In 1999 one of the best known Southern Gospel groups of all time, the Cathedral Quartet, embarked on a final tour. As part of that group, Erne Haase sang tenor, backing up lead Glen Payne. By the end of the tour, Payne had passed away and the baton had been thrust into Haase's hands. From then on, Haase would strive to become a gospel legend in his own right. He has achieved that with Ernie Haase and Signature Sound. The group now sells Ernie Haase and Signature Sound tickets for shows around the country every year and has even recorded an anthem for NASCAR.

The Signature Sound became a quartet for the 21st century in 2002 when Ernie Haase recruited Shane Dunlap, Doug Anderson, and Tim Duncan. Again, Haase took up tenor, with Dunlap shining as the new lead singer. Ernie Haase and Signature Sound produced gospel hits in the studio and took to the stage with a sense of fun and humor only a group far younger than the Cathedral Quartet could.

Suddenly, Southern Gospel came to be in the 21st century with its tried and true sound, but modern takes on fashion. Short ties, spiked short hair, and colorful shirts introduced a music decades old to an audience much younger than the stereotypical gospel fan.