The Christian rock band
Whiteheart was formed in 1982 by singer
Steve Green, guitarist Dann Huff, bassist
Gary Lunn, keyboardists
Mark Gersmehl and
Billy Smiley, and drummer
David Huff, most of the members alumni of
Bill Gaither's group. After debuting with a self-titled effort issued on the Home Sweet Home label, Green exited the line-up, and was replaced by vocalist Scott Douglas for 1984's
Vital Signs; another roster swap exchanging Dann Huff for guitarist
Gordon Kennedy again shook up the
Whiteheart sound just prior to 1985's Hotline. The remaining Huff brother, David, split soon after its release, as did Douglas; new vocalist Rick Florian and drummer
Chris McHugh were installed in time for 1986's
Don't Wait for the Movie, the last
Whiteheart record to feature
Gary Lunn.
With the addition of new bassist
Tommy Sims for 1987's
Emergency Broadcast, only Gersmehl and
Smiley remained from the group's original line-up; somewhat remarkably, the release of 1989's
Freedom heralded no roster changes, but in the months to follow
Kennedy, Sims and
McHugh all left the fold to be replaced by guitarist Brian Wooten, bassist
Anthony Sallee and drummer Mark Nemer for 1990's
Powerhouse. Nemer quit soon after, and although
McHugh returned to record the majority of 1992's
Tales of Wonder, the drummer's seat was eventually filled by Jon Knox. The next
Whiteheart LP, 1993's
Highlands, featured the same line-up, but Sallee departed prior to 1995's
Inside, cut with new bassist
John Thorn. By 1997's
Redemption,
Whiteheart offically consisted of Gersmehl,
Smiley and Florian, rounded out by studio players. ~ Jason Ankeny