Acappella

From FaithNoise

Acappella is an all-male Contemporary Christian Music vocal group that was founded in 1982 by Keith Lancaster, who has variously played the role of singer, songwriter, and producer throughout the group's history. In 1988, a group of former back-up singers formed a spin-off group called AVB. Members of Acappella have included Keith Lancaster, Rodney Britt, Gary Moyers, Duane Adams, George Pendergrass, Wayburn Dean, Robert C. Guy, Steve Reischl, Kevin Schaffer, Gary Miller, Ken McAlpin, Barry Wilson, Don Connel, Nic Dunbar, Matt Nunnally, Gary Evans, and Sean Samuel. Recently, the group became a quintet. The current lineup is Jordan House, Zac George, Zack Wilson, Robin Brannon, and Allen Brantley.

Acappella is far and away the most popular musical group to have come out of the Churches of Christ in the U.S. The song "Acappella" from 1986's Conquerors was the first to achieve widespread popularity within the church of Christ (it could almost be called a 'hit') and the 1988 album Sweet Fellowship has become their all-time best seller. AVB's breakout Song in My Soul was released almost concurrently, and the number of like-minded a cappella vocal groups within the church of Christ grew almost exponentially after these two albums. Acappella experienced their first mainstream success outside the church of Christ with 1993's Set Me Free. This album also had a song licensed for use in a Sony Camcorder Super Bowl commercial (with the refrain "They are more precious than gold").

The line-up changed for the second time in the group's history after this album. Since that time, membership in the group has changed almost on a yearly basis; in addition, The Acappella Company (the umbrella organization of several acappella groups and musical projects that was formed directly from the successes of Acappella and AVB) has released a variety of Christian acappella music albums that vary in spirit and line-up, with some albums being very similar to the original group and others being very distinct.

[edit] Membership

[edit] Current members

Robin Brannon - Baritone
Allen Brantley - Bass
Zac George - Vocal Percussion
Jordan House - 2nd Tenor
Zach Wilson - 1st Tenor

[edit] Group formations

Current - Robin Brannon(baritone), Allen Brantley(bass), Zac George (vocal percussion), Jordan House (2nd tenor), Zach Wilson (1st tenor)

* - Robin Brannon(baritone), Gary Evans(bass), Zac George (vocal percussion), Jordan House (2nd tenor), Zack Wilson (1st tenor)

* - Nic Dunbar(baritone), Gary Evans(bass), Matt Sammons (1st tenor), Sean Samuel (2nd tenor)

* - Nic Dunbar(baritone), Gary Evans(bass), Matt Nunnally (1st tenor), Sean Samuel (2nd tenor)

* - Don Connel (1st tenor), Gary Evans(bass), Steve Maxwell(baritone), Barry Wilson (2nd tenor)

* - Steve Maxwell(baritone), Ken McAlpin(bass), Kevin Schaffer (1st tenor), Barry Wilson (2nd tenor)

* - Ken McAlpin(bass), Gary Moyers(baritone), Kevin Schaffer (1st tenor), Barry Wilson (2nd tenor)

* - Ken McAlpin (2nd tenor), Gary Miller(bass), Gary Moyers(baritone), Kevin Schaffer (1st enor)

* - Gary Miller(bass), Gary Moyers(baritone), Steve Reischl (2nd tenor), Kevin Schaffer (1st tenor)

* - Duane Adams(bass), Gary Moyers(baritone), Steve Reischl (2nd tenor), Kevin Schaffer (1st tenor)

* - Duane Adams(baritone), Robert C. Guy(bass), Steve Reischl (2nd tenor), Kevin Schaffer (1st tenor)

* - Duane Adams (1st tenor), Robert C. Guy(baritone), Steve Reischl (2nd tenor), Tim Storms(bass)

* - Duane Adams(baritone), Robert C. Guy(bass), Gary Moyers (1st tenor), Steve Reischl (2nd tenor)

* - Duane Adams(baritone), Robert C. Guy(bass), Gary Moyers (1st tenor), George Pendergrass (2nd tenor)

* - Duane Adams(bass), Wayburn Dean(baritone), Gary Moyers (1st tenor), George Pendergrass (2nd tenor)

* - Rodney Britt(bass), Wayburn Dean(baritone), Gary Moyers (1st tenor), George Pendergrass (2nd tenor)

* - Rodney Britt(bass), Keith Lancaster

[edit] Previous members

Duane Adams - Duane is widely held to be the most versatile singer that has sung with Acappella. He joined the group as the bass and recorded on Growing Up In The Lord, He Leadeth Me, Rescue, We Have Seen His Glory, and Set Me Free. After Set Me Free was released, baritone Wayburn Dean left the group and Duane took his part. As the baritone, Duane's vocals can be heard on Acappella En Espanol, Hymns For All The World, Beyond A Doubt, and Act of God. "Dewey" currently serves as worship minister @ Amarillo South Church in Amarillo, Texas.
Rodney Britt - Rodney currently serves as involvement minister @ Northwest Church of Christ in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He is also currently is singing bass for The Sounds of Glory.
Don Connel - Don replaced Kevin Schaffer as the 1st tenor in Acappella. He left the group before they recorded another album, but you can hear him sing tenor for Cornerstone.
Wayburn Dean - Offical Website.
Nic Dunbar - evangelism minister @ Airport Freeway Church of Christ in Euless, Texas.
Gary Evans - Lubbock, TX
Robert C. Guy - Robert appeared on Acappella En Espanol, Hymns For All The World, Beyond A Doubt and Act of God.
Keith Lancaster - Keith continues as producer for Acappella. In addition, he conducts Worship Seminars and Praise and Harmony workshops events full-time. Keith Lancaster's Blog He served as worship minister @ Madison Church of Christ in Madison, Tennessee for eights years until 2007.
Jeff Martin - Jeff serves as Minister of Magnification @ Church of Christ in Portland, Oregon.
Steve Maxwell - Steve currently serves as worship minister/associate minister at [1] Park Row Church of Christ in Arlington, Texas.
Ken McAlpin - Ken currently serves as worship minister @ Campbell Church of Christ in Campbell, California.
Gary Miller - Gary is currently singing bass for Vocal Union. He also runs his own music production company, Gary Miller Ministries.
Gary Moyers - "Mo" is currently serving as worship minister @ Golf Course Road Church of Christ in Midland, Texas.
Matt Nunnally - Matt sang 1st tenor on Heaven And Earth. He currently sings tenor for First Day.
George Pendergrass - Milton Hershey Foundation in Hershey, Pennsylvania
Greg Pittman
Steve Reischl - Steve sang lead on Beyond A Doubt and Act of God. His most popular song was "If There Were No God." After leaving Acappella, he spent time performing with the Contemporary Christian band, New Song. He is currently pursuing a solo career.
Matt Sammons
Sean Samuel - Disney in Orlando, Florida
Kevin Schaffer - Kevin is the 1st tenor on the Act of God, All That I Need, Hymns For All The Ages, and Live From Paris albums. His most famous lead was "Walking That Line." - teaches in Clovis, New Mexico.
Bill Spencer
Tim Storms
Tim Tripp - family minister @ Northeast Church of Christ in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Barry Wilson - Milton Hershey Foundation in Hershey, Pennsylvania
Gary Yeager

[edit] Discography

The labels are taken from each of the albums' original releases; many of these albums have been re-released under new distributors. Lyrics to each of these albums along with scripture references and other relevant information can be found at Acadisc.com.

Perfect Peace (1984, Clifty Records)
Travelin' Shoes (1985, Clifty Records)
Conquerors (1986, Clifty Records)
Better Than Life (1987, Clifty Records)
While the Ages Roll On (1987, Clifty Records)
Sweet Fellowship (1988, Clifty Records)
Growing Up In The Lord (1989, Clifty Records)
A Savior is Born! (1989, Clifty Records, with AVB)
He Leadeth Me (1990, Acappella Music Group)
Rescue (1990, Word)
We Have Seen His Glory (1991, Word)
Set Me Free (1993, Word)
Acappella En Espanol (1994, Word)
Gold (1994, Word)
Platinum (1994, Word)
Hymns For All The World (1994, Word)
Beyond A Doubt (1995, Word)
Act of God (1997, Word)
The Collection (1998, Diamante)
All That I Need (1999, Diamante)
Hymns For All The Ages (2001, The Acappella Company)
Live From Paris (2002, The Acappella Company)
Heaven And Earth (2004, The Acappella Company)
Radiance (2006, The Acappella Company)

Before the group was named Acappella, it was briefly named "His Image"; the records released under that name are:

Till He Comes (1982, Clifty Records)
Heaven's Gonna Shine (1983, Clifty Records)
Made In His Image (1984, Clifty Records)

[edit] External links