The group formed on December 25, 1970 with Randy Perry and his sisters Debbie and Libbi in Georgia. In the mid-80's, the group signed with former pianist for the Happy Goodman Family, Eddie Crook on his, then new, Morning Star Records label. Also during this time Libbi met and married Tracy Stuffle who would become the group's bass singer.
Eventually Debbie left the group to rear her family and the Perrys were joined by soprano singer Denise Helton. During this time the Perrys experienced enormous growth in their popularity with such songs as "I Remember The Day", "I'll Go On", "The Mountain", "He Knows How", "Get Involved", "This Is Just What Heaven Means To Me" (a remake of a classic Happy Goodman Family song) and "The Rock of Ages".
In the mid-90's, shortly after the release of the very popular "Grace" album, Randy Perry left the road to concentrate more on evangelistic work and Denise Helton would also leave the group to pursue other ventures. Nicole Watts and Barry Scott would come in to fill these spots. Barry Scott soon left the group and was replaced by Mike Bowling, a former member of the New Hinsons. In 1997, the group made a record label transition from their home of a dozen years, MorningStar Records, to Daywind records owned by Dottie Leonard Miller. They also signed an exclusive booking agreement with Harper and Associates. Their debut album on Daywind, "Crossings", included their first two #1 songs on the Singing News charts, "Not Even a Stone" and "By Faith I Can Touch Him Now."
Mike would also leave to join with the The Crabb Family and also pursue his own solo career; and Nicole Watts married and departed the group shortly after Mike's departure. David Hill joined the Perrys and held the lead position for approximately nine months. His only album with the group was, "Absolutely, Positively, Live!", which featured the #1 hit, "Praise God, It's Settled, I'm Saved." Loren Harris, formerly of the Wilburns, took the lead position shortly afterward. After Nicole's departure, this time marked a turning point for the Perrys.
Having always been a quartet consisting of two females and two males, the group was faced with a decision that many had been anticipating for some time. The group decided to not fill the position of Nicole Watts with another soprano but to turn that position over to a male- hence the hiring of baritone Curt Davis.The group has since became a 3 male, one female group and has gained very high status in the southern gospel community. After the departure of group pianist Dennis Horton in 2000, Adam Harman joined the group. Adam departed the group in 2002 to join the Dollywood based quartet, the Kingdom Heirs. It was during this time that the Perrys had their fourth #1 song, "I Rest My Case at the Cross" written by the great master songwriter Kyla Rowland. Justin Ellis, formerly of the Accords, took the pianist position and remained with the group until July of 2004. In August of 2003, Curt Davis resigned his baritone position with the Perrys. After the fill-in from the Perrys' producer Wayne Haun including National Quartet Convention 2003, the Perrys hired Joseph Habedank for the baritone position. Soon after Joseph Habedank joined the group, patriarch of the Perrys, George Perry, passed away in November of 2003. Though this was a time of testing for Libbi and all of the Perrys, they managed to keep on singing for God's kingdom. After the departure of Justin Ellis to perform with the Crabb Family, the Perrys hired Matthew Holt as the group's pianist in September of 2004 at the National Quartet Convention. It was around this time that the Perrys had their fifth and latest #1 song, "I Wish I Could Have Been There." Mr. Holt was hired as pianist approximately one day before the Perrys were awarded their first Singing News Fan Award for Favorite Mixed Quartet of the Year.
Fans and the Southern Gospel Music industry showed the Perrys support for their hard work by honoring them Singing News Fan Awards for the 2004, 2005, and 2006 Mixed Quartet Of The Year. The Perrys also received the Harmony Honors Awards for Favorite Album of the Year, This Is the Day, and for Favorite Song of the Year, I Wish I Could Have Been There written by Wayne Haun and Joel Lindsey. Libbi Perry Stuffle was awarded Singing News Fan Awards for the 2005 Female Vocalist and Alto Singer Of The Year and the 2006 Alto Singer of the Year. The Perrys were also awarded the Singing News Fan Award for Album of the Year in 2006 for their album Remembering the Happy Goodmans.
In August of 2006, the Perrys announced that longtime lead vocalist, Loren Harris, had resigned his position with the group in order to spend more time at home with his family. The decision was made by the Perrys to move Joseph Habedank to the vacant lead position and bring in Nick Trammell (son of legendary baritone Mark Trammell) to fill the baritone position. The first recording, entitled "Look No Further", under the new line-up was released in September 2007 at the National Quartet Convention. In addition to the release of the album, Nick Trammell received the Horizon Individual award by the Singing News Fans for 2007. Several months later in July 2008, Matthew Holt announced his departure from the group to pursue other interests. Bryan Elliott, formerly of the Anchormen and the Palmetto State Quartet, joined the Perrys as pianist in August 2008. His first concert with the group was August 8, 2008.
It was announced February 24 that Nick Trammell was departing as baritone singer. Former sound manager Troy Peach has been hired as Trammell's replacement.
I Wish I Could Have Been There
Perrys Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That's just one of those stories that everybody knows
Oh I know the facts but I'd love to feel
What the blind man felt when his eyes were healed
He went running through the streets to share
I wish I could have been there
When the thousands were fed with just two fish and some bread and see the little boy a packin' up the rest
To see the lame that could leap and hear the dumb that could speak and see the multitudes of people Jesus blessed
I wish I could have seen the stone that went a rollin' away when they looked inside the door to where the grave clothes lay
I didn't see but I believe that he ascended in the air
And I really wish I could have been there
When He commanded Lazarus to walk right out of His grave
And in a Galilean storm He started calming the waves
I wanna feel that breeze blowing on my face
I wanna know the smell I wanna taste the taste
Just reading 'bout it couldn't compare
In "I Wish I Could Have Been There," Perry sings about his desire to have seen some of the miracles performed by Jesus during his lifetime on earth. The first verse mentions a woman who was healed by touching the hem of Jesus' clothes, a story that is well-known. Perry acknowledges that he knows the facts of these stories but wishes he could experience the emotions and sensations that the people involved in the miracles felt. He wishes to feel what the blind man felt when he was healed and went running through the streets to share his excitement.
The song goes on to mention other miracles, such as the feeding of thousands with just two fish and some bread, the healing of the lame and dumb, and the rolling away of the stone from Jesus' tomb. Perry also wishes he could have been there when Jesus commanded Lazarus to walk out of his grave and when he calmed a Galilean storm. Perry's desire to experience these events is so strong that just reading about them cannot compare to the full experience of witnessing them in person.
The lyrics of "I Wish I Could Have Been There" express Perry's deep faith and longing to witness the miraculous events recounted in the Bible. By singing about his desire to have seen these events firsthand, Perry is expressing a common sentiment among Christians - the yearning to feel closer to Jesus and to learn more about his life and teachings.
Line by Line Meaning
Well a woman was healed when she touched the hem of his clothes
A woman was healed when she touched Jesus' clothes.
That's just one of those stories that everybody knows
This story is well-known to everyone.
Oh I know the facts but I'd love to feel
I know the story, but I wish I could have experienced it for myself.
What the blind man felt when his eyes were healed
I wish I could have felt what the blind man felt when he regained his sight.
He went running through the streets to share
The blind man ran through the streets to share the news of his healing.
I wish I could have been there
I wish I could have witnessed these events firsthand.
When the thousands were fed with just two fish and some bread and see the little boy a packin' up the rest
I wish I could have seen the miracle of feeding the thousands and watched as the little boy gathered up the leftovers.
To see the lame that could leap and hear the dumb that could speak and see the multitudes of people Jesus blessed
I wish I could have witnessed the healing of the lame and the mute, and seen the many people that Jesus blessed.
I wish I could have seen the stone that went a rollin' away when they looked inside the door to where the grave clothes lay
I wish I could have seen the stone rolled away from the tomb where Jesus was buried.
I didn't see but I believe that he ascended in the air
I didn't witness Jesus' ascension into heaven, but I believe it happened.
And I really wish I could have been there
I truly wish I could have been there to witness all of these incredible events.
When He commanded Lazarus to walk right out of His grave
I wish I could have seen Jesus command Lazarus to rise from the dead and walk out of his grave.
And in a Galilean storm He started calming the waves
I wish I could have experienced the calming of the storm by Jesus on the Sea of Galilee.
I wanna feel that breeze blowing on my face
I want to feel the wind on my face like the people who were with Jesus during the storm.
I wanna know the smell I wanna taste the taste
I wish I could have experienced the sensory details of being present during these miraculous events.
Just reading 'bout it couldn't compare
Simply reading about these incredible events could never compare to witnessing them firsthand.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JOEL LINDSEY, WAYNE HAUN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jimlewis2868
I miss you Tracy....such a southern gospel music sound!
@kevinkercheval5099
How can I like this maybe 4 or 5 times?
@victormugishar.5812
This was probably my first time to see Matthew Holt playing the Piano! He was amazing in this song and who could have ever thought that he would now travel with the vocal band 24/7! Matthew Holt; an amazing guy!
@patriciawickholm3617
I really enjoy Matthew as well!!!
@KellyNealKeene
If this doesn't move you, nothing will. I've watched as many videos of them doing this song as I can find.
@raquelmyles4227
I can't .get.. enough of this song ,,,What great vocals,,,,That chorus wow Love it
@brandontiek
Such a great lineup. Still love the slick way Joseph taps Nick’s arm on the tag to switch last notes. 😉
@tonypartigianoni1888
Members of the Perrys in this video included: Tracy Stuffle, Libbie-Perry Stuffle, Jospeph Habedank and Nick Trammell ... this was from the glory years of the Perrys group. It's clear they had the support and admiriation of this Gaither audience.
@patriciawickholm3617
Joseph has certainly changed over the years!!! Great singer!!!
@NineWhileNine
RIP Tracy Stuffle ❤️