GROUP HISTORY: ERNIE HAASE & SIGNATURE SOUND
SOUTHERN GOSPEL SPOTLIGHT PRESENTS
A BRIEF HISTORY OF ERNIE HAASE & SIGNATURE SOUND
This history post will be slightly different than those previously as it will involve more visuals and a discography.
Ernie Haase & Signature Sound, previously known as Signature Sound Quartet, was founded in 2002 by Ernie Haase, former Cathedral Quartet tenor, and Garry Jones, former Gold City pianist. Haase was the tenor of the great Cathedral Quartet from 1989-1999. George Younce, Cathedrals bass singer and his father-in-law, always prayed that Haase would start a group and continue to spread the Gospel through song. Haase, a basketball fan, gathered a great "team" which consisted of Garry Jones on piano, Shane Dunlap singing lead, Doug Anderson at baritone, and former Poet Voices bass singer Tim Duncan. This lineup recording several CDs that included many of the old classics and songs that the Cathedrals had performed (For more on these projects see Discography).
After a year of growing success, Garry Jones and Shane Dunlap both departed from the group. Wesley Pritchard, who had shared the stage with Haase in the Old Friends Quartet, served in the lead position as a long term fill in for the remainder of 2003. In 2003, Roy Webb joined the quartet as their new pianist and George Younce became the co-owner of the group. In early 2004, Ryan Seaton became the new lead singer for the group. The quartet began to experience more widespread popularity and changed its name to Ernie Haase & Signature Sound in order to avoid confusion with some regional groups. EHSS brought a new style to the genre which included a more contemporary and youthful energy to classic songs. They wore colorful suits and spiked their hair as well. Many called them the "New Statesmen Quartet" as they were seen as similar to the outside-the-box thinking of the classic group. Audiences loved the dynamic sound of the group which featured the Haase's signature tenor voice, Seaton's powerful lead, Anderson's tender soulful baritone, and Duncan's rich low bass. Also during this time, the group signed to the Gaither Music Group label. Younce was very instrumental in bringing about the relationship between the quartet and legendary singer-songwriter Bill Gaither. This lineuphas the lasted in the group's history from 2004-2009. Under the Gaither Label, the quartet recorded several popular CDs including the energetic Dove Award winning project Get Away Jordan in 2007, and the Grammy Nominated and Dove Award winning CD Dream On in 2008.
Change came to the group once again in 2007 as pianist Roy Webb came off the road to tend to his father who was dying of cancer. Gordon Mote served as the group's pianist for their 2007 Get Away Jordan tour, but in 2008 award winning producer and pianist Wayne Haun joined the quartet. He continues to serve as pianist, arranger, and producer for the group. The group recorded a album of vintage quartet songs called Influenced which was released as a table project in 2008. In 2009, the group released their second Christmas album Every Light That Shines At Christmas which would be the last record with Ryan Seaton as the lead singer. Seaton departed in December of 2009 and Devin McGlamery, formerly of Karen Peck & New River, was announced as the new lead singer. Also in 2009, the group added bass guitar and drums to form a live three piece band. David Griffith, who has traveled with the group since the start, plays the bass, and Greg Ritchie played drums for a short time and was later replaced by Zak Shumate in 2010. Kelly Vaughn later joined as a guiatrist for the group in 2010 and remained with the group for two years. Shumate later departed as well. The current band consists only of Wayne Haun and David Griffith.
The lineup of Haase (Tenor), McGlamery (Lead), Anderson (Baritone), Duncan (Bass), and Haun (Pianist) released another Influenced project and the landmark recording A Tribute To The Cathedral Quartet in 2010. The CD/DVD, which featured twenty classic Cathedrals songs, was nominated for several Dove Awards and was critically praised. In early 2011, original bass singer Tim Duncan decided to come off the road to spend more time with his family and was replaced by fomer Imperials bass vocalist Ian Owens. Owens brought a new sound to the quartet with his rich bass voice and dynamic range. This lineup recording several projects between 2011-2012 including the first recording of original material in three years Here We Are Again in 2012.
In October 2012, Ian Owens left the group and later joined Soul'd Out Quartet. Former Anchormen and LeFevre Quartet bass singer Paul Harkey joined the quartet as their new bass. Harkey's bass voice is more akin to that of Tim Duncan's which brought a new yet familiar sound to the group. This lineup released several recordings including Glorious Day (2013), Christmas Live! (2013), and another live CD/DVD called Oh What A Savior (2014) which featured old favorites and songs from Glorious Day.
In recent times, the quartet just released two brand new CD/DVD sets: Happy People, a brand new Southern Gospel release, and The Inspiration of Broadway, a fun project with Broadway legend, J. Mark McVey. Also, Ernie Haase and Doug Anderson released a video which announced Anderson's deaprture from the group to pursue a solo career and to spend more time with his family. His last concerts with the quartet will be in June. His replacement has not yet been announced.
This quartet is truly dedicated to the cause of Christ and believes in what they sing about. God has blessed them with incredible talent and the gift of communication. They show no signs of stopping and will continue to sing the Good News with their own unique and Signature Sound!
DISCOGRAPHY
Stand By Me (2002)- Haase, Dunlap, Anderson, Duncan, Jones
Building A Bridge (2003)- Haase, Dunlap, Anderson, Duncan, Jones
Glory To His Name (2003)- Haase, Dunlap, Anderson, Duncan, Jones
Great Love (2004)- Haase, Seaton, Anderson, Duncan, Webb
Stand by Me - Live (2004)- Haase, Seaton, Anderson, Duncan, Webb
Christmas with Ernie Haase & Signature Sound (2004)- Haase, Seaton, Anderson, Duncan, Webb
Ernie Haase & Signature Sound (2005)- Haase, Seaton, Anderson, Duncan, Webb
Get Away, Jordan (2007)- Haase, Seaton, Anderson, Duncan, Webb
Together (2007) - Recorded with the Gaither Vocal Band- Haase, Seaton, Anderson, Duncan
Influenced: A Vintage Quartet Session (2008)- Haase, Seaton, Anderson, Duncan, Haun
Dream On (2008) (Grammy Award nomination)- Haase, Seaton, Anderson, Duncan, Haun
Every Light That Shines at Christmas (2009)- Haase, Seaton, Anderson, Haun
Influenced: Spirituals & Southern Classics (2010)- Haase, McGlamery, Anderson, Duncan, Haun
A Tribute to the Cathedral Quartet (2010)- Haase, McGlamery, Anderson, Duncan, Haun
George Younce with Ernie Haase & Signature Sound (2011)- George Younce, Haase, McGlamery, Anderson, Owens, Haun
A White Christmas (2011)- Haase, McGlamery, Anderson, Owens, Haun
California Live - Vol.1 (2012)- Haase, McGlamery, Anderson, Owens, Haun
California Live - Vol.2 (2012)- Haase, McGlamery, Anderson, Owens, Haun
Here We Are Again (2012)- Haase, McGlamery, Anderson, Owens, Haun
Glorious Day (2013)- Haase, McGlamery,Anderson, Harkey, Haun
Christmas Live! (2013)- Haase, McGlamery, Anderson, Harkey, Haun
Oh, What A Savior (2014)- Haase, McGlamery, Anderson, Harkey, Haun
The Inspiration of Broadway (2015)- Haase, McGlamery, Anderson, Harkey, Haun, and J. Mark McVey
Happy People (2015)- Haase, McGlamery, Anderson, Harkey, Haun
For song listings, see http://www.erniehaase.com/music.html
And For more information on the group such as tour schedule and online store, visit http://www.erniehaase.com/welcome.html