Greg X. Volz | |
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Background information | |
Birth name | Gregory Xavier Volz |
Born | January 12, 1950 |
Origin | Peoria, Illinois, U.S. |
Genres | Christian rock, contemporary Christian music |
Occupation | singer |
Instrument | vocals |
Years active | 1964–present |
Website | www |
Gregory Xavier Volz (born January 12, 1950) is a Christian rock singer. He is most noted for being the lead singer of Petra from 1979 to 1985. He has continued to sing, sporadically, for different iterations of Petra such as Classic Petra (2010-2012) [1] and Classic Petra Resurrection (CPR; 2016 to the present). [2]
A self-taught musician by age 13, Volz joined a band with his cousins called The Wombats in 1964. They were formed while all the members were high schoolers in Metamora, Illinois. Volz would remain with the Wombats until the band dissolved in 1968. [3] In fall 1968, he formed a band called Gidian's Bible in Indianapolis. (The name was purposefully misspelled to avoid potential lawsuits.) [4] At some point during this pre-Christian music period, he would share stages with Janis Joplin and Chicago among others. [5] In 1970 he became a born-again Christian. Gidian’s Bible fell apart and together with drummer David Eden, Volz formed a new Jesus music band called e Band. [6] The only studio recordings from e can be found on the rock musical two-disc LP Because I Am released in 1973. After they broke up in 1975 Volz moved to Springfield, Missouri, where he worked with guitarist Phil Keaggy. He also performed the lead role in a rock stage musical called Ezekiel. [5] Volz was offered the lead singer position of REO Speedwagon in 1976 but declined due to his Christian faith. [6] [7] Six weeks later he was asked to participate in Petra's second album, Come and Join Us . Although Volz guest sang on only three tunes, Petra's founder/guitarist Bob Hartman was impressed enough to ask Volz to take over the lead vocalist slot. (At that time, Hartman and co-founder/guitarist Greg Hough had been sharing the duties.) [5]
His first full-time album with the band, Washes Whiter Than , came in 1979. Never Say Die (1981), More Power to Ya (1982), and Not of this World (1983) followed. Petra then changed sound slightly with new keyboard player John Lawry on 1984's Beat the System and reached the pinnacle of the Volz era. They played 285 dates to 500,000 people overall on the subsequent tour and resulted in a live album, Captured in Time and Space . At the beginning of 1985 Volz was beginning to feel the strain of the heavy performing schedule over the previous four years and his family life was suffering. Volz gave nine-months notice to his band mates that he would be leaving the band at the conclusion of the tour.[ citation needed ]
Volz took a year off to regroup, spend time with his family and write the material that would surface on his first solo album, The River is Rising, released in 1986 on Myrrh Records. He followed it with three other moderately successful albums. During this time, he toured with Joe English in a band called Pieces of Eight.
Volz retired for some time in the mid-'90s. During this time he dealt with the divorce from his long-time wife, Becky. He resurfaced in 1998 with a string of new albums released from that year on. On October 4, 2005, he re-joined Petra for the live recording of their last project, 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. [5]
In May 2010, a reunited version of Petra was formed with its 1984-85 lineup, under the name of Classic Petra. They released an album called Back to the Rock featuring new material and re-recordings of hits from that era. [8]
Volz, along with veteran Petra members, Louie Weaver (drums) and John Lawry (keyboards) formed Classic Petra Resurrection (CPR) in 2016 with former Petra bass player Ronny Cates and former Pieces of Eight guitarist, Kirk Henderson. Back to the Rock II was released in 2017 and similar to its predecessor, features nine re-recorded Petra classics (plus a cover of Aerosmith's "Dream On"). [9] Former Petra bass player Greg Bailey replaced Cates for the live concerts. [2]
John Elefante is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and record producer. From 1981-1984, he was lead vocalist of the rock group Kansas and is currently touring with several groups that have featured members from classic rock bands. His credits include writing and singing lead vocals on three multi-platinum albums. He produced albums that have earned numerous GMA Dove Awards, four Grammy Awards, and ten Grammy nominations. He has maintained a close working relationship with his brother, Dino, co-writer of several Kansas songs.
Joe English is an American musician, vocalist and songwriter who, during the 1970s, played drums in Paul McCartney's band Wings and in the rock band Sea Level, among others.
Petra is an American music group regarded as a pioneer of the Christian rock and contemporary Christian music genres and was, for many years, regarded as the "world's most popular Christian rock band". Formed in 1972, the band took its name from the Greek word for "rock". Though it disbanded formally in 2006, incarnations have played reunion shows in the years since and released two albums in November 2010, and in November 2017. In 2013, it reformed with a new drummer, Cristian Borneo, and recorded a new song titled "Holy is Your Name", before going back on tour.
Robert "Bob" Hartman is a Christian artist, guitarist, writer and songwriter. He is the founder of Christian rock band Petra. Hartman was involved with the band from its foundation in 1972 to its end in 2005. He took a break from touring in 1995, but continued to write most of the band's songs, record guitars and produce most of the albums. He officially returned to touring with Petra in 2003 until he decided to retire the band in late 2005. Hartman also toured with Petra in 2023 for the band's 50th Anniversary Tour.
Douglas Theodore Pinnick, sometimes stylized as dUg Pinnick or simply dUg, is an American musician best known as the bass guitarist, co-lead vocalist, and songwriter for the hard rock and progressive metal band King's X. He has performed on 15 albums with King's X and recorded four solo albums. Pinnick has also participated in numerous side projects and has multiple guest appearances to his credit. He is recognized for his unique vocals, and heavily distorted bass tone. Pinnick often plays bass with a guitar pick, though he has also been seen using his fingers.
Louie Adrian Weaver III is a drummer most famous for being a long-time member of Christian rock band Petra. Weaver is also a member of the church of the Nazarene. He was dismissed from the band in 2003; he is currently working on several projects. In 2010, Weaver reunited with former members of Petra to form Classic Petra.
John Lawry is a Christian rock musician, composer, producer, and songwriter. He was the keyboardist of Petra from 1984 to 1994. After his departure, Lawry dedicated himself to producing and record engineering. From 2010 to 2012, he rejoined some of his former Petra bandmates to record and tour under the name of Classic Petra. In 2013, he officially rejoined Petra as their keyboardist.
Jonathan David Brown was an American record producer and audio engineer known for his work on albums released in the Contemporary Christian music industry. Brown served federal prison time as an accessory after the fact for helping a member of the Tennessee White Knights of the Ku Klux Klan evade authorities.
Farewell is the second live album released by Christian rock band Petra. It was released in 2005. A DVD of the concert was released in 2006.
Petra is the first studio album by the Christian rock band of the same name. It was released in 1974.
More Power to Ya is the fifth studio album of the Christian rock band, Petra. It was released in 1982. This was the first album to feature Louie Weaver as the official drummer. It also features the vocals of bassist Mark Kelly in the song "Disciple". The album climbed to number 3 on the Billboard Top Inspirational Albums chart.
Captured in Time and Space is the first live album of Christian rock band Petra. The concert was re-released on DVD in 2006.
Come and Join Us is the second studio album of the Christian rock band Petra. It was released in 1977.
Washes Whiter Than is the third studio album by the Christian rock band Petra. It was released in 1979 amidst major line-up changes that saw all but one of the founding band members leave.
Beat the System is the seventh studio album of the Christian rock band Petra. It was released in late 1984.
Wake-Up Call is the fourteenth studio album of the Christian rock band, Petra. It was released on November 9, 1993. The album was one of the most successful for the band garnering them both a Grammy Award and a Dove Award.
Double Take is the Grammy Award winning, eighteenth studio album of the Christian rock band Petra. It was released on February 29, 2000.
Petra Praise: The Rock Cries Out is the eleventh studio album of the Christian rock band, Petra and their first praise album. It was released on October 3, 1989 by DaySpring Records, marking the band's return to the Word family as the early version of Petra was signed to sister label Myrrh.
This article details the discography of Petra. Petra is a music group formed in 1972, and regarded as a pioneer of the Christian rock and contemporary Christian music genres. Though they disbanded formally in 2005, incarnations of Petra have played reunion shows in the years since and released an album in fall 2010. The band released 24 albums during their 33 years of career starting with their first release in 1974 and finishing with their last album in 2005.
John William Schlitt is an American singer, who was the lead singer of the Christian rock band Petra from 1986 until the band's retirement in early 2006. Prior to joining Petra in 1986, Schlitt was the lead vocalist for Head East until retiring from the band in 1980.