Wait a minute....WHO sang that part???

Being an avid MySpace user, I noticed Ernie Haase posting a new video of Signature Sound doing "Get Away Jordan" live somewhere. While watching this video, a thought crossed my mind: They sure have come a long way (in SOME direction) from their first DVD, "Live In Indiana"!!

Then I realized, most people have never SEEN that DVD!!!!

(Before you think I'm getting into a EHSSQ bash, hear me out!!)

In 2003, shortly after Ernie and Garry Jones put Signature Sound [Quartet] together, they independantly produced a live DVD at Reardon Auditorium in Anderson, Indiana. This was when Shane Dunlap was still singing lead with the group. While the group was still trying to find their proper footing and sound together, this remains one of my favorite DVD's. The energy was apparent, even early on, but the "southern gospel boy band" moves had not yet manifested in earnest (although they did do some jumping on "Stand By Me"). This is the DVD that made me not so skeptical of SSQ.

Then Garry and Shane left.

Within a few months, a NEW DVD had been done (along with an accompanying CD) called "Stand By Me LIVE," and it was done in Ernie's hometown of Evansville, Indiana. Ernie makes a big deal of introducing their new piano player (Roy Webb) and lead singer (Ryan Seaton, who was still pretty wet behind the ears). It was done in the interim between their first label release ("Stand By Me") and their second, ("Great Love"), so all of the songs were originally recorded with Garry and Shane still in the group.

You may be saying, "SO WHAT?!"

Well, all evidence of a PREVIOUS DVD had been removed from SSQ's website and product tables. For all intents and purposes, it basically was considered to have not existed.

As if this were not enough, the covers of their independant releases (their "quartet hits" series) were changed to reflect the current group members (even though Shane's voice and, more obviously, Garry's production and piano playing remains on the disc itself). Eventually, Ernie was able to obtain the masters for their first album, "Stand By Me," and repackaged it to basically remove any traces of Garry or Shane's involvement; group members are not listed, and Jones' credits, once a co-founder, were reduced to producer and piano player.

This is not something that is specific to EHSSQ.... When Josh Cobb left Legacy Five, his bio was hastily removed from their site, and any photos with Cobb included disappeared. By the time Tony Jarman was named new tenor, any traces of Cobb were gone. Oddly enough, however, when Jarman decided to try his hand at solo work, he was still included in Legacy Five's annual music celebration, and is still included in historical info, where as anyone who didn't follow L5 from the beginning may be wondering who the kid is on the cover of "Song We Used To Sing." Not to mention the fact that "I Stand Redeemed," their "most-requested" song and breakout hit - originally sung by Cobb - is being recut....

This is not something that is altogether new. The Cathedrals seem to have wiped out certain members of their history. The tenor between Danny Funderburk and Ernie Haase (whose name escapes me...I wonder why!!!) was kind of swept under the historical rug after a reportedly disasterous Dove Awards appearance. And does anyone remember David Hill (the ORIGINAL voice of "I'm Not Giving Up") or Steve Lacey with Gold City?? Even when the beloved Mark Trammell left GC, a hastily-edited group photo just moved group members around to remove Trammell from the shot.

There ARE groups out there who take pride in their history. Bill Gaither always makes it a point to acknowledge former members of the Vocal Band, regardless of tenure, although it's almost as if only in passing. Granted, Bill is probably trying to be as diplomatic as possible, not trying to show favor for one member over the other, it seems strange to see David Phelps, who helped bring the GVB back to "vocal powerhouse" status, mentioned with the same indifference as, say Buddy Mullins, who made one album and left. I still find it interesting, however, that he often acknowledges Terry Franklin, Mark Lowry, and Michael English as his favorite lineup. So much for neutrality, huh??

I often find it quite frustrating when such "erasures" are performed after a group member leaves, especially from a consumer standpoint. I have been known to purchase (or NOT purchase) a CD because I KNOW how the group sounds with current members. When the CD cover shows a different combo than what's really on the disc (or is just illusive altogether, as Garry Jones seems to have done with the Mercy's Mark "Southern Selections" CD's), I am left to take a guess and hope that I get the group I wanted to hear. This was especially maddening when Gold City released their latest Christmas project to retail, because there actually WERE different members on different cuts. While the cover photo included Bill Lawrence and Steve Ladd, there were still cuts with Tim Riley and even Jay Parrack. What I've yet to figure out, though, is why Steve would recut the lead on "It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas," but Tim's lead on "Holly Jolly Christmas" was left intact (group owner privileges, I guess!!). For the record, I'd much rather hear Riley's sub-rattling low G on "I Have Seen The Light" over Lawrence any day!!

I guess my point would be, basically EVERY group has had at least one member leave for whatever reason. We know you're pushing the most recent lineup, but why brush over the past (and potentially mislead fans) by not naming (or even misrepresenting) group members on previous projects or in historical accounts?? Like it or not, they were a part of your group!!!