Hello,
I was born in Fredericksburg, Virginia on July 17, 1963. When I
was 10 my Dad started teaching me how to play the guitar. I used
to sing a lot at my Church and played with a few groups that were
in the Church. It wasn't until after he died in 1981 that I started
with Sonrise (I'm one of the original members).
My mother kept me and my
brothers and sisters together through out the whole struggle
of Dad being gone. She is truly a God fearing lady and loves
God with all her heart. Thanks, Mom, I love you!!
I still live in Fredericksburg
and work at Ronald Reagan National Airport as a maintenance
Manager. I have been married for 19 years to a wonderful lady,
Penny, who is a fantastic wife and friend and has supported
me in everything I do. She is also a great Mother to our three
kids Ashley (16), Luke (14) and Allison (9). We are very busy
between singing, school activities and sports with our children
and we love it. I'm a blessed man and I count it a great honor
to be apart of Sonrise and be able to work for my Lord and Savior
Jesus Christ. Thanks for taking time to visit our Website and
God Bless You.
Victor
Jordan - Guitar
and Vocals
Hello, and welcome
to our website.
I was born in Fredericksburg, VA in December of 1961. My family
and I live in Spotsylvania County, located just west of Fredericksburg,
home of the great Civil War battle "The Battle of Chancellorsville".
It's here that my beautiful
wife Glenda and I raised four children, and where we are currently building a new home.My oldest and only son Brandon is now 21. I have three beautiful daughters, Courtney, 19, is in her second year at our local Community College, Jessica, 18, is a senior in high school, and little Summer, five years old, is in her first year of "Big Girl" school, for she is in kindergarten, and doing great I might add!
Well, I remember the day the
guys in Sonrise pulled me aside after church one day to discuss
the possibility of me joining their group, for they needed a guitar
player....who could sing, and well, the rest is history. I have
seen the group perform many times, for we all attended the same
church and had grown up together. That was in 1982. Little did
I know that Sonrise would still be together and singing for the
Lord some 24 years later. I guess it's safe to say I was good
enough to keep around.
I play guitar in the group,
and an now playing a "Collings" which I really enjoy
playing and on occasion, a little dobro (thank you pop). I usually
sing tenor but will sing lead or baritone when I have to. I have
not been able to do much the bass part yet, I'll leave that to
Eddie. Larry sings a mean tenor himself, we tell him he sounds
like the late John Duffy. We switch harmonies all the time, whatever
the song calls for. We sing for the Lord and have so much fun
doing it. I really enjoy the traveling, the practicing, the more
practicing, and playing music with the boys in the group, did
I mention practicing?
What a wonderful opportunity
it has been for me to use my talents for the Lord. It has been
an honor and a privilege for me to be part of this ministry.
I want to thank you mom, for
buying me my first guitar when I was 9 years old, and thank you
for buying me that Yamaha guitar, that Martin D35, and that Santa
Cruz, well you all get the picture. My mom has always been proud
of me (just ask anyone) and Sonrise and loves to hear "the
boys" perform. Brandon, who himself is a very fine guitarist
and bass player today, now plays the D35 in his own Christian
group.
Thank you Glenda, for supporting
me all these years, for my music ministry with Sonrise would not
be possible without your love, compassion and support for me.
Yes, Sonrise has weathered
the storms over the years, but God has always seen us through,
and our desire to bless, uplift, and inspire people to look to
Jesus through our music is stronger today then its ever been.
Eddie
Haynes - Upright
Bass, Bass and Harmony Vocals
Hey everybody. Thanks for jumping
onto our site and checking us out. My name is Eddie, and I play
standup bass, sing baritone and bass vocals for Sonrise. I was
born in Fredericksburg, VA, on June 3, 1960. Please send all birthday
gifts to .... just kidding.
Thanks to my mom
and dad, I was raised in a home where music was being played
and listened to constantly.
By the time I was 10 years old, I was playing guitar and singing
in church with cousins. This is where I first experienced the
awesomeness of family harmony. Since then, harmonies and progression
arrangement have intrigued me. In September of 1979, I made
the most important decision of my life, and asked Jesus Christ
to come into my heart and save me. It was then that I was called
into a ministry of music.
In 1982, Sonrise was created,
consisting of myself, Ralph Sellers, Frank Haynes and Pete Canciglia.
My first child Justen, was born in August of that year. I started
out playing banjo for the group, and that lasted five or six
years or so, until we could find a real banjo player, at which
point I took over playing flat top guitar. In 1992, I moved
from guitar to bass, and I really have enjoyed playing this
instrument with the band. I am currently playing an 80 year
old German standup bass, and using a Dean acoustic electric
as a back up. I also enjoy singing harmony vocals with my brothers
in the group.
The most important thing
in my life is my relationship with my Savior, Jesus Christ.
He is everything to me, and He has NEVER let me down. My wife
and my children come next. Music plays a dominant role in our
family, just like when I was a child. My wife Tracey, holds
a degree in music from Mary Washington University. There are
no words invented yet that would explain how much I love her.
She supports me and my role in Sonrise unconditionally. Truthfully,
she has much more talent then I, but chooses to support her
husband. I will never be able to repay her for this. My son
Justen, 23, who was born that first year Sonrise was born, spent
most of his childhood with us on the road traveling in buses
and vans singing and playing, and currently is the fiddle player
for the bluegrass super group IIIrd Tyme Out. My daughter Emily
is 17, and an accomplished cellist. She often gives her dad
pointers on playing bass. My daughter Anna is 9, going on 20,
and is already a very good violinist, following in her big brother's
footsteps. My son John Tyler, is 3, and has made several stage
appearances with Sonrise already, playing the same mandolin
his brother did when he was a child. My son Cade, 14 months,
tries very hard to hold onto whatever instrument he can get
to, but mostly just sings and dances to good bluegrass music
at this point. I cherish my wife and children beyond measure.
Aside from my relationship
with Christ, and my family, Sonrise and the ministry I am privileged
to be a part of with my brothers, is my passion. I could not
ever dream of better men of God to sing and pick with, and to
have as brother's in Christ. I am so thankful just to be a small
part of this group. In my spare time....lol, I enjoy sports,
mainly baseball, football and fishing. I also enjoy reading
and writing music. If you enjoy my singing and playing, please
feel free to e-mail me at anytime. If, on the other hand you
don't enjoy what I offer, please send all complaints to Ralph.
Just kidding. Thank you for taking the time to read my bio.
I love you, and God loves you. Eddie.
Larry
Jett
- Banjo and Vocals
Born
in Fredericksburg, VA. Graduate of Spotsylvania High School and
two years at Germanna Community College. I came from a very musical
family. My mom and dad both played and sang together. I started
playing the guitar at age 9. I started getting interested in the
banjo at age 16.
MyUncle Bill played
and taught me some things my Grandma Adair encouraged me to
keep on playing. After playing for about 6 months. I received
a phone call from Larry Stephenson who was starting up a band.
I told him "no" because I felt that I wasn't ready
for a band yet. About 3 days later I called him back and the
rest is history. I learned so much being on the road around
my mentors Sonny Osborne, Ben Eldridge, J.D. Crowe and Little
Roy. I played with Jim Orange for 2 years and then freelanced
with many other groups through the years.
I joined Sonrise in the fall
of 2003. My family and I have been so blessed since I became
a part of this ministry. Serving Jesus Christ has been the most
rewarding thing that I have ever done in my life. Now I use
my God-given talent to His glory and pray that we can bring
people closer to Christ through song and music.
My wife of 20 years, Tammy,
and I are blessed with 3 wonderful children. Our oldest Charles,
just married his beautiful new wife, Gerda, which blesses us
with another daughter. Aaron and Becca still live at home, keeping
us on our toes. I am such a blessed man, God has really watched
over me. I owe everything to my Savior, Jesus Christ.