When Glen Payne and George Younce of the Cathedrals decided in 1999 to retire, they decided to do one last tour to not only say goodbye to the fans and give them a chance to see them again, but also to give the other three members in the group time to plan what they would do after their retirement. Roger Bennett and Scott Fowler decided to form a group.
Founded in 1999, shortly after the Cathedrals' long career ended, Roger Bennett, who considered Glen Payne his mentor, was interested in continuing to tour with a gospel group, and former Cathedrals baritone Scott Fowler shared that interest. Bennett played piano and occasionally sang, and Fowler changed position from baritone singer back to lead singer (as he had been prior joining the Cathedrals), while newcomers Josh Cobb, Scott Howard and Glenn Dustin filled out the rest of the group, singing tenor, baritone and bass, respectively.
The group immediately became a popular southern gospel act, and they traded heavily on the memories Bennett and Fowler shared of touring with gospel legends Glen Payne and George Younce.
The group was quite traditional in approach and particularly enjoyed performing classic southern gospel songs. To date they have released three "table projects" labeled their Heritage Series that are a collection of gospel standards.
The group has experienced little turnover in membership, except for the tenor position. Fowler, Howard and Dustin are still touring today. Tenor Josh Cobb left in 2000; he was replaced by Tony Jarman, who stayed with the group until 2004. Frank Seamans has been with the group since 2004.
In 2002, Bennett was again diagnosed with leukemia and spent some time off the road while the rest of the group continued touring. He was diagnosed several years ago. He was in remission several times, and in 2005 was diagnosed with lymphoma. He had three bone marrow transplants since he was diagnosed. Roger Bennett continued to record with the group when he could and appeared at some of their concerts when his health allowed.
Tim Parton, a pianist who produced the group's recent albums, officially joined the group in October 2006, originally to substitute for Bennett. Following Bennett's death on March 17, 2007, from complications related to leukemia, Fowler responded affirmatively when Danny Jones, the editor of Singing News, asked if the group would search for another pianist. [1] Eight days later, Parton's "interim" tag was removed, as the group officially named him the regular pianist.
They have performed with the Gaither Homecoming Friends as well as being a regular feature at the National Quartet Convention.
They have been nominated for 40 Singing News Fan Awards. At the 2004 Fan Awards, the group won in the categories of Traditional Quartet, Baritone, Bass and Pianist.
One of their best-known songs, "Heroes of the Faith", was composed by Roger Bennett, in honor of Glen Payne.
The group is currently at work on another album entitled Know So Salvation due out in summer 2007.
Discography
* Strong in the Strength (1999)
* Songs We Used to Sing (2000)
* Heroes of the Faith (2001)
* Heritage Vol. I (2001)
* Heritage Vol. II (2002)
* London (2003)
* Live At The Palace with Greater Vision(2003)
* Heritage Vol. III (2004)
* Monuments (2004)
* A Little Taste of Heaven (2005)
* A Capella (2006)
* Live in Music City (2006)
* Friday Night Favorites (2007)
* Know So Salvation (due out 2007)
Forgive
Legacy Five Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I hang my head in shame
Yet for the cleansing that I need
That precious blood I claim
(All)
The stripes by which my Savior bled
Bring healing, this I know
Wash mine as white as snow,
Wash mine as white as snow
(Roger Bennett)
The harvest of the sin I′ve sown
He reaped at Calvary
Then sowed a field of His own
And willed it all to me
(All)
The stripes by which my Savior bled
Bring healing, this I know
The blood that stained His garments red
Wash mine as white as snow,
Wash mine as white as snow
(Josh Cobb)
The sun could sooner cease to shine
Keep to itself it's rays
Than can this thankful heart of mine
From bursting forth in praise
(All)
The stripes by which my Savior bled
Bring healing, this I know
The blood that stained His garments red
Wash mine as white as snow,
Wash mine as white as snow
The song "Forgive" by Legacy Five is a powerful portrayal of the Christian faith's central doctrine of salvation through Christ's sacrifice on the cross. The first stanza speaks to the singer's awareness of their sins and the shame that comes with them. However, the chorus provides hope, declaring that the stripes that Jesus bore for us on the cross have the power to heal us and make us pure again. The second stanza draws on the metaphor of reaping and sowing. The singer acknowledges that they have sown seeds of sin, but Jesus took the punishment for those sins upon himself and then gave his sacrifice to us, like a field willed to its new owner. Finally, the last stanza is the singer's acknowledgement of the amazing grace they have received, and their commitment to praising God for it.
The song is simple yet profound, inviting the listener to contemplate their own sins and the cost of their redemption. It emphasizes the importance of recognizing our faults, seeking forgiveness, and acknowledging the sacrifice Jesus made on our behalf. The chorus rings with the assurance that our sins can be washed clean and that we can be made new by the blood of the Lamb.
Line by Line Meaning
For sin that made my Savior bleed
I am ashamed of the sins that caused my Savior to suffer and bleed.
I hang my head in shame
I am remorseful for what I have done and humbly seek forgiveness.
Yet for the cleansing that I need
Despite my shame, I acknowledge my need for forgiveness and redemption.
That precious blood I claim
I place my faith in the redeeming power of Jesus' blood shed on the cross.
The stripes by which my Savior bled
I know that the wounds and suffering my Savior endured bring healing and hope to all who believe.
Bring healing, this I know
I trust that through Christ's sacrifice and love, healing and wholeness are possible.
The blood that stained His garments red
The blood that Jesus shed on the cross is a powerful symbol of his love and sacrifice for all humanity.
Wash mine as white as snow,
I ask that Jesus' blood cleanse me of my sins and make me pure and blameless before God.
The harvest of the sin I′ve sown
I acknowledge the consequences and pain caused by the sinful choices I have made.
He reaped at Calvary
Jesus took on the burden of my sins at the cross, suffering and dying to only rise again.
Then sowed a field of His own
Out of his love and mercy, Jesus established a way for me to be forgiven and reconciled to God.
And willed it all to me
Through his death and resurrection, Jesus has given me the gift of salvation and eternal life.
The sun could sooner cease to shine
It is impossible for me to restrain my gratitude and worship towards Jesus.
Keep to itself it's rays
Likewise, the gratitude and praise for my redemption cannot be hidden or contained.
Than can this thankful heart of mine
My heart overflows with gratitude and thankfulness to Jesus for his sacrifice and love.
From bursting forth in praise
My spirit rejoices and praises God for his mercy and forgiveness.
Writer(s): Milton Ager, Jack Yellen
Contributed by Ellie A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.