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Ralph Sellers - Mandolin and Vocals

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.

My Uncle 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.

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Mary Templeton
(Webmaster)
mtempleton@sonrisemusic.org

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