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Beyond the Song: Greater Vision sings “You’ve Arrived”

Beyond the Song: Greater Vision sings “You’ve Arrived,” interview by Jantina Baksteen

I caught up with Gerald Wolfe of Greater Vision for this interview for Beyond The Song.

Group members of Greater Vision include: Gerald Wolfe, Rodney Griffin, Chris Allman, and Jon Epley.

Jantina Baksteen: December of this year, you celebrate 29 years of Greater Vision! What was your greater vision when the group was formed in 1990?

Gerald Wolfe: I wouldn’t say we had some sort of epiphany, but I would say we had a strong desire to put a group together that would focus on strong lyrics that would convey a clear message, good arrangements that would be interesting to listen to, and that would convey the message of the lyric to the listener.  We also wanted to have a group that would compliment a church service, as well as be entertaining enough to be effective on a concert platform. Looking back, it’s easy to see how the Lord guided those early steps that set us on the right course.

JB: To me, you are my Southern gospel music hero. What exactly is your definition of Southern gospel music?

GW: Thank you so much! You’re very kind. Your question is one I’ve been seriously asking for a couple of years now. I was listening to gospel music, and going to concerts, before “Southern Gospel” existed, as a term or genre label. To me, what we do has always been “Gospel Music.”  If an unchurched person asks me what I do, I tell them I’m involved in Christian music. Usually, they will have some sort of concept about what that is, but I’m not certain “Southern Gospel” has ever been an effective term to describe the kind of music we do, to someone who has never been exposed to it. These days, our genre of music encompasses such a wide variety of musical styles, I’m really not sure “Southern Gospel” is an adequately descriptive term anymore, even among people who might have an idea of what they think it is. The definition seems to depend on the personal tastes of the person describing it. So… the short answer to your question is, I don’t really know what Southern Gospel is. I just know what I like, personally, and I call it Gospel.

JB: How would you describe the music Greater Vision is singing now?

GW: I’ve always called it “Gospel Music,” “Christian Music,” or “Church Music.”  Overall, our basic style and sound hasn’t changed over the last 29 years. However, we’ve never been afraid to stretch and challenge ourselves, musically. So, in that respect, we do a lot of different varieties of musical styles, within the confines of keeping the “Greater Vision sound” we’ve become known for, and that our listeners expect. People will usually go with you on a little musical journey, as long as you bring them back “home.”

JB: You had to step down from singing and Jon Epley has taken your position. Has this changed the dynamic?

GW: I actually think bringing Jon onboard has actually broadened our dynamic, and allowed us to do some things we hadn’t been able to do before, especially in our concerts. Jon’s voice is easy to blend with, and he has a great ear, so he quickly adapted to our sound; and on recordings, most people can’t tell the difference between the old Greater Vision, and the new GV.  He’s been a great addition.

JB: Do you miss singing? If the crowd asks you, will you step up and sing?

GW: I can’t say I miss singing, since I still do sing when I feel good, or when someone makes a special request for something I can still do.

JB: I enjoy the radio release of the same titled album, “You’ve Arrived.” How did this song come together?

GW: “You’ve Arrived” was sent to us by Rick Shelton, at Daywind Publishing. It was written by Kenna Turner West, Sue Smith, and Marcia Henry. The first time we heard it, we knew it would make a great opener for the album, but a couple of lines needed to be changed to make it work. The writers graciously agreed to make the changes we suggested, and now we sing it every time we walk onto the platform.

JB: Who orchestrates your music since your long-time friend is home with the Greatest Orchestrator?

GW: Since my long-time friend, Lari Goss, passed away, we’ve worked with two young arrangers: Trey Ivey and Cody McVey, and well-known arranger, Steve Mauldin. It’s been an interesting journey, having worked with Lari for so long. I first worked with him in the studio in 1981, and there are still days I cry when I listen to some of beautiful work he did for so long. He was a friend and a hero, and there’ll never be another Lari Goss. Thankfully, The Lord is still raising up gifted people to help create arrangements that will lift the songs from paper and deliver them to the heart of the listener.  On our new CD, Trey Ivey did all the arrangements.

JB: Even before summer time starts, you start talking about Christmas. For you, what makes the best Christmas?

GW: There’s nothing better than listening to Christmas music when it’s 90F degrees outside! For me, there’s never a wrong time to talk about Christmas. Since we call it “the most wonderful time of the year,” why should we limit it to four weeks, between Thanksgiving and December 25? I prefer having “the most wonderful time of the year” all year long!  Seriously, when we think about the real gift of Christmas, and what it really meant for God to come to earth as a baby, we should be overwhelmed, whether it’s in July, September, December, or February.  So, the best Christmas for me, is whenever I think about it!  Merry CHRISTmas!

JB: Who has the most jokes /funny stories when you are on the road?

GW: I’d say it’s a close tie. When we get on the bus for a trip, everybody usually has at least one funny story about something that happened while we were at home. Anybody who’s traveled with us for a weekend will tell you the laughs start when we get up in the morning, and usually continue until the last light is turned out at night.

JB: I know you like to drive. Do you make the most miles behind the wheel?

GW: All of us share the driving responsibilities on the road. Everybody on the bus has a Commercial Driver License (CDL) and we have to remain in compliance with current DOT regulations for buses. We drive 250-mile shifts, and driving is something I really enjoy, unless I happen to end up with the 2:00 p.m. ’til 6:00 am shift, when we have an all-night drive on the schedule. I don’t think anyone enjoys that!

JB: What is your favorite quote to share?

GW: I love good quotes. One of my favorite is,  “Obey God, and leave all the consequences to Him.” (Dr. Charles Stanley).

JB: Thank you, Gerald, for giving us a little insight into Greater Vision. May God continue to bless your ministry, that wherever the bus stops to share your music, the words sung and the words spoken won’t return empty. 

Please enjoy this video preview of Greater Vision singing the songs from “You’ve Arrived!”

Read more Gospel Music News in the latest SGNScoops Magazine Online HERE.

NQC Announces Original Television Series

NQC Announces Original Television Series

PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. (March 22, 2019) – NQC – the National Quartet Convention – has announced they are producing an original television series called, NQC’s American Gospel. The program will be hosted by Gerald Wolfe and Joseph Habedank and feature main stage performances from the 2018 National Quartet Convention. The program will have a featured artist for each episode, with that artist being interviewed by Matt Fouch of Legacy Five. Each episode will also feature a segment from the 2018 Gospel Music Hymn Sing.

Clarke Beasley

“We are excited about this new series, “states Clarke Beasley, NQC’s Executive Vice President. “This program gives viewers the feeling that they are attending the Convention with many of the sites and sounds of the event visible on the program.  We believe this will entice people to want to attend NQC in person.”

NQC – the National Quartet Convention – was formed in 1957 by gospel music legend and former backup vocalist for Elvis Presley, J.D. Sumner who co-produced the event with James Blackwood. The annual convention was moved in later years to Nashville, TN and then to Louisville, KY where it was held for 20 years.

SGNScoops’ Wacky Wednesday talks about Facebook, hobbies and writers

It’s Wacky Wednesday time!

SGNScoops’ Wacky Wednesday with gospel artists returns this month with some interesting questions for our panel. Special thanks to our friend Jantina de Haan for collecting all of these great answers.

Clayton Inman of Triumphant

As you know, Wacky Wednesday features questions that you might not find in regular artist interviews and answers that you might not see printed anywhere else…

Today we hear responses from Josh Jordan of the Jordan Family Band, Gerald Wolfe of Greater Vision, Wendy Hayes of the Mylon Hayes family, Corey Pearson of the Diplomats, Bob Sellers of the Old Time Preachers Quartet (formerly of the Kingsmen), Pat Barker of the Guardians, Clayton Inman of Triumphant, and Jaquita Lindsey of 11th Hour.

Jaquita Lindsey of 11th Hour

We are giving them four questions: Favorite hobby you never have time to do; first post showing on your Facebook news feed; favorite devotional author; and favorite songwriter any genre.

Are you ready? Here we go. In no particular order…

Josh Jordan: 1. How is a it a hobby if you never get to do it? My fav hobby is fishing with my family. 2. Randa Jordan (little heart image). 3. I’ve never read a book all the way through. I’d rather go fishing. 4. (King) David, his Psalms are off the charts.

Bob Sellers

Gerald Wolfe: 1. Drive through the mountains. 2. Right now, it’s happy birthday to Kimberley Allman (Chris’ wife). 3. Oswald Chambers. 4. Fanny J. Crosby.

Wendy Hayes: 1. Scrapbooking. 2. It is one from the last couple of days, where our family sang and we had so many precious kids come that love gospel music. 3. Priscilla Shirer. 4. Rebecca Peck.

Corey Pearson: 1. Fish and ride four wheelers. 2. Today it was something about the government, so I probably over looked it. 3. That’s a hard one. Most anything by Dr. Johnny Hunt. 4. Dianne Wilkinson, Sonya and Becky of the Isaacs, and Chris Tomlin.

Wendy and Mylon Hayes

Bob Sellers: 1. Fish, hunt, camp. Anything outdoors. 2. Lee and Rebekah Mitchell in photos with some group called Gold City. 3. Gary Larson (Far Side). 4. Merle Haggard.

Pat Barker: 1. Sleep. 2. I only do mySpace. 3. Holy Spirit. 4. Dottie Rambo.

Clayton Inman: 1. Golf. 2. A picture post. 3. Max Lucado. 4. Scotty Inman.

Josh Jordan with the Jordan Family Band

Jaquita Lindsey: 1. Be crafty, paint. 2. I don’t ever look at any news. 3. Jentezen Franklin.  4. Jonathan Cain.

Were any of these answers surprising to you? Let us know if you liked this week’s Wacky Wednesday feature and tell us what you would ask your favorite artist.

Pat Barker

Stay tuned next time for another Wacky Wednesday.

Do you have a question for our artist panel? Send it in to SGNScoops today! lorraine@sgnscoops.com

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Corey Pearson of the Diplomats

Gerald Wolfe and Greater Vision

Listen To Today’s Gospel Music Online HERE

Wacky Wednesday writers talk to Wendy Hayes, Gerald Wolfe, more

Wacky Wednesday with Gospel Artists returns this month with some interesting questions for our panel. Special thanks to our friend Jantina de Haan for collecting all of these great answers.

As you know, Wacky Wednesday features questions that you might not find in regular artist interviews and answers that you might not see printed anywhere else…

Today we hear responses from Josh Jordan of the Jordan Family Band, Gerald Wolfe of Greater Vision,

Mylon and Wendy Hayes

Wendy Hayes of the Mylon Hayes family, Corey Pearson of the Diplomats, Bob Sellers (formerly of the Kingsmen), Pat Barker of the Guardians, Clayton Inman of Triumphant, Josh Townsend of Legacy Five, and Jaquita

Gerald Wolfe-Greater Vision

Guardians with Pat Barker

Lindsey of 11th Hour.

First question for today is: What was your favorite subject in school?

Ladies first…

Jaquita Lindsey: Choir

Wendy Hayes: History

Now the Gentlemen…

Josh Jordan:  Math

Gerald Wolfe:  English

Corey Pearson: Today it was something about the government, so I probably overlooked it (Corey, we really don’t know what you meant by this…)

Bob Sellers: English

Bob Sellers

Pat Barker: Lunch

Clayton Inman: P.E. 🙂 (Physical Eduction)

Josh Townsend: History

Today we have a second question is: What book have you read more than once?

Jaquita Lindsey: Only the Bible

Wendy Hayes: The Bible

Josh Jordan: I’ve never read a book all the way through.I’d rather go fishing.

Gerald Wolfe: How to listen to God, by Dr. Charles Stanley.

Corey Pearson: The Bible and Huckleberry Finn.

Bob Sellers: Where the Red Fern Grows

Pat Barker: Slave, by John MacArthur

Clayton Inman: The Go Giver

Josh Townsend: Never read a book more than once, lol

Were any of these answers surprising to you? Let us know if you liked this week’s Wacky feature and tell us what you would ask your favorite artist!

Stay tuned next time for another Wacky Wednesday!

Do you have a question for our artist panel? Send it in to SGNScoops today! lorraine@sgnscoops.com

Jaquita Lindsey of 11th Hour

Legacy Five with Josh Townsend

The Jordan Family Band features, from left, Josh Jordan, Randa Jordan, Hutch Jordan, Grant Jordan, Keenan Atkinson and Alex Jordan. ‘Reach’ will be available from Skyland Records on July 13.

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Wacky Wednesday asks Bob, Pat, Clayton, Josh and more about fruit and jobs!

Wacky Wednesday with Gospel Artists is back with another question. Special thanks to our friend Jantina de Haan for collecting all of these great answers, and to all of you for your overwhelming response to the return of Wacky Wednesday!

Gerald Wolfe

As you know, Wacky Wednesday features questions that you might not find in regular artist interviews and answers that you might not see printed anywhere else…And do you know the word for the fear of taste? Keep reading!

Today we hear responses from Josh Jordan of the Jordan Family Band, Gerald Wolfe of Greater Vision,

Wendy Hayes of the Mylon Hayes family, Corey Pearson of the Diplomats, Bob Sellers, Pat Barker of the Guardians, Clayton Inman of Triumphant, Josh Townsend of Legacy Five, and

Legacy Five with Josh Townsend

Jaquita Lindsey of 11th Hour.

This week’s questions are: what is your favorite fruit and what was the first job you held? See if you can tell which answer is which!

We will let the men go first again:

Josh Jordan: Oranges and pouring concrete

Gerald Wolfe: Demonstrating Baldwin organs and pianos. I was in high school and strawberries

Jordan Family Band

Corey Pearson: Cutting grass and watermelon and strawberries

Bob Sellers: Tough one. I love all fruit! I’d have to say watermelon and Housel hardware store in Gordo Alabama. I was 15.

Josh Townsend: Oranges and the pianist for the Old Paths

Pat Barker: Choir director and Of The Looms…

Clayton Inman: Banana and day camp counselor

Let’s hear from the ladies…

Jaquita Lindsey: Bananas and Tasty Freeze

Wendy Hayes: Roses department store and strawberries, watermelon, oranges

Clayton Inman

Were these answers what you expected? We hope you enjoyed this Q&A and perhaps it shed a little more light on your favorite artists. And did you know that fear of taste is “geumaphobia“? The Bible says, “Taste and see that the Lord is good.” He’s better even than bananas! “Taste” here means “experience” or “enjoy” or to take into your heart and let Him give you the nutrients your soul needs. He is good!!

Wendy Hayes

Stay tuned next time for another Wacky Wednesday, when we will ask the question everyone wants to know: would you rather have a grizzly bear or a whale as a pet? (Is this the actual question that has been asked? Stay tuned…)

Do you have a question for our artist panel? Send it to SGNScoops today! lorraine@sgnscoops.com

READ The latest PDF Version Of SGNScoops Magazine here.

Download The latest PDF Version Of SGNScoops Magazine HERE

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Jaquita Lindsey

Pat Barker

Bob Sellers

Listen Online To The Best In Todays Gospel Music HERE

Pray for the family of Gerald Wolfe

Gerald and his dad, ML (Mack) Wolfe

In the early morning of Sunday, January 7, 2018, Gerald Wolfe, of Greater Vision, wrote on Facebook:

“Saturday evening at 5:19pm, my Dad met Jesus, face to face. He was the most consistent man I’ve ever known. I will miss his sense of humor and his great story-telling. He is now healed and whole, and in the literal presence of The Lord.
See you soon, Dad! The rest of us won’t be too far behind!”

Mack Wolfe was 83. He and his wife had been married for 64 years.

SGNSCOOPS Magazine staff and friends join the Gospel music world in sending our prayers and condolences to Gerald Wolfe and all of his family in the passing of his father.

Gerald Wolfe’s Gospel Music Hymn Sing Announces Spring Tour

Gerald Wolfe’s Gospel Music Hymn Sing Announces Spring Tour

Hendersonville, TN –The wildly popular Gospel Music Hymn Sing has announced the next stops on its spring tour.  Led by Gerald Wolfe, this revival of great gospel songs & hymns will make its way to Jenison MI, Lancaster PA, Dunn NC and Indian Trail NC on the spring leg of the tour, which kicks off May 18^th.

Featuring some of the top talent in Gospel music, including Greater Vision, Second-Half Quartet, Mark Trammell Quartet, Jim Brady Trio, Pat Barker and Mylon Hayes Family, as well as exceptional musicians such as Stan Whitmire, Sandy Payton, and Stone Carter, the Gospel Music Hymn Sing engages the audience in the joyful sounds of congregational singing.

The Gospel Music Hymn Sing recently released its latest DVD and CD, recorded live in Texas at Mims Baptist Church. The project features over 20 beloved Gospel artists and more than 2000 voices singing 24 all-time favorite hymns and gospels classics.

For more information on dates and tickets for the Spring dates, visit dmgconcerts.com.

DMG Concerts is a division of Daywind Music Group that promotes Southern Gospel music through elite concert events.

For more information on upcoming events, visit dmgconcerts.com

Congratulations to Donna and Gerald Wolfe

Gerald Wolfe and Donna Wolfe

Happy 30th Anniversary to one of our favorite Southern Gospel couples!

Gerald and Donna Wolfe

Gerald posted the following on his Facebook today: “30 years ago today, we said “I do,” and it worked! When people ask me how we’ve made it, I tell them “learn to love, live, and laugh.” God certainly gave me to perfect mate to make loving, living, and laughing easy, and I’d do it all over again! Happy 30th Anniversary to my High-School

Gerald and Donna Wolfe

Sweetheart! We’re just getting started!”

Gerald and Donna Wolfe, all of us at SGNScoops pray that God blesses you today and for another 30 years!

Gerald Wolfe On Gospel Music Today

Gerald Wolfe On Gospel Music Today

Gerald Wolfe of Greater Vision is the guest on Gospel Music Today for the week of June 12. Ken and Jean Grady host southern gospel news and concert updates. The Feature Group is The Mylon Hayes Family, and Jean reviews new recordings by Kevin Lane and Jerry Salley. An article from Singing News magazine is the subject of this week’s News Notes. The show features singing by The Skyline Boys, exclusive concert video of The Sharps Quartet, recorded by Gospel Music Today’s cameras in Pigeon Forge, TN, and a visit to the Gospel Music Today Archives for an exclusive concert video of The Harbingers Quartet, recorded in Owasso, OK.

Gospel Music Hymn Sing

Greater Vision

Hymn Sing

A post from Greater Vision…….

Today is the day!

We’re bringing the Gospel Music Hymn Sing Tour to Florida, January 18 thru 20! Share the news and invite your friends to join us in Panama City 1/18, Bradenton 1/19, and Orlando 1/20! More information available at gospelmusichymnsing.com