SWOT Analysis – Legacy Five

This week’s SWOT analysis takes a look at the strengths and weaknesses of Legacy Five.  Born out of the retirement of the Cathedrals, Legacy Five launched their career in the year 2000.

With twelve years now under their belt, Legacy Five have accumulated some strengths and weaknesses.  Lets take a look at them.

STRENGTHS

• Cathedral Legacy:  Legacy Five had instant success with the Cathedrals as a launching pad.  Roger Bennett and Scott Fowler’s time spent with the Cathedrals gave them instant name recognition when it came to Legacy Five.
• Roger Bennett:  The mark Roger Bennett left on Southern Gospel music will never be forgotten.  The void was felt with the music the group was recording after the untimely passing of Roger.
• Ensemble:  The group’s vocal strength is in the ensemble work when all voices are blending together.  No single member outshines another when doing solos.
• Scott Howard:  I have gravitated to Scott Howard’s country-style baritone since the early recordings.  It is to a point I seek out the Scott Howard features anytime I listen to a new Legacy Five recording.

WEAKNESSES

• Use of Tracks:  This will become a broken record by the time I am done with this series, but I mentioned I am going to point it out as long as it applies.  While Legacy Five’s use of tracks is not as overpowering as some artists, it is still prevalent.  The Cathedrals, among other quartets, spent most of their career singing to just piano and a bass guitar, even though the Cathedrals went to tracks by the end of their career.
• Fluff:  Legacy Five seems to have a strength in picking ‘fluff’ songs when recording.  That is not a plus.  Their latest album, A Wonderful Life, would have scored a lot higher if not for several song selection choices.
• Cathedral Legacy:  While this is a strength, it could also be considered a weakness.  I think the group has become their own group, but if a group lives in the shadow of a group with the stature of the Cathedrals, they are never going to measure up to the original.

OPPORTUNITIES

• Recording Another Landmark Album:  The group needs to release another landmark album to steer them away from these good, but not great recordings of the last several years.  Something along the lines of the production and song selection of a recording like London.  I know the group has got it in them.
• Going Retro:  As mentioned above, it would be nice if the group would start a segment in their programs that would use only piano and bass guitar as a throw back to the Cathedrals legacy without having to reference the Cathedrals.

THREATS

• The Group Not Recording Another Landmark Album:  If the group continues to record albums along the lines of their last several, it is going to be tough for them to compete with the other big quartets in the industry.
• Lack of Buzz:  To go along with the recording aspect, it doesn’t seem Legacy Five generates as much buzz as some of the other quartets dominating right now.

***NEXT SWOT ANALYSIS:  PERRYS***