Biography

The year was 2002.   Good friends Ed Poulain and Phil Foster were driving in a Red Convertible talking and sharing about the Goodness of God.    After some discussion and a hand shake, we agreed to start Vessels Of Honour along with our friend Ian White. In 2006 Laverne Boyle replaced Phil as the Baritone for VOH. Phil Foster went home to be with the One he loved to sing about in October, 2

 

Ed Poulain  started his early days singing with the Mallory Quartet from his home town of Gilmour Ontario. He spent a number of years as a solo artist, then returned to group singing with Willing Vessel, and the Switzer Brothers. His lead voice has remained constant and only improved with age. Ed often says, “VOH is the best group he has ever been with, these guys I sing with are like brothers to me. They have stood closer than brothers through some treacherous days.  We each have the same goal, reaching others for Christ through our music.

 

 

Laverne Boyle came to Bancroft Ontario from somewhere outside Jackson, Kentucky as a young teenager. He fell in with a group called the Soul Reflections early in his singing career. Sang worship for years in the church with his wife Karen, an amazing pianist.  He came to VOH in 2006 after showing up to a concert, VOH was looking for a baritone. Laverne was sitting 6 rows back, Ed asked him if he could still harmonize? “I think so!” Vern possesses a smooth baritone voice and easily fills in that  part.  A good baritone singer makes or breaks a quartet—-and Vessels Of Honour found a good one in Laverne. Vern had a stroke in September, 2011, and walked out New Years Eve, and sang a full concert, although Ian, and Ed had to prop him up. God is good!

 

Ian White is a story all by himself, he has been singing tenor all his life.  From Newfoundland, on stage singing at church around 10 years old, his tenor voice developed early, and never changed. It doesn’t matter if it’s leading worship at church, or banging out some tunes on the piano, or playing the guitar, God, Suzanne, & music is his love. Ian can sing a whole concert, jump in the car to go back home and three or four hours later, is still singing in the back seat!  Ian has a remarkable range, and can belt out those high notes with power and ease—-and yet, can take a soft gentle approach to a song, don’t let the big guy with the beard fool you..

 

Vessels Of Honour try to choose their songs carefully.   Their mission in life is to sing for the Lord Jesus, and to give God the glory.  The group has experienced many trials and personal loss, but through it all, the mission, which is to glorify God through their talents, remains the same..

~ Phil Foster, a true Quartet Man, 1948 to 2023