Greater Vision
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Greater Vision | |
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| Origin | Morristown, Tennessee, United States |
| Genres | Southern gospel, Christian |
| Years active | 1990–present |
| Members | |
| Website | www |
Greater Vision is an American Southern gospel music trio founded in 1990. It is one of Southern gospel's most popular trios. As of 2017, the group is made up of Gerald Wolfe, Rodney Griffin, Chris Allman and Jon Epley . 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, along with numerous top-10 and number-one hit songs.
Group history
The group formed in 1990 when Gerald Wolfe left the Cathedrals Quartet to form his own group. He added former Cathedrals alum Mark Trammell as baritone singer and bass guitar player and recruited tenor Chris Allman. The group quickly became a success. In an industry where lineup changes are constant, and lack of personnel stability are prevalent, Greater Vision has seen few lineup changes over the twenty-year span. In 1993, Mark Trammell departed for Gold City and was replaced by Dixie Melody Boys baritone Rodney Griffin. Chris Allman left in 1995 to pursue other avenues of ministry and was replaced by Jason Waldroup. This lineup of Wolfe, Griffin, and Waldroup stayed intact for 13 years and was both immensely popular and successful. Waldroup's smooth tenor and Griffin's strong baritone and songwriting ability launched the group into the forefront of the gospel music scene. In 2008, Waldroup decided to leave to pursue a seminary education. In May, Jacob Kitson was announced as the new tenor, beginning in August. In 2010, Kitson formed the Statement of Faith Trio, and Chris Allman returned after an almost fifteen-year absence, thus coming back full circle to the almost original blend and sound that helped pave the way.
Second-Half Quartet
In 2014, Greater Vision and The Mark Trammell Quartet appeared the same night at an event in Marion, Illinois. Intermission ran longer than expected. Before stepping back on stage, the promoter pulled Gerald Wolfe aside and asked, “Could you close the second half with both groups on stage singing a few songs together?” Gerald answered, “Yes, we can do that.” What followed was an experience like no other. Since then, promoters have been asking – not just for GV and MTQ to appear together – but to replicate what took place on stage in Marion, Illinois.
The Second Half Quartet combines the people’s favorite singers in a style of quartet music that is rare in its field. In 2015, Gerald Wolfe, Mark Trammell, Pat Barker, Rodney Griffin and Chris Allman took home a variety of awards at Gospel Music’s premier award show, The Singing News Fan Awards. Mark Trammell was voted Favorite Baritone of the Year by fans, becoming the first Gospel singer to win such an award in four separate decades; Pat Barker took home the Favorite New Soloist award; Greater Vision’s song, “For All He’s Done,” was voted Song of the Year and once again, Rodney Griffin was the recipient of the Favorite Songwriter Award. Individually, they are fan favorites, but together, they create an atmosphere that excites the crowd and takes all who listen on a journey of live music, quartet favorites, classic Gospel songs and hymns of the church that you know and love.
Members (past and present)
Line-ups
| 1990-1993
(under the name "Greater Vision") |
1993-1995 | 1995–2008 |
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| 2008-2010 | 2010-2017 | 2017-present |
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Second-Half Quartet Members
Line-ups
| 2014-present
(under the name "Second-Half Quartet") |
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Cathedrals Family Reunion Members
Line-ups
| 2009 | 2012 | 2013–2014
(under the name "Cathedrals Family Reunion") |
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Discography
Greater Vision Music Ministries
- 1991 You Can Have A Song
- 1996 The Church Hymnal Series Volume One
- 1996 Sing It Again
- 1999 The Church Hymnal Series Volume Two
- 2000 Through The Years With Greater Vision: Our Southern Gospel Hits
- 2001 The Church Hymnal Series Volume Three
- 2003 Live At The Palace (with Legacy Five)
- 2004 Songs From the Stories
- 2005 Now & Then
- 2005 The Church Hymnal Series Volume Four
- 2008 Favorites From The Church Hymnal Series
- 2008 Featuring Jason Waldroup-13 Great Years, 13 Unforgettable Songs
- 2008 Memories Made New
- 2009 Jubilee (with The Booth Brothers and Legacy Five)
- 2009 Nothin' But Fast
- 2010 Jubilee 2
- 2010 Everything Christmas
- 2011 Sing It Again (Re-Issued)
- 2011 The Ones that Got Away (Songs from the Pen of Rodney Griffin)
- 2012 Jubilee 3
- 2012 Hymns of the Ages (Re-Issued)
- 2012 Jubilee Christmas
- 2013 Jubilee Christmas A' CAPPELLA
- 2014 Where He Leads Me (Re-Issued)
- 2014 Because You Asked
Riversong recordings
- 1991 You Can Have a Song
- 1991 On a Journey
- 1992 It's Just Like Heaven (also released in the Encore Series in 2005)(i)
- 1993 The King Came Down
- 1993 20 Inspirational Favorites
- 1994 Serving a Risen Savior
- 1994 Where He Leads Me
- 1995 Take Him at His Word
- 1996 The Shepherds Found a Lamb
Daywind recordings
- 1996 Sing it Again
- 1997 When I See the Cross(i)
- 1999 Far Beyond This Place(i)
- 1999 A Greater Vision Christmas
- 2000 Perfect Candidate(i)
- 2002 Live at First Baptist Church in Atlanta(i)
- 2003 Quartets(i)
- 2004 Faces(i)
- 2006 My Favorite Place(i)
- 2006 Fifteen(i)
- 2006 Hymns of the Ages (also In Touch Ministries) (i)
- 2007 Everyday People(i)
- 2008 Not Alone(i)
- 2009 Live at Oak Tree
- 2010 20 Years- Live! in Texas(i)
- 2010 Welcome Back(i)
- 2010 Everything Christmas(i)
- 2010 Songs of the 1900s
- 2011 The Only Way (i)
- 2012 Hymns of the Ages (Re-Issued)
- 2012 Our Most Requested... LIVE (i)
- 2013 For All He's Done (i)
- 2015 As We Speak (i)
- 2015 Jubilee Christmas Again
*Note: i indicates available on iTunes.
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