Feature Articles

The Sum Of The Parts - David Griffith

One of the most overlooked, yet most vital members of any group is the Sound Engineer. You never hear him, but without him, you don't hear anything. When he does his job, you don't think about him. Let him mess up, and it reflects on the whole group. It's vital.

Another position that is very important to every group is the Bus Driver. He has to get them there, at the right place, at the right time. He's the guy driving all night while everyone's asleep, resting peacefully, and hoping he doesn't take a wrong turn in Albuquerque.

One talent that both need is the ability to improvise. Whether it's getting the hum out of the microphone or keeping the bus running, they both need a MacGyver quality. You remember MacGyver - the guy on TV that could make an atomic bomb out of a shoelace and the spring out of a ball point pen? That's the guy. Well, the sound engineer, bus driver, and all around "MacGyver" for SSQ is David Griffith.

David is no stranger to the Southern Gospel circuit. He has been on the road for 25 years, singing for 22 of it. Along with fellow Signature Sound members Doug Anderson and Roy Webb, David sang with the group "Lighthouse" for many years. He first met Ernie as Lighthouse shared dates with Ernie, and they became friends. While he's not singing these days, he's as important to the Signature Sound as any vocalist. One of the things that I noticed when I heard SSQ recently was the quality of the blend in the sound. The mix of all the different parts, as well as the blending of the live vocals and instrument with the tracks, was just superb. Finding and maintaining that perfect sound is difficult, but David managed it flawlessly.

When we had the opportunity to sit down and talk a while back, David filled me in on himself, and his background. David is married. His wife Rhonda and two boys, Shawn (11) and Zachary (13), hold down the home fires in Lebanon, Ohio. David loves his times off the road spending time with his family. David loves Golfing and Fishing, but doesn't get a lot of time for that. David said, "The Lord has been so good to us this last year, and the amount of time we've traveled, I haven't done that much, but that's a blessing."

David smiles and almost glows talking about his family. "My family is just absolutely wonderful, and the support they have given through all the years. They're all so supportive. My wife is supportive. The kids are supportive. Just last night I called home to tell them good night and all that, and I was telling Shawn how bad the roads were coming from Columbus down. It was really bad coming through Kentucky last night. He said, 'Dad, I'll pray for you, that you have safe travels.' It touched me so deeply that he would think to pray for me."

David has always loved music. "I loved music all my life," he told me. "The first concert I ever went to was the Kingsmen, the Cathedrals and the LeFevre's back in the 70's in Ohio. I just loved the music. It just filled me up. It put that excitement in me. It was just unbelievable." Being a bass singer most of his life, it's no surprise that his hero growing up was George Younce. He said he also listened to Ray Dean Reese, Rex Nelon, and of course, J.D. As a teenager, David was a big fan of Richard Sterban with the Oak Ridge Boys.

We talked about the current state of Gospel Music, and where he sees it going. "I think, as far as quartet music, and all the music that's out there in Southern Gospel; I think the industry is in good hands. I think the talent is there, and folks and kids here that will continue this for many years to come. It's a new day, a new era. Some things have changed, but things are falling back to the old, learning where the roots are. I think it's important to know the roots and understand them."

David certainly knows and understands his roots in Gospel Music, and he's enjoying the role he's playing in it now. Whether it's getting everybody to the next date, or masterfully blending that perfect "Signature Sound," David is an integral part of making it happen. Next time you're at a concert, be sure to say "Hi" to David, or you can check out the Signature Sound web page at http://www.SignatureSoundQuartet.com