Over the past couple of weeks, there has been a steady buzz building on social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter of a “big announcement” coming today from IMC Concerts. The announcement hits at 9:00 PM EST, but for now, the floor is open for guesses as to what the news entails.

My guess (and what seems to be a consensus among the posts I’ve seen) is that this is a Cathedrals Reunion event, and possibly even a full tour. The evidence is this: the groups that have been posting and hinting at the announcement include Legacy Five, Greater Vision, Ernie Haase & Signature Sound, and the Mark Trammell Quartet, at least (there may be more that I’ve missed). The common thread among all of those groups is that they each contain one former member of The Cathedrals.

For years, Legacy Five, Greater Vision, Mark Trammell Trio/Quartet, and Danny Funderburk have done select concerts under the name of “Remembering The Music,” which were Cathedrals tribute events, just without the group name. I remember attending one several years ago in Winston-Salem, NC that was entitled “Remembering The Cathedrals,” but the name changed shortly thereafter. I would guess that, with the addition of Ernie Haase’s group to the usual lineup, the Cathedrals name could be used again for these events, but I’m not privy to how that all works (who actually owns the name or has permission to use it, among other things). No word so far on whether other Cathedrals alumni will be a part of the event/tour, but it will be interesting to find out if the general guess is correct.

There are some silhouette pictures of the photo shoot on Facebook here and here.

Check back here around 9:00 for the official announcement, and feel free to leave your guesses in the comments section!

Update: In light of the tragedy in Boston, the announcement has been postponed until tomorrow at 9:00 PM Eastern.

Legacy Five bass singer Matt Fouch was recently in the studio recording three Christmas songs as a solo release. Those tracks are available to download here. As a teaser for this release, Fouch has offered one track, “You’re A Mean One, Mr. Grinch,” as a free download on this blog. Thanks, Matt!

Download this free song here.

Last Friday was a rare opportunity to see Legacy Five at a church only about thirty minutes from my home area of Lynchburg, VA. It was especially worth the trip because it would be my first opportunity to hear the group outside of NQC since the hire of bass singer Matt Fouch. The vocal lineup has gelled even more since the convention, and they are more comfortable with each other on stage and are more used to the vocal tendencies of the other members, making for their strongest sound to date. Check out the videos from the night:

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Yet another lineup change story has seen its end, as Legacy Five announced the addition of Soul’d Out Quartet’s bass singer, who has been their since the group’s inception. Here’s the press release:

“For the past eight years I have had the great opportunity to travel and sing with the guys of Soul’d Out Quartet (SOQT). These men are high character individuals and it has been a pleasure to sing along side them. God has blessed SOQT and I am very thankful for the many friends I have made and the opportunities God has given through the ministry of SOQT.

With that said, after much prayer, thought and consultation with my wife, I have decided to resign my position with SOQT and join the Legacy Five team.

It is an honor and a privilege to join L5. These men have a wonderful calling on their lives and do a fantastic job. They are men of integrity and I couldn’t be happier to join their ranks. I’m excited to see where God leads and what He does in this new season of my life.

My family and I are thankful for your prayers and support, and I ask that you keep SOQT and L5 in your prayers as He leads both groups in the calling He has placed on their lives. God bless!”

Matt Fouch

Soul’d Out Quartet’s Matt Rankin says, “Soul’d Out Quartet wishes to thank Matt Fouch for 8 years of service to the Lord and the group. We have been a part of seeing many come to Christ in those years. We have been a part of watching God’s hand at work and have watched him supply the group’s needs time and time again. We hate to see Matt leave Soul’d Out but we trust that God is leading this decision. We will be in prayer for a replacement and will continue our prayers and support for Matt Fouch, his family, and Legacy 5.  Though change is many times difficult, the big picture is that we all are trying to serve the King. With that said, thank you Matt for making Soul’d Out a better group while you were here. We love you. God bless.

Legacy Five’s Scott Fowler comments, “Seasons of life change for us all.  Change is never easy but it is inevitable. The older I get, the less I like change, but with change comes the excitement of seeing what new and refreshing doors God opens for us. We are really looking forward to Matt’s contribution to Legacy Five, both on and off the stage.  To Matt, Dusty, Michael and Bryan of Soul’d Out, I want to say how much I have appreciated how gracious and kind they have been to Legacy Five and Matt during this time of transition.  I cannot remember when two groups have had this type of cooperation in a situation like this.  They are truly good men and I have great respect for them”

Matt Fouch will officially join Legacy Five on September 1.

In a similar move to Mike LeFevre’s hire of Paul Harkey, Scott Fowler has banked on one of the best young talents out there. I’ve enjoyed hearing Matt’s development as a vocalist during his time with Soul’d Out Quartet, and am anxious to see how he will fill the role voided by Glenn Dustin with Legacy Five. Here’s a clip that I got of Fouch during a concert back in January:

Although one chapter of group changes has closed, another has opened; Soul’d Out Quartet is a young, up-and-coming group with plenty of energy, so look for them to attract someone with a similar image. Someone like Justin Terry, formerly of Cross 4 Crowns, would be a great fit.

On the heels of the Mark Trammell Quartet’s announcement of change in the group, here’s one that is arguably the most shocking to come along in quite a while:

Dear Legacy Five Family,

If you know me at all, you know I am a man of few words, so I’ll be brief.

It is with much regret that I am announcing my resignation. Effective immediately, I will no longer be traveling and singing with Legacy Five. I have had the time of my life, traveling the highways with L5, getting to meet so many wonderful people. However, nothing lasts forever. I have been honored to see so many things that I would have never had the opportunity to, apart from L5. I have so many wonderful memories, and I will miss so many people.

Please keep me and my family in your thoughts and prayers, and continue to pray for and encourage L5. I will miss those men, and I doubt there will be a day that passes where I don’t think of them. I have so many wonderful memories.

In His Grip,

Glenn “Cuz” Dustin

The group goes on to state that they have started looking for a new bass, and interested singers can send an mp3 to scottfowler@legacyfive.com.

I, for one, never expected this news, but I understand that change is inevitable. Dustin’s vocal technique has developed quite nicely over his twelve years in the group since its inception, and he is leaving the group as one of the smoothest and best-blending bass singers in the industry.

As with any change, the speculation of “who’s the new singer” will start soon, so I will throw my prediction in here. If Legacy Five were to go with an already “established” name, they couldn’t go wrong with Randy Byrd. Not only does he have the depth and power to handle the bass parts for the group, but on the group’s Know So Salvation project, they took two of his features with the Blackwood Brothers (“O Say But I’m Glad” and “Where No One Stands Alone”) and gave them to Glenn Dustin. Similar arrangements, same key. Having that connection makes the prospect of his hiring very intriguing.

They may very well go for an “unknown” singer, so let’s have fun with this one. How about this bass singer? Don’t know his name, but he can tote the mail:

1. Legacy Five debuted their first ever concept video late last week. The song is “Ask Me Why,” arguably one of the finest songs the group has recorded, and the story behind the song is acted out very well in the video. One cool tidbit is that the lady that the song was written about is actually featured in the video. Check it out:

2. Dixie Melody Boys tenor Matt Felts has released a project highlighting hymns of the Civil War. The project, Angels On The Battlefield, will be carried by parks across America, and features a throwback style of music, as well as guest vocalists Johnny Minick, Aaron Minick, and Mike Allen. This website features clips and ordering information.

3. Dailey & Vincent have released an instructional video on quartet harmony. The video features the current vocal lineup of Jamie Dailey, Darrin Vincent, Jeff Parker, and Christian Davis, and can be purchased here.

Rating: 4 stars

Producer: Steve W. Mauldin
Label: Daywind Records
Website: www.legacyfive.com

Song titles: A Wonderful Life; God Had A Hand In It; Ask Me Why; Nobody Ever Loved Me Like God Does; There’s Only One Well; Just Because Of You; God Cares For Me; Living In The Palace; Destination Known; I’m Still Amazed; For What Earthly Reason; God Is Still In America

Legacy Five’s last major release, Just Stand, marked a jump start for their discography. Produced by Lari Goss, it featured a song selection and arrangements that could arguably be counted among their finest work. It also marked their last project with Frank Seamans singing the tenor part, and when Gus Gaches was hired, it was re-released with his vocals. Though the group has released a table project since then, A Wonderful Life is the first major release featuring arrangements and songs made with Gaches’ tenor in mind, and the first with Trey Ivey at the piano bench. The quartet went with a producer they have used several times, Steve Mauldin, rather than using Goss again.

In terms of song selection, there are a couple of places A Wonderful Life could have been better. The title track falls in the mold of what I feel has been a problem with much of Legacy Five’s material after Roger Bennett’s passing: too many “ditties,” or bouncy little songs. Many groups have a cutesy fun tune on a project every now and then, but in Legacy Five’s case, there have been a lot. IMHO, this ends up hurting them in the long run, because I have heard several people comment that, as casual listeners, they think that is all they record. Thankfully, only two of those show up here:  the title track, and “God Cares For Me.” Those usually have me hitting the skip button.

The good news is, other than those two, the group has put together a collection of good songs. “Ask Me Why” is a powerful ballad that features the best blend the group has ever had, period. “Nobody Ever Loved Me Like God Does” is an upbeat track that sounds like it could have come from the group’s Heroes Of The Faith project, with is a testament to the quality of both the song and the production. “There’s Only One Well,” though taken from Cross4Crowns’ songbook, sounds like it was made for Legacy Five, and features Gaches putting on the afterburners for an energetic finish. Other highlights include Scott Howard’s feature on “Destination Known” (once again, he never fails to have songs that impeccably fit his voice), and the group’s foray into a surprisingly progressive sound on “Living In The Palace,” a personal favorite track of mine. Keeping the Cathedrals connection alive, the group covers two songs from them; “Just Because Of You,” which is a good slower tune from the Gaithers’ pen, and “For What Earthly Reason,” an iconic Danny Funderburk feature on which Gaches turns in a solid performance.

As you can probably tell from my numerous mentions, Gus Gaches is a huge asset to Legacy Five. His ability to deliver a lyric and blend with the group is showcased very well here, and the group as a whole has a very cohesive, solid sound. While not as all-around stellar as Just Stand, this project is still a solid effort and has several songs that are ripe for radio release. A Wonderful Life receives 4 stars.

While doing some work on my Youtube account, I came across this video in my subscriptions feed and was immediately intrigued. Via user texjoy777 has a high-quality video up that is the first clip I have seen since Ivey took over the piano bench from Tim Parton recently. With tenor Gus Gaches featured on a song the quartet has done since its inception, here is a piano-and-vocals version of “Holy Is Thy Name:”

After hearing and viewing this clip, there is no denying that Scott Fowler made the right hire in Trey Ivey. His style is refined, not too flashy, and does a great job of backing up and  complimenting the vocals. That is the way piano accompaniment should be done, and hiring a young player that understands and utilizes that concept pays off.

By the way, this is Ivey’s fourth concert with the group. The fact that he is comfortable to be “put out front,” so to speak, so soon tells me he is a great fit.

After the announcement of Tim Parton’s imminent departure from the group a couple of weeks ago, much speculation arose around the SG Internet circles as to who would fill the spot. An official release from the group today put all that to rest, and the new pianist was one that, at least in the discussions I was involved in, had not come up:

Legacy Five is pleased to announce that 21 year old Trey Ivey will be joining Legacy Five as their new pianist. Trey is from Cleveland, Georgia but will soon make Nashville, Tennessee his new home.

Trey played the piano for The Mike Lefevre Quartet from November 2006 until March 2010 and most recently was the pianist for The Old Paths. Scott Fowler of Legacy Five states, “I first heard Trey a couple of years ago at the National Quartet Convention in Louisville, Kentucky. I remember thinking then that this young man was a great player and would do nothing but get better. I made a mental note to myself to keep an eye on Trey. When Tim Parton announced he would be leaving, I knew I needed to make contact with Trey. All of the Legacy Five guys are excited to have Trey a part of our team.”

Trey states, “I am so thankful that God allows me to do what I love to do. I am very excited about joining Legacy Five and look forward to seeing what the future holds. It is a real honor to follow in the footsteps of two of my heroes, Roger and Tim.

Trey will begin Traveling with Legacy Five on February 12, but will not officially assume the role of pianist until Tim’s departure on February 28.

What is interesting to note about this hire is that it is the second hire in a row of a LeFevre Quartet alumnus to the group, the first being tenor Gus Gaches. While Ivey was with the Old Paths prior to this, he came into some prominence with Mike LeFevre’s group, even appearing as their pianist on mainstage a few times. I remember being impressed with his stylings from the first time I heard him, and Scott Fowler has done well to bank on a young, up-and-coming talent like Trey Ivey.

For a preview of Ivey’s playing, here are a couple of clips, both of him accompanying a group and some of his solo work:

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNQLcmP4U_A&feature=related

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0v1vRdtehc

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTLTAScrwLE

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdjEhlFbPlI&feature=related

After a relatively quiet past several days, some news items have hit that I took note of, but could not cover in the flurry of midterms:

1. First and foremost, I wish to send my condolences to the family of Susan Unthank. Unthank passed away on January 5 after a long battle with various health problems. A memorial service has been rescheduled for January 24 after inclement whether cancelled the first one. In all of my dealings with her, be it over the Internet or in the one time I met her in person at NQC a couple of years back, she was always very gracious and nice to talk to. Say what you will about Absolutely Gospel (SoGospelNews), but there is no denying the impact that she and her husband had when they founded that site. Susan Unthank, you will be missed.

2. Dennis Dugger leaves Tribute Quartet, Anthony Davis Steps In – In a somewhat shocking news item today, the group announced that founding member and the only bass the group has had to date has left the group on good terms. Gary Casto has once again made a hire that has the distinction of being one of the youngest singers in the business; Davis is 28 years old. Various sources have said this is the same Anthony Davis that sang bass for Firm Foundation Quartet, and a quick Youtube search yields clips such as these:

At first blush, Davis has a tone that is similar to Dugger’s, while having a distinctive sound of his own. At his young age, he has plenty of time to mature and refine his voice, and Gary Casto does a great job of that with his vocalists; just look at Riley Clark!

I would guess that Davis will be on the upcoming mainline release, so I am interested to hear him on brand-new Tribute material, and hopefully someone will have Youtube footage soon of him on current Tribute songs.

3. It was also announced today that Tim Parton has left the pianist position in Legacy Five. Parton will be taking a position with the 3ABN television network. Like Dugger, he also leaves his respective group on good terms. It will be interesting to see who L5 gets to take the spot; Parton was basically hand-picked by Roger Bennett before his death in 2007, and has been with the group since taking the position full-time after filling in for several months. My mind is drawing a blank as to what “known names” could be tapped for the job, but I wouldn’t mind seeing them pick up an “undiscovered” talent.