SPOTLIGHT: GROUP HISTORY: SOUL'D OUT QUARTET

SOUTHERN GOSPEL SPOTLIGHT PRESENTS:

A SHORT HISTORY OF SOUL'D OUT QUARTET

Soul'd Out Quartet (sometimes shortened to SOQT or Soul'd Out) was founded by Matt Rankin in 2001 as Soul'd Out Ministries. Based in Georgetown, Ohio, the original group was a trio that included Rankin at lead and Brent Hopper at baritone. In 2004, Rankin felt the Lord move him to make a change in the group which led to the trio becoming a quartet. In May of 2004, a young bass named Matt Fouch joined the group along with Joel Trimble joining in the baritone position. Brent Hopper moved to tenor upon the reconfiguration of the group as thus SOQT was born! This lineup was hugely successful with hits such as We Shall Rise, He's Been So Good To Me, Please Remember Me, and That Wonderful Day. Hopper's soaring tenor vocals and Trimble's baritone helped to propel the group to sucess. In 2006, Joel Trimble departed the group and was replaced by Tanner Stahl who brought with him an upbeat personality and smooth baritone voice. Stahl remained with the group until 2011. Tenor vocalist Brent Hopper left the group in 2008 and was replaced by current tenor Dusty Barrett, formerly with Crystal River. Barrett has had many standout features during his tenure, but perhaps the most requested is Maker of the Rain, which he wrote. Matt Rankin has held down the lead posistion since the beginning, but now shares it with Bryan Hutson who joined the group in 2012 after a long stint with the legendary Kingsmen Quartet. Hutson and Rankin alternate at both lead and baritone while technically Hutson is the baritone. Both vocalists have had stellar features throughout their tenures. From 2008 onward, SOQT has experienced even more success with songs such as: I Am Blessed. Cool Drink Of Water, I'll Cast My Crown, He's Coming Back Soon, Who Is This Man, See Ya Over There, Ain't Nobody and many more! In 2009, young pianist Michael Howard joined the group and remains with the group today. He is an incrediblly talented pianist and provides a fifth part occassionally. He is featured on a great song called On My Way Home. In 2012, orginal bass singer Matt Fouch left the group and joined Legacy Five to replace Glenn Dustin. Ian Owens of the Imperials and Ernie Haase & Signature Sound joined the group in October of 2012 and remains with the group today. Owens brings a deep and resonant bass voice and an incredible range as he demonstrates with his beuatiful and melodic upper register. Recently, the group has recorded several projects featuring popular SOQT songs as well as old Southern Gospel classics. Their latest release Great Life features ten all new songs written by Matt Rankin himself.

For more info and tour dates, check out their website: http://souldoutquartet.com/