- Roger Bennett (Southern Gospel performer)
Infobox musical artist
Name = Roger Bennett
Img_capt =
Img_size = 150
Background = solo_singer
Born = birth date|1959|3|10|mf=yStrawberry ,Arkansas ,United States
Died = death date and age|2007|3|17|1959|3|10|mf=yHouston ,Texas ,United States
Occupation = pianist, vocalist, songwriter
Nationality =American
Genre =Southern Gospel
Instrument =Singing ,Piano
Years_active = 1979-2007
Label =Journey Records
URL = [http://www.legacy5.com/ Official website of Legacy 5]Roger Bennett (
March 10 ,1959 -March 17 2007 ) was aSouthern Gospel pianist, singer, songwriter, and co-founder of the award winningGospel Quartet Legacy Five [Cite web|url=http://legacyfive.com/biography.html|title=Legacy Five Biography|accessdate=2008-02-21] . Prior to formingLegacy Five , he served nearly 20 years as pianist forThe Cathedrals . [Cite web|url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cathedral_Quartet|title=The Cathedrals Wikipedia Page|work=Wikipedia|accessdate=2008-02-21]Early life
Born March 10, 1959, Roger grew up in
Strawberry, Arkansas . He was raised in aMissionary Baptist home. In November 1979, Roger fulfilled his life-long dream of being a part of professionalSouthern Gospel music when he was invited by Glen Payne and George Younce to join the legendaryCathedral Quartet [Cite web|url=http://www.cathedralstribute.com/history.html|title=Cathedrals History Page|work=Daniel J. Mount|accessdate=2008-02-21] . Though he would leave the group for two years (1987-1989) to serve as the president ofJourney Records , Roger was the group's pianist at the time of the quartet's retirement in 1999. [Cite web|url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cathedral_Quartet|title=The Cathedrals Wikipedia Page|work=Wikipedia|accessdate=2008-02-21]Further career
Following the retirement of the
Cathedrals , Roger and fellow Cathedrals member Scott Fowler launchedLegacy Five . In 2004, Roger fulfilled another dream (having his own successful quartet) when readers ofSinging News votedLegacy Five as the Favorite Traditional Male Quartet. [Cite web|url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singing_News_Fan_Awards_for_Favorite_Group#Favorite_Traditional_Male_Quartet_2|title=Singing News Fan Awards for Favorite Traditional Male Quartet|work=Wikipedia|accessdate=2008-02-21]Although an excellent singer, Roger is best remembered as pianist--and often a comedian--for the
Cathedrals andLegacy Five . Roger received theSinging News Fan Award for FavoriteSouthern Gospel Pianist 14 years in row (1993-2006). [Cite web|url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singing_News_Fan_Awards_for_Favorite_Musician|title=Singing News Fan Awards for Favorite Musician|work=Wikipedia|accessdate=2008-02-21]Songwriting was another forte' of Roger Bennett. Many of his songs appeared on the recordings of the
Cathedrals ,Legacy Five and many others. His writing talent was not limited to just songs, however. Roger was a contributing editor to Singing News, writing "Midnight Meditations." [Cite web|url=http://rogerbennett.typepad.com|title=Roger Bennett's Midnight Meditations|work=Roger and Debbie Bennett|accessdate=2008-02-21]Death & Illness
In 1995, Bennett was diagnosed with
leukemia . He spent some time off the road while the rest of the group continued touring. His leukemia battle would be a struggle off and on over the next twelve years. During his various periods of remission, and as often as his health permitted when the cancer relapsed, he continued to travel with the Cathedrals and Legacy Five. He received three bone-marrow transplants at theM. D. Anderson Cancer Center inHouston, Texas as well as extensive chemotherapy and radiation treatments. However, his leukemia continued to progress, and the cancer treatments led to different health problems, including different kinds of cancer and many infections. He died onMarch 17 2007 . [Cite web|url=http://sogospelnews.com/index/news/comments/6957/|title=Roger Bennett Passes Away|work=SoGospelNews|accessdate=2008-02-21]He was voted "Favorite Pianist" by Southern Gospel fans 15 years in a row, and was voted into the
Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2007. [Cite web|url=http://www.sgma.org/inductee_bios/roger_bennett.htm|title=Roger Bennett Inducted Into SGMA Hall Of Fame|work=SGMA|accessdate=2008-02-21]Links
* [http://www.legacyfive.com Legacy Five's Homepage]
ee also
*
Legacy Five
*The Cathedrals References
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