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Award-winning Ernie Haase & Signature Sound will perform in Nampa

BY STEPHANIE EDDY - seddy@idahostatesman.com

Published: 01/03/09

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Provided by Ernie Haase

Founder and leader of Ernie Haase & Signature Sound, Ernie Haase was a long-time member of the Cathedral Quartet before starting his latest project. Ernie Haase & Signature Sound members are, left to right, Doug Anderson (baritone), Ryan Seaton (lead), Ernie Haase (tenor) and Tim Duncan (bass).

ELSEWHERE

Ernie Haase and Signature Sound

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

GO SEE IT

WHAT

The Dream On live tour with Ernie Haase & Signature Sound

WHEN

7 p.m. Jan 8

WHERE

Nampa First Church of the Nazarene, 601 16th Avenue South.

TICKETS

$25, available at the church's main office, at www.itickets.com, or at (800)965-9324.

MORE INFO

466-3549

Message of 'Dream On' centers on Christ, love and giving

In a recent interview, Ernie Haase discusses music and meaning:

Q: How would you describe your music?

A: High energy, very entertaining to the mind, body and spirit.

Q: How has your faith background contributed and/or shaped your career?

A: I love to help people. So, we pick songs and write songs and try to shape our art in a manner that uplifts those who listen.

Q: What inspires the songs you write?

A: Just living life and seeing the "sacred" in what others call "secular" inspires me to no end.

Q: What was it like when the group's first DVD "Self Titled" reached the top of Billboard Magazine's music video chart and also topped the Christian Contemporary Music video chart?

A: I was very grateful and very pleased. No one starts a business hoping it fails. I started this group with big dreams, and when I saw the acceptance by the marketplace I knew we were being blessed by God for living out our God-given dreams.

Q: What was the inspiration behind the album "Get Away Jordan"?

A: The inspiration for that project was to bring Southern Gospel to the mainstream Gospel market. When people hear "Southern Gospel" they may think bluegrass or old people's church music. We wanted to blow the doors off that thinking with that project. I think we succeeded. We were even nominated for a Dove for group of the year along with the other big names in the CCM (Christian Contemporary Music) world.

Q: What was the inspiration behind your latest DVD "Dream on"?

A: We wanted to present this project in a more mature fashion - Big City Style. So, we went to Chicago and filmed the DVD at Navy Pier. It really looks and feels like the past meets the present at many levels. The entire message is centered on Christ and our relationship to Him. How we need to start dreaming the dreams He has placed in our spirits and rise to new levels of love, life and giving of ourselves.

Named Gospel Group of the Year at the 2008 Dove Awards, Ernie Haase & Signature Sound begins its 2009 tour season in Idaho on Jan. 8 at Nampa First Church of the Nazarene.

The group's latest album, "Dream on" entered the Billboard video charts at No. 3, behind Elton John and AC/DC, and ahead of the Beatles re-release of "All Together Now."

"They are the premiere gospel group in the industry today. They are off the charts," said Bill Downs, church administrator at Nampa First Church of the Nazarene.

The group previously performed at the church in 2005, at a time when their first DVD, "Self-Titled," soared to the top of Billboard Magazine's music video chart, while simultaneously topping the Christian Contemporary Music video chart. That same DVD achieved gold sales status from the Recording Industry Association of America, according to Gaither.com.

"I grew up in church singing the songs of faith, but my first public performance was singing a song about a rat (Ben) by Michael Jackson at a second grade talent show," Haase said. "My favorite song to sing as a kid would have been anything Elvis Presley - I was and still am a big fan of the big E."

Musically gifted, Haase also had a talent for sports, which played a significant part in his life before music took the lead.

"I had a scholarship to pitch baseball. I used to sing the National Anthem and then run down to the field and play. Music and sports are still a passion," Haase said.

Haase also writes songs when he isn't singing, performing or tossing a baseball around. He is working on a Christmas album for release in fall 2009.

"Life is a song. So many times throughout the day I find myself singing a song that helps me through a situation or reflects the circumstance I am in," Haase said. "If I can't find a song that fits those things, I write one."

Stephanie Eddy: 377-6481

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