Greg X. Volz
Gregory Xavier Volz (born January 12, 1950 in Peoria, Illinois) is a Christ… Read Full Bio ↴Gregory Xavier Volz (born January 12, 1950 in Peoria, Illinois) is a Christian singer. He is most remembered for being the lead singer of legendary Christian rock band Petra from 1979 to 1985.
Volz showed great skills in singing from a very early age. Being a self-taught musician, when he was 13 years old, he started his own band called The Wombats. As he grew up, he went on to share the stage with the likes of Janis Joplin, Chicago and others. In 1970 he became a born-again Christian and started performing with several Christian bands. He formed a band called Gideon's Bible, and later toured with a group known simply as the e Band, which was a part of the Jesus Movement. They released an album titled Because I Am in 1973 but broke up shortly after. Volz then moved to Springfield, Missouri, where he worked with legendary guitarist Phil Keaggy. He also performed the lead role in a rock stage musical called Ezekiel.
In 1976, Volz received two of the most important calls of his life. First, he was offered the lead singer position of REO Speedwagon. Volz, being a recently converted Christian, declined. Six weeks later, he got the call to participate in Petra's second album, Come and Join Us. Although at that time he participated as a guest singer in just three songs, founder/guitarist Bob Hartman (who, at that time, was sharing the lead-singing duties with co-founder/guitarist Greg Hough) offered Volz the full-time position.
His first full-time album with the band, Washes Whiter Than, came in 1979 and therein came one of the most prolific periods of the legendary band. Volz remained the lead singer until 1985 when he left to pursue a solo career. Volz released his first solo effort, titled The River is Rising in 1986 under Myrrh Records. He followed it with three other moderately successful albums. During this time, he also toured with Joe English in a band called Pieces of Eight. Volz' tours drew in the 1,000 to 1,500 range during this time - a very respectable number for a Contemporary Christian artist, but no where near the level he experienced at the end of his tenure with Petra.
In the mid-90's, Volz decided to retire for some time. Apparently, during this time he was dealing with the divorce from his long-time wife, Becky. He resurfaced in 1998 with a string of new albums released from that year on.
In October 4, 2005 he re-joined Petra for the live recording of their last DVD, Petra Farewell. He joined the stage with current singer John Schlitt for a medley of ballads, and he followed it with a solo rendition of "Grave Robber", which was one of his hits with the band.
During his career, Volz has also lent his voice to numerous projects in the Christian music scene.
Volz showed great skills in singing from a very early age. Being a self-taught musician, when he was 13 years old, he started his own band called The Wombats. As he grew up, he went on to share the stage with the likes of Janis Joplin, Chicago and others. In 1970 he became a born-again Christian and started performing with several Christian bands. He formed a band called Gideon's Bible, and later toured with a group known simply as the e Band, which was a part of the Jesus Movement. They released an album titled Because I Am in 1973 but broke up shortly after. Volz then moved to Springfield, Missouri, where he worked with legendary guitarist Phil Keaggy. He also performed the lead role in a rock stage musical called Ezekiel.
In 1976, Volz received two of the most important calls of his life. First, he was offered the lead singer position of REO Speedwagon. Volz, being a recently converted Christian, declined. Six weeks later, he got the call to participate in Petra's second album, Come and Join Us. Although at that time he participated as a guest singer in just three songs, founder/guitarist Bob Hartman (who, at that time, was sharing the lead-singing duties with co-founder/guitarist Greg Hough) offered Volz the full-time position.
His first full-time album with the band, Washes Whiter Than, came in 1979 and therein came one of the most prolific periods of the legendary band. Volz remained the lead singer until 1985 when he left to pursue a solo career. Volz released his first solo effort, titled The River is Rising in 1986 under Myrrh Records. He followed it with three other moderately successful albums. During this time, he also toured with Joe English in a band called Pieces of Eight. Volz' tours drew in the 1,000 to 1,500 range during this time - a very respectable number for a Contemporary Christian artist, but no where near the level he experienced at the end of his tenure with Petra.
In the mid-90's, Volz decided to retire for some time. Apparently, during this time he was dealing with the divorce from his long-time wife, Becky. He resurfaced in 1998 with a string of new albums released from that year on.
In October 4, 2005 he re-joined Petra for the live recording of their last DVD, Petra Farewell. He joined the stage with current singer John Schlitt for a medley of ballads, and he followed it with a solo rendition of "Grave Robber", which was one of his hits with the band.
During his career, Volz has also lent his voice to numerous projects in the Christian music scene.
More Genres
No Artists Found
More Artists
Load All
No Albums Found
More Albums
Load All
No Tracks Found
Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Search results not found
Song not found
Greg X. Volz Lyrics
All I Can Do I am surrounded - there's no way out - I…
Back Burner Some people have it: the winning habit, The spark that take…
Barrier Words and music: Mike Schmitz Been watchin' you, listenin…
Brand New Start Some of the things you think about Will make you want…
Break Out Of The Trance Go to work, The foreman treats me like dirt day after…
Come to Me VS1 I see the bruises When you fall on your face I…
Dead Man's Party A party invitation i received in the mail Come as you…
Dream On Every time that I look in the mirror All these lines…
Exercise Your Faith Have you exercised your faith today Or are you strictly goi…
Feelings Feelings come and feelings go But feelings are deceiving I…
Freedom Train There's a locomotion running 'round the Earth, It's headed …
Frontline I've crossed the line of danger, No place of refuge to…
God Only Knows God only knows what it will take Will i get to…
Heaven Is Within You Looking for heaven - there is a fire in your…
Hold On To The Fire You look around - see your pleasant days disappearing Feel …
I Come Out Fighting I come out fighting. Oh, yeah. I hear the bell; it's t…
I Don't Know Why I don't know why, I was just younger then, Seemed like…
I Know You By Heart Yeah. Life's full of things that seem to leave few choice…
In the Course of Time Secrets born in unknown lands, Currents that struggle to ge…
It's Love This is my heart I love you today I love you forever Love…
Joyous Grave They said it would be cold here Said I wouldn't find…
Let The Mountains Fall How does it happen? Why do I leave these worries in…
Love Moves In A Different Circle Know a man who has a wife, Years and years they…
Man Like You Here I sit just like a gloomy little boy Staring down…
Man Overboard I'm sure that you remember him, he used to come…
Marching On He's our deliver, He has come and set his people free. O…
No Greater Love No greater love has any man than this That he lay…
No Room In The Middle No room in the middle, No, no. There's no room in the…
On Bended Knees When I first met the Saviour, I was blind to…
Servants And Witnesses I'll be your servant, I'll be your witness. A-ha. Ser…
Soldier of Light He was a soldier of light and love Took his orders…
Standin' You know i hear what you're saying to me, but…
Still Waters When I'm shaken by my trials and I lose my…
Take Me To The End I'm afraid of got nothing to show for the years, So…
The Carpenter The Lord showed me David, called from the field, From leadi…
The Exodus The lord is my strength and song, And he is become…
The Grave is Empty He's not here The grave is empty He's the man that walks…
The Mirror Where did the mirror go? Don't know where Where did the mi…
The River Is Rising "I hear the rain already" I hear it in my sleep,…
The Rock Words and music: Greg X. Volz Take me to the Rock…
Up To The Mountain Take your past up to the mountain, Take your future up…
Waitin' On Someday All of the hard times that you have are but…
Walk Toward The Light Sometimes all I see is darkness, My tears flow like rivers…
What Then The question I have is: what really is going to…
What Will Remain Hey. We work for our children, to raise them right, Prov…
Will You Take Me Back Took a lot of courage to talk to you today, And…
Word of the Lord Hear it rise, hear it rise Listen closely and you'll hear …