, 2023 Roger Horne died aged 77. On April 2, 2024 Haskell Cooley died aged 84 after battling Alzheimer's disease.

Members


1963-1964
1964-1967
1967-1969

  • Bobby Clark – tenor
  • Glen Payne – lead
  • Danny Koker – baritone, piano
  • George Younce – bass
  • Mack Taunton – tenor
  • Glen Payne – lead
  • Danny Koker – baritone, piano
  • George Younce – bass
    • 1969-197119711971-1972
  • Mack Taunton – tenor
  • Glen Payne – lead
  • George Amon Webster – baritone, piano
  • George Younce – bass
  • Mack Taunton – tenor
  • Glen Payne – lead
  • George Amon Webster – baritone, bass guitar
  • George Younce – bass
  • Lorne Matthews – piano
  • Roger Horne – tenor
  • Glen Payne – lead
  • Roy Tremble – baritone
  • George Younce – bass
  • Lorne Matthews – piano, vocals
    • 19721972-19731973-1974
  • Bobby Clark – tenor
  • Glen Payne – lead
  • Roy Tremble – baritone
  • George Younce – bass
  • Lorne Matthews – piano
  • Roy Tremble – tenor
  • Glen Payne – lead
  • Bill Dykes – baritone, bass guitar
  • George Younce – bass
  • Jim Garstang – piano
  • Roy Tremble – tenor
  • Glen Payne – lead
  • Bill Dykes – baritone, bass guitar
  • George Younce – bass
  • George Amon Webster – piano
    • 1974-197919791979
  • Roy Tremble – tenor
  • Glen Payne – lead
  • George Amon Webster – baritone, bass guitar
  • George Younce – bass
  • Haskell Cooley – piano
  • Roy Tremble – tenor
  • Glen Payne – lead
  • George Amon Webster – baritone, bass guitar
  • George Younce – bass
  • Lorne Matthews – piano, vocals
  • Kirk Talley – tenor
  • Glen Payne – lead
  • Steve Lee – baritone, piano
  • George Younce – bass
    • 1979-198019801980-1983
  • Kirk Talley – tenor
  • Glen Payne – lead
  • Steve Lee – baritone, bass guitar
  • George Younce – bass
  • Roger Bennett – piano
  • Kirk Talley – tenor, bass guitar
  • Glen Payne – lead
  • Roger Horne – baritone
  • George Younce – bass
  • Roger Bennett – piano
  • Kirk Talley – tenor
  • Glen Payne – lead
  • Mark Trammell – baritone, bass guitar
  • George Younce – bass
  • Roger Bennett – piano, vocals
    • 1983-19861986-19881988-1990
  • Danny Funderburk – tenor
  • Glen Payne – lead
  • Mark Trammell – baritone, bass guitar
  • George Younce – bass
  • Roger Bennett – piano, vocals
  • Danny Funderburk – tenor
  • Glen Payne – lead
  • Mark Trammell – baritone, bass guitar
  • George Younce – bass
  • Gerald Wolfe – piano, vocals
  • Danny Funderburk – tenor
  • Glen Payne – lead
  • Mark Trammell – baritone, bass guitar
  • George Younce – bass
  • Roger Bennett – piano, vocals
    • 199019901990-1999
  • Kurt Young – tenor
  • Glen Payne – lead
  • Mark Trammell – baritone, bass guitar
  • George Younce – bass
  • Roger Bennett – piano
  • Ernie Haase – tenor
  • Glen Payne – lead
  • Mark Trammell – baritone, bass guitar
  • George Younce – bass
  • Roger Bennett – piano, vocals
  • Ernie Haase – tenor
  • Glen Payne – lead
  • Scott Fowler – baritone, bass guitar
  • George Younce – bass
  • Roger Bennett – piano, vocals

    • Timeline


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    at:04/02/1963 color:album layer:back # Introducing the Cathedral Trio
    at:04/08/1963 color:album layer:back # When the Saints go Marching in
    at:04/02/1964 color:album layer:back # Presenting The Cathedral Trio, Mariner’s Quartet, Gospel Harmony Boys
    at:04/08/1964 color:album layer:back # Beyond the Sunset
    at:04/02/1965 color:album layer:back # Taller than the trees
    at:04/08/1965 color:album layer:back # Presenting The Cathedral Quartet, Mariner’s Quartet, Gospel Harmony Boys
    at:04/12/1965 color:album layer:back # The Cathedral Quartet with Strings
    at:04/02/1966 color:album layer:back # The Cathedral Quartet with Brass
    at:04/08/1966 color:album layer:back # Greatest Gospel Hits
    at:04/12/1966 color:album layer:back # Land of the Bible
    at:04/02/1968 color:album layer:back # Family Album
    at:04/08/1968 color:album layer:back # Focus on Glen Payne
    at:04/12/1968 color:album layer:back # I Saw The Light
    at:04/02/1969 color:album layer:back # Jesus is Coming Soon
    at:04/02/1970 color:album layer:back # I'm Nearer Home
    at:04/08/1970 color:album layer:back # A Little Bit of Everything
    at:04/02/1971 color:album layer:back # Everything's Alright
    at:04/08/1971 color:album layer:back # Somebody Loves Me
    at:04/12/1971 color:album layer:back # Right On
    at:04/10/1972 color:album layer:back # Welcome to Our World
    at:04/02/1973 color:album layer:back # Seniors in Session
    at:04/08/1973 color:album layer:back # Town and Country
    at:04/12/1973 color:album layer:back # The Last Sunday
    at:04/02/1974 color:album layer:back # Our Statue of Liberty
    at:04/08/1974 color:album layer:back # Live in Concert
    at:04/02/1975 color:album layer:back # Plain Ole Gospel
    at:04/09/1975 color:album layer:back # For Keeps
    at:04/02/1976 color:album layer:back # The Cathedrals sing Albert Brumley Classics
    at:04/09/1976 color:album layer:back # Easy on the Ears, Heavy on the Heart
    at:04/07/1977 color:album layer:back # Then and Now
    at:04/02/1978 color:album layer:back # One at a Time
    at:04/08/1978 color:album layer:back # Oh What a Love
    at:04/12/1978 color:album layer:back # Sunshine and Roses
    at:04/02/1979 color:album layer:back # You ain't Heard Nothing Yet
    at:04/04/1979 color:album layer:back # Live
    at:04/08/1979 color:album layer:back # Keep on Singing
    at:04/12/1979 color:album layer:back # Interwoven
    at:04/02/1980 color:album layer:back # Smooth as Silk
    at:04/08/1980 color:album layer:back # Better Than Ever
    at:04/12/1980 color:album layer:back # Telling the World About His Love
    at:04/02/1981 color:album layer:back # Cherish That Name
    at:04/08/1981 color:album layer:back # Colors of His Love
    at:04/02/1982 color:album layer:back # Greater
    at:04/08/1982 color:album layer:back # Oh Happy Day
    at:04/12/1982 color:album layer:back # Something Special
    at:04/02/1983 color:album layer:back # Favorites Old and New
    at:04/04/1983 color:album layer:back # Individually
    at:04/08/1983 color:album layer:back # Voices in Praise Acapella
    at:04/12/1983 color:album layer:back # Live in Atlanta
    at:04/04/1984 color:album layer:back # Distinctively
    at:04/09/1984 color:album layer:back # The Prestigious Cathedral Quartet
    at:04/02/1985 color:album layer:back # An Old Convention Song
    at:04/08/1985 color:album layer:back # Especially For You
    at:04/12/1985 color:album layer:back # A Cathedral Christmas Acapella
    at:04/06/1986 color:album layer:back # Master Builder
    at:04/12/1986 color:album layer:back # Travellin' Live
    at:04/03/1987 color:album layer:back # Land of The Living
    at:04/09/1987 color:album layer:back # Symphony of Praise
    at:04/07/1988 color:album layer:back # Goin' in Style
    at:04/04/1989 color:album layer:back # I've Just Started Living
    at:04/09/1989 color:album layer:back # 25th Anniversary
    at:04/10/1990 color:album layer:back # Climbing Higher and Higher
    at:04/07/1991 color:album layer:back # The Best of Times
    at:04/08/1992 color:album layer:back # Camp Meeting
    at:04/04/1993 color:album layer:back # High and Lifted Up
    at:04/09/1993 color:album layer:back # Worship His Glory
    at:04/05/1994 color:album layer:back # Raise The Roof: 30th Anniversary
    at:04/08/1995 color:album layer:back # A Reunion
    at:04/03/1996 color:album layer:back # Radio Days
    at:04/12/1996 color:album layer:back # Live in Chicago
    at:04/08/1997 color:album layer:back # Alive! Deep in The Heart of Texas
    at:04/08/1998 color:album layer:back # Faithful
    at:04/05/1999 color:album layer:back # Live in Jacksonville, Florida
    at:04/09/1999 color:album layer:back # A Farewell Celebration
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    bar:Clark from:01/01/1963 till:01/10/1967 color:tenor
    bar:Tauton from:01/10/1967 till:01/07/1971 color:tenor
    bar:Horne from:01/07/1971 till:26/08/1972 color:tenor
    bar:Tremble from:26/08/1972 till:01/07/1979 color:tenor
    bar:Tremble from:01/04/1971 till:26/08/1972 color:baritone
    bar:Talley from:01/07/1979 till:15/04/1983 color:tenor
    bar:Funderburk from:15/04/1983 till:01/02/1990 color:tenor
    bar:Young from:01/02/1990 till:01/07/1990 color:tenor
    bar:Haase from:01/07/1990 till:end color:tenor
    bar:Payne from:01/01/1963 till:end color:lead
    bar:Koker from:01/01/1963 till:14/04/1969 color:baritone
    bar:Koker from:01/01/1963 till:14/04/1969 color:piano width:3
    bar:Webster from:14/04/1969 till:01/04/1971 color:baritone
    bar:Webster from:14/04/1969 till:01/04/1971 color:piano width:3
    bar:Webster from:07/04/1973 till:17/04/1974 color:piano
    bar:Webster from:26/08/1974 till:01/07/1979 color:baritone
    bar:Dykes from:26/08/1972 till:26/08/1974 color:baritone
    bar:Lee from:01/07/1979 till:01/07/1980 color:baritone
    bar:Trammell from:01/07/1980 till:01/11/1990 color:baritone
    bar:Fowler from:01/11/1990 till:end color:baritone
    bar:Younce from:01/07/1964 till:end color:bass
    bar:Matthews from:01/04/1971 till:17/04/1972 color:piano
    bar:Garstang from:17/04/1972 till:17/04/1973 color:piano
    bar:Cooley from:17/04/1974 till:17/06/1979 color:piano
    bar:Bennett from:17/06/1979 till:01/04/1986 color:piano
    bar:Bennett from:01/09/1988 till:01/12/1999 color:piano
    bar:Wolfe from:01/04/1986 till:01/09/1988 color:piano


    Cathedrals Family Reunion members

    Discography

    Studio albums

    • 1963: Introducing the Cathedral Trio
    • 1963: When the Saints Go Marching In
    • 1964: Beyond the Sunset
    • 1965: Taller Than Trees
    • 1965: Presenting the Cathedral Quartet, Mariner’s Quartet, Gospel Harmony Boys
    • 1965: The Cathedral Quartet with Strings
    • 1966: The Cathedral Quartet with Brass
    • 1966: Greatest Gospel Hits
    • 1966: Land of the Bible
    • 1967: I Saw the Light
    • 1968: Family Album
    • 1968: Focus On Glen Payne
    • 1969: Jesus is Coming Soon
    • 1970: I’m Nearer Home
    • 1970: It’s Music Time
    • 1970: A Little Bit of Everything
    • 1971: Everything’s Alright
    • 1971: Somebody Loves Me
    • 1971: Right On
    • 1972: Welcome to Our World
    • 1973: Seniors in Session
    • 1973: Town and Country
    • 1973: The Last Sunday
    • 1974: Our Statue of Liberty
    • 1975: Plain Ole Gospel
    • 1975: For Keeps
    • 1976: The Cathedral Quartet Sings Albert E. Brumley Classics
    • 1976: Easy on the Ears, Heavy on the Heart
    • 1977: Then and Now
    • 1978: One at a Time
    • 1978: The Cathedral Quartet Featuring Oh, What a Love
    • 1978: Sunshine And Roses
    • 1979: You Ain’t Heard Nothing Yet
    • 1979: Keep On Singing
    • 1979: Smooth as Silk
    • 1980: Interwoven
    • 1980: Better Than Ever
    • 1980: Telling the World About His Love
    • 1981: Cherish That Name
    • 1981: Colors of His Love
    • 1982: Something Special
    • 1982: Greater
    • 1982: Oh Happy Day
    • 1983: Individually
    • 1983: Voices in Praise/A Cappella
    • 1984: Distinctively
    • 1984: The Prestigious Cathedral Quartet
    • 1985: An Old Convention Song
    • 1985: Especially For You
    • 1985: A Cathedral Christmas A Cappella
    • 1986: Master Builder
    • 1987: Land Of Living
    • 1987: Symphony of Praise
    • 1988: Goin’ In Style
    • 1989: I've Just Started Living
    • 1989: 25th Anniversary
    • 1990: Climbing Higher and Higher
    • 1991: The Best of Times
    • 1993: High and Lifted Up
    • 1993: Worship His Glory: Acapella Praise
    • 1994: Raise the Roof: 30th Anniversary
    • 1996: Radio Days
    • 1998: Faithful
    • 2013: ''Cathedrals Family Reunion''

    Live albums

    • 1974: Live in Concert
    • 1979: Live With The Cathedral Quartet
    • 1983: Live in Atlanta
    • 1986: Travelin’ Live
    • 1992: Camp Meeting
    • 1995: A Reunion
    • 1997: Alive! Deep In The Heart Of Texas
    • 1999: A Farewell Celebration
    • 1999: Live in Jacksonville
    • 2012: Moody Radio Presents... Live In Chicago
    • 2014: ''Cathedrals Family Reunion: Past Members Reunite Live In Concert''

    Compilations

    • 1971: Hits
    • 1971: Request Time
    • 1976: The Best Of The Cathedral Quartet
    • 1976: Music Time
    • 1979: Then I Found Jesus
    • 1979: Oh What A Love
    • 1980: Special
    • 1982: A Collection of Their Best
    • 1983: Favorites Old and New
    • 1983: Featuring George Younce
    • 1983: Featuring Glen Payne
    • 1984: Classics
    • 1986: Classics Vol. 2
    • 1988: Collection, Volume 1
    • 1989: Collection, Volume 2
    • 1990: The Collector’s Series
    • 1991: Collection, Volume 3
    • 1993: Some of Their Finest Moments
    • 1995: 20 Favorites Volume 1
    • 1996: 20 Favorites Volume 2
    • 1996: The Cathedral Collection
    • 1998: 20 Gospel Classics
    • 1999: Anthology: A 35 Year Musical Journey
    • 1999: Through the Years: 21 Favorite Hymns and Songs of the Church
    • 1999: 20 Convention Classics
    • 1999: Hymns and Spiritual Songs
    • 2000: Signature Songs, Vol. 1
    • 2000: Signature Songs, Vol. 2
    • 2000: Southern Gospel Treasury Series
    • 2000: Super Hits
    • 2002: Years Gone By, Vol 1
    • 2002: The Best of the Cathedrals
    • 2003: ''Live in Concert/Live With the Cathedral Quartet''

    Appearances on the Gaither Homecoming videos

    • 1994: A Christmas Homecoming - "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen"
    • 1994: The Cathedrals: 50 Faithful Years - All songs
    • 1995: The Sweetest Song I Know - "An Old Convention Song"
    • 1996: Moments to Remember - "This Old House"
    • 1997: Feelin' At Home - "New Born Feeling"
    • 1997: This Is My Story - "Boundless Love"
    • 1998: Singing With The Saints - "Mexico"
    • 1999: Singin' In My Soul - "He Made A Change"
    • 2000: Good News - "Trying To Get A Glimpse"