Gregory Xavier Volz (born January 12, 1950) is a Christian rock singer. He is most noted for being the lead singer of Petra from 1979 to 1985. He has continued to sing, sporadically, for different iterations of Petra such as Classic Petra (2010-2012)[1] and Classic Petra Resurrection (CPR; 2016 to the present).[2]
A self-taught musician by age 13, Volz joined a band with his cousins called The Wombats in 1964. They were formed while all the members were high schoolers in Metamora, Illinois. Volz would remain with the Wombats until the band dissolved in 1968.[3] In fall 1968, he formed a band called Gidian's Bible in Indianapolis. (The name was purposefully misspelled to avoid potential lawsuits.)[4] At some point during this pre-Christian music period, he would share stages with Janis Joplin and Chicago among others.[5] In 1970 he became a born-again Christian. Gidian’s Bible fell apart and together with drummer David Eden, Volz formed a new Jesus music band called e Band.[6] The only studio recordings from e can be found on the rock musical two-disc LP Because I Am released in 1973. After they broke up in 1975 Volz moved to Springfield, Missouri, where he worked with guitarist Phil Keaggy. He also performed the lead role in a rock stage musical called Ezekiel.[5] Volz was offered the lead singer position of REO Speedwagon in 1976 but declined due to his Christian faith.[7][8] Six weeks later he was asked to participate in Petra's second album, Come and Join Us. Although Volz guest sang on only three tunes, Petra's founder/guitarist Bob Hartman was impressed enough to ask Volz to take over the lead vocalist slot. (At that time, Hartman and co-founder/guitarist Greg Hough had been sharing the duties.)[5]
His first full-time album with the band, Washes Whiter Than, came in 1979. Never Say Die (1981), More Power to Ya (1982), and Not of this World (1983) followed. Petra then changed sound slightly with new keyboard player John Lawry on 1984's Beat the System and reached the pinnacle of the Volz era. They played 285 dates to 500,000 people overall on the subsequent tour and resulted in a live album, Captured in Time and Space. At the beginning of 1985 Volz was beginning to feel the strain of the heavy performing schedule over the previous four years and his family life was suffering. Volz gave nine-months notice to his band mates that he would be leaving the band at the conclusion of the tour.[citation needed]
Volz took a year off to regroup, spend time with his family and write the material that would surface on his first solo album, The River is Rising, released in 1986 on Myrrh Records. He followed it with three other moderately successful albums. During this time, he toured with Joe English in a band called Pieces of Eight.
Volz retired for some time in the mid-'90s. During this time he dealt with the divorce from his long-time wife, Becky. He resurfaced in 1998 with a string of new albums released from that year on. On October 4, 2005, he re-joined Petra for the live recording of their last project, Petra Farewell. He joined the stage with current singer, John Schlitt, for a medley of ballads, and he followed it with a solo rendition of "Grave Robber", which was one of his hits with the band.[5]
In May 2010, a reunited version of Petra was formed with its 1984-85 lineup, under the name of Classic Petra. They released an album called Back to the Rock featuring new material and re-recordings of hits from that era.[9]
Volz, along with veteran Petra members, Louie Weaver (drums) and John Lawry (keyboards) formed Classic Petra Resurrection (CPR) in 2016 with former Petra bass player Ronny Cates and former Pieces of Eight guitarist, Kirk Henderson. Back to the Rock II was released in 2017 and similar to its predecessor, features nine re-recorded Petra classics (plus a cover of Aerosmith's "Dream On").[10] Former Petra bass player Greg Bailey replaced Cates for the live concerts. [11]
Discographyedit
with Gidians Bible (1970) "Love Is the Answer"/"The Dream" 45RPM (Golden Voice 834G-2377)[12]
with e Because I Am (1973) Clear Light Productions CL 2-101 (Two-disc rock musical)
Cry 3: An Odyssey of the Spirit (1975)
as Xavier Xavier (1982) no label X111175 (limited private pressing of 1,000 LPs)
^"Classic Petra: Back to the Rock". Allmusic.com. Retrieved March 25, 2022.
^"CPR Lead Singer". CPRband.com. Retrieved March 25, 2022.
^"Petraspective - Solo Discography: Greg X. Volz - THE WOMBATS - GOLDEN VOICE RECORDINGS: 1966-1967". petraspective.nl. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
^"Petraspective - Solo Discography: Greg X. Volz - GIDIANS BIBLE - 1969: THE GOLDEN VOICE RECORDINGS". www.petraspective.nl. Retrieved February 15, 2024.
^ abcd"The Band Greg X. Volz". cprband.com. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
^Fishwick, Marshall William; Browne, Ray Broadus (1987). The God pumpers: Religion in the Electronic Age. Bowling Green State University Popular Press. p. 143. ISBN0-87972-399-8.
^Fishwick, Marshall William; Browne, Ray Broadus (1987). The God pumpers: Religion in the Electronic Age. Bowling Green State University Popular Press. p. 143. ISBN0-87972-399-8.
greg, volz, this, biography, living, person, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, adding, reliable, sources, contentious, material, about, living, persons, that, unsourced, poorly, sourced, must, removed, immediately, from, article, talk, . This biography of a living person needs additional citations for verification Please help by adding reliable sources Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately from the article and its talk page especially if potentially libelous Find sources Greg X Volz news newspapers books scholar JSTOR March 2015 Learn how and when to remove this message Gregory Xavier Volz born January 12 1950 is a Christian rock singer He is most noted for being the lead singer of Petra from 1979 to 1985 He has continued to sing sporadically for different iterations of Petra such as Classic Petra 2010 2012 1 and Classic Petra Resurrection CPR 2016 to the present 2 Greg X VolzBackground informationBirth nameGregory Xavier VolzBorn 1950 01 12 January 12 1950 age 74 OriginPeoria Illinois U S GenresChristian rock contemporary Christian musicOccupation s singerInstrument s vocalsYears active1964 presentWebsitewww wbr gregxvolz wbr com Contents 1 Biography 2 Discography 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksBiography editA self taught musician by age 13 Volz joined a band with his cousins called The Wombats in 1964 They were formed while all the members were high schoolers in Metamora Illinois Volz would remain with the Wombats until the band dissolved in 1968 3 In fall 1968 he formed a band called Gidian s Bible in Indianapolis The name was purposefully misspelled to avoid potential lawsuits 4 At some point during this pre Christian music period he would share stages with Janis Joplin and Chicago among others 5 In 1970 he became a born again Christian Gidian s Bible fell apart and together with drummer David Eden Volz formed a new Jesus music band called e Band 6 The only studio recordings from e can be found on the rock musical two disc LP Because I Am released in 1973 After they broke up in 1975 Volz moved to Springfield Missouri where he worked with guitarist Phil Keaggy He also performed the lead role in a rock stage musical called Ezekiel 5 Volz was offered the lead singer position of REO Speedwagon in 1976 but declined due to his Christian faith 7 8 Six weeks later he was asked to participate in Petra s second album Come and Join Us Although Volz guest sang on only three tunes Petra s founder guitarist Bob Hartman was impressed enough to ask Volz to take over the lead vocalist slot At that time Hartman and co founder guitarist Greg Hough had been sharing the duties 5 His first full time album with the band Washes Whiter Than came in 1979 Never Say Die 1981 More Power to Ya 1982 and Not of this World 1983 followed Petra then changed sound slightly with new keyboard player John Lawry on 1984 s Beat the System and reached the pinnacle of the Volz era They played 285 dates to 500 000 people overall on the subsequent tour and resulted in a live album Captured in Time and Space At the beginning of 1985 Volz was beginning to feel the strain of the heavy performing schedule over the previous four years and his family life was suffering Volz gave nine months notice to his band mates that he would be leaving the band at the conclusion of the tour citation needed Volz took a year off to regroup spend time with his family and write the material that would surface on his first solo album The River is Rising released in 1986 on Myrrh Records He followed it with three other moderately successful albums During this time he toured with Joe English in a band called Pieces of Eight Volz retired for some time in the mid 90s During this time he dealt with the divorce from his long time wife Becky He resurfaced in 1998 with a string of new albums released from that year on On October 4 2005 he re joined Petra for the live recording of their last project Petra Farewell He joined the stage with current singer John Schlitt for a medley of ballads and he followed it with a solo rendition of Grave Robber which was one of his hits with the band 5 In May 2010 a reunited version of Petra was formed with its 1984 85 lineup under the name of Classic Petra They released an album called Back to the Rock featuring new material and re recordings of hits from that era 9 Volz along with veteran Petra members Louie Weaver drums and John Lawry keyboards formed Classic Petra Resurrection CPR in 2016 with former Petra bass player Ronny Cates and former Pieces of Eight guitarist Kirk Henderson Back to the Rock II was released in 2017 and similar to its predecessor features nine re recorded Petra classics plus a cover of Aerosmith s Dream On 10 Former Petra bass player Greg Bailey replaced Cates for the live concerts 11 Discography editwith Gidians Bible 1970 Love Is the Answer The Dream 45RPM Golden Voice 834G 2377 12 with eBecause I Am 1973 Clear Light Productions CL 2 101 Two disc rock musical Cry 3 An Odyssey of the Spirit 1975 as XavierXavier 1982 no label X111175 limited private pressing of 1 000 LPs The River Is Rising 1986 Come Out Fighting 1988 No Room in the Middle 1989 The Exodus 1991 Greg X Volz Collection 1992 Break Out Praise 1998 Let the Victors In 1998 Ready or Not Here He Comes 1999 The Next Sphere 2001 In God s Presence 2005 No Greater Love 2006 O Holy Night special edition 2007 Dream On What Then digital two track single 2008 In the Course of Time Standin digital two track single 2008 In the Course of Time digital 12 track best of 2008 God Only Knows digital single 2008 God Only Knows 11 track album 2009 with Classic Petra Back to the Rock 2010 13 with Classic Petra Back to the Rock Live 2011 DVD Blu ray 14 with CPR Back to the Rock II 2017 15 See also editJesus MovementReferences edit Classic Petra Back to the Rock Allmusic com Retrieved March 25 2022 CPR Lead Singer CPRband com Retrieved March 25 2022 Petraspective Solo Discography Greg X Volz THE WOMBATS GOLDEN VOICE RECORDINGS 1966 1967 petraspective nl Retrieved August 27 2023 Petraspective Solo Discography Greg X Volz GIDIANS BIBLE 1969 THE GOLDEN VOICE RECORDINGS www petraspective nl Retrieved February 15 2024 a b c d The Band Greg X Volz cprband com Retrieved August 27 2023 Fishwick Marshall William Browne Ray Broadus 1987 The God pumpers Religion in the Electronic Age Bowling Green State University Popular Press p 143 ISBN 0 87972 399 8 Fishwick Marshall William Browne Ray Broadus 1987 The God pumpers Religion in the Electronic Age Bowling Green State University Popular Press p 143 ISBN 0 87972 399 8 Cusic Don 2010 Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music Pop Rock and Worship Greenwood Publishing Group p 455 ISBN 978 0 313 34425 1 Classic Petra Back to the Rock Allmusic com January 25 2011 Retrieved March 25 2022 Back to the Rock II Now Available indievisionmusic com Retrieved March 25 2022 CPR Lead Singer CPRband com Retrieved March 25 2022 https www discogs com release 5827271 Gidians Bible The Dream Love Is The Answer https www discogs com artist 2971138 Classic Petra https www discogs com artist 2971138 Classic Petra https www discogs com artist 6168388 CPR 5External links editOfficial website 2003 Interview with Volz Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Greg X Volz amp oldid 1216673798, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
