Danny Koker passes away
Danny Koker, the original Cathedrals Quartet baritone, has passed away after a long bout with cancer. He lived in Las Vegas.
He sang with Glen Payne and Bobby Clark in the Weatherfords. In 1963, after Earl and Lily Weatherford left the Cathedral of Tomorrow in Akron, Ohio, Koker, Payne, and Clark formed the Cathedral Trio. This became the Cathedral Quartet the following year with the addition of George Younce.
Koker played piano, sang baritone, and did many of the group’s arrangements. He left the group in 1969 and had since pursued other business interests, including owning a Los Angeles TV station.
Probably half the list could have some...
Comment by David Stuart (February 19, 2008, 10:58 am)
Wow Daniel, we’re losing more of our Cathedrals members: George Younce, Glen Payne, Roger Bennett, and Danny Koker. This was very sad news.
Comment by John Crenshaw (February 19, 2008, 12:26 pm)
Danny set the bar for the Cathedrals with his innovative arrangements, piano stylings, and emcee work.
I wonder if the Cats would have ever reached the heights that they did in later years were it not for the foundation that Danny Koker set with the original quartet.
The Cats may have had flashier pianists and more popular baritones, but no pianist nor baritone singer could hold a candle to Mr. Koker.
One of my biggest thrills was seeing the original Cathedral Quartet at the 1994 Grand Ole Gospel Reunion. I also thought it was very classy of George Younce to say, “Danny, you were our emcee from the start. Why don’t you just take over tonight.”
That was a GOGR “magic moment” for me.
Comment by Jeremy Bell (February 19, 2008, 2:11 pm)
I agree with John on Danny Koker’s influence in the Cathedrals. I would have love to have seen what would have happened with the Cathedrals had he stayed on board. Although I am not old enough to have seen him in in action (except on the GOGR video) his work lives on through the recordings. Cathedrals w Brass and w Strings are still two of my favorite Cathedral recorings. I love his piano intro on Hide Thou Me.
Jeremy
http://www.southerngospelva.com
Comment by ABK (February 19, 2008, 4:59 pm)
George & Glen made the Cathedrals….Danny Koker defined the Cathedrals. Some of the harmonies arranged by Danny remained the foundation of their sound until the day they left the road. Not a finer pianist in the Cathedrals’ history, and certainly no one with more musical vision.
Comment by Heidi (February 22, 2008, 5:44 pm)
Daniel, thanks for the heads up…
Comment by REV.PHIL JACKSON (April 4, 2008, 2:36 am)
I AM SO SORRY TO READ OF DAN’S PASSING. I ENJOYED WATCHING HIM SING AND PLAY EVERY SUNDAY WHEN I WATCHED REX HUMBARD ON TV. I ALSO SAW HIM IN PERSON IN PASADENA WHEN I RE-DEDICATED MY LIFE TO THE LORD AT A REX HUMBARD CRUSADE. WE HAVE LOST A TRULY GREAT CHRISTIAN LEGEND WHO TOUCHED MILLIONS. MAY HE REST IN PEACE IN THAT HEAVENLY CITY HE SUNG ABOU SO MANY TIMES. “WELL DONE THOU GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT.”