Greater Vision Explained

Greater Vision
Background:group_or_band
Origin:Morristown, Tennessee, United States
Genre:Southern gospel, Christian
Years Active:1990–present
Label:Benson/Riversong (1990-1994), Daywind (1995-Present)
Current Members:
  • Gerald Wolfe
  • Rodney Griffin
  • Chris Allman
  • Jon Epley
Past Members:
  • Jacob Kitson
  • Mark Trammell
  • Jason Waldroup

Greater Vision is an American Southern gospel music trio founded in 1990. It is one of Southern gospel's most popular trios and has been noted for their prolonged commercial and musical success spanning over three decades. As of 2017, the group is made up of Gerald Wolfe, Rodney Griffin, Chris Allman and Jon Epley.[1] Over the last several years, this trio has consistently been named Southern gospel's top male trio,[2] [3] [4] winning the Singing News Awards and have placed numerous top songs on the Southern Gospel Charts and Radio.[5]

Group history

The group formed in December 1990 when Mark Trammell left the Cathedral Quartet and teamed with Cathedrals alum Gerald Wolfe. They recruited tenor Chris Allman. The group quickly became a success. Their first project, On A Journey (1990), propelled them into seemingly overnight popularity. The group followed up with the albums You Can Have A Song (1992), 20 Inspirational Favorites (1993) and Serving A Risen Savior (1994), were all released on the Riversong/Benson Music Group label and was well received among fans and industry. By 1997, the group had left the Riversong label and joined Daywind records, releasing new albums, including When I See The Cross.

Personnel changes

In 1993, Mark Trammell departed for Gold City and was replaced by Dixie Melody Boys baritone singer and bass guitarist Rodney Griffin. Allman left in late 1995 to attend seminary studies 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. Kitson’s stay was short-lived. In 2010, Chris Allman returned after an almost fifteen-year absence, thus coming back full circle to the almost original blend and sound.[6] In 2017, Jon Epley joined the group to sing baritone.[7]

Current lineup

In 2017, the group added Kentucky native Jon Epley to the group to sing baritone. Wolfe became emcee and piano player while Griffin moved into the lead slot and continued on the bass guitar, and Allman remained at tenor.[8]

Second-Half quartet

In 2014, Greater Vision and the Mark Trammell Quartet appeared the same night at an event in Marion, Illinois. By combining the two groups during the second half of the concert, the moniker "Second Half Quartet" was formed. 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.

Members (past and present)

Line-ups

1990-1993(under the name "Greater Vision")1993-19951995–2008
  • Chris Allman – tenor
  • Gerald Wolfe – lead, piano, group owner
  • Mark Trammell – baritone, bass guitar, group owner
  • Chris Allman – tenor, bass guitar
  • Gerald Wolfe – lead, piano, group owner
  • Rodney Griffin – baritone
  • Jason Waldroup – tenor
  • Gerald Wolfe – lead, piano, group owner
  • Rodney Griffin – baritone, bass guitar
2008-20102010-20172017–present
  • Jacob Kitson – tenor
  • Gerald Wolfe – lead, piano, group owner
  • Rodney Griffin – baritone, bass guitar
  • Chris Allman – tenor
  • Gerald Wolfe – lead, piano, group owner
  • Rodney Griffin – baritone, bass guitar
  • Chris Allman – tenor
  • Rodney Griffin – lead, bass guitar
  • Jon Epley - baritone
  • Gerald Wolfe – piano, emcee, group owner

Second-Half quartet members

Line-ups

Cathedrals Family Reunion members

Line-ups

Discography

Studio and Live Albums

Sources:[9] [10] [11] [12] [13]

Compilation albums

Sources:

Awards

Group Awards [5] [14] [15] [16]

Number One Songs

References

  1. Web site: About. Greater Vision. en-US. 2018-04-05.
  2. Web site: 2019 Singing News Fan Awards - Winners Announced . 26 September 2019 .
  3. Web site: 2020 Singing News Fan Award Categories and winners! . 4 October 2020 .
  4. Web site: The Harper Agency Congratulates Its 2022 Singing News Fan Awards Winners . 7 October 2022 .
  5. Web site: Southern Gospel History - Greater Vision .
  6. Web site: Greater Vision - Chris Allman . 2023-01-20 . Greater Vision . en-US.
  7. Web site: Greater Vision - Jon Epley . 2023-01-20 . Greater Vision . en-US.
  8. Web site: Greater Vision - About . 2023-01-20 . Greater Vision . en-US.
  9. https://daywind.com/home/SearchForm?q=greater+vision&f%5BSearchCategory%5D=&f%5BCategory%5D=&action_results=Go&sort=Product_ReleaseDate%20desc
  10. Web site: Southern Gospel History - Greater Vision1990s .
  11. Web site: Southern Gospel History - Greater Vision2000s .
  12. Web site: Southern Gospel History - Greater Vision2010s .
  13. Web site: Southern Gospel History - Greater Vision2020s .
  14. Web site: Singing News 2022 Fan Award Winners Announced at NQC . 30 September 2022 .
  15. Web site: 2020 Singing News Fan Award Categories and winners! . 4 October 2020 .
  16. Web site: 2019 Singing News Fan Awards - Winners Announced . 26 September 2019 .

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