George Younce
Encyclopedia
George Younce was an American
bass singer, known for performing with Southern Gospel
quartet
s, especially The Cathedrals
.
, he was the youngest of four siblings. His father was his biggest influence when young Younce decided he wanted to be a singer. In 1936, the Younce family moved to Lenoir, North Carolina
. At the age of 15 in his hometown, George received his first taste of Southern Gospel music. As a teenager, Younce joined his first quartet, known as the Spiritualaires. When his voice changed, he switched to the bass part that he would sing for the rest of his life.
Over the next decade he traveled with such groups as the Homeland Harmony Quartet, The Weatherfords
, the Florida Boys
, and the Blue Ridge Quartet
. In September 1963, the "Cathedral Trio", became the official vocal group of Rex Humbard
's "Cathedral of Tomorrow" in Akron, Ohio. In November 1964, Younce joined forces with lead singer Glen Payne
, Tenor Bobby Clark
and Baritone/Piano Player Danny Koker
to form the "Cathedral Quartet
" out of the "Cathedral Trio". They toured the world for 36 years.
Younce performed on the Gaither Homecoming
Tour, at Radio City Music Hall
and Carnegie Hall
in New York City
, and at the Billy Graham
Crusades in Cleveland, Ohio
and Nashville, Tennessee
. His television appearances include the "Rex Humbard Hour", the "Gospel Singing Jubilee", the “Bill Gaither Homecoming Hour”, NBC
’s Today Show, The Nashville Network
, “Prime Time Country”, and “The Statler Brothers
Show”.
Younce was a 14-time recipient of the Singing News
Fan Award for “Favorite Southern Gospel Bass” singer. He was Gospel Music’s "Living Legend" of the year in 1988, was inducted into the "Southern Gospel Music Hall of Fame" located in Dollywood
in 1998, also inducted in the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 1999. He was awarded the 2004 SGN Scoops Diamond “Lifetime Achievement Award”. He recorded well over 100 projects including the award-winning “Symphony of Praise” with the London Philharmonic Orchestra
. George also wrote several Southern Gospel songs including the classic "Yesterday".
In 1998, George recorded the first of three solo projects. Two were GMA nominees for Dove Awards in the Southern Gospel Album of the Year category. The third presents a collection of some of Younce's favorite hymns.
With the passing of his long time friend and partner Glen Payne in October 1999, and George’s failing kidneys, the Cathedrals retired in December 1999. In the fall of 2000 George appeared for the first time without the Cathedrals as a solo performer in Parkersburg, West Virginia on a show called "An Evening with George Younce and Ernie Haase
". Late in his career, he sang with The Old Friends Quartet
, which included his son-in-law, former Cathedral tenor Ernie Haase
and Southern Gospel legend Jake Hess
and baritone Wesley Pritchard
and pianist Garry Jones. George also provided the voice for some of the characters in several of the Bill Gaither produced "Gaither's Pond" children's videos. Although he had to stop officially touring, he did make occasional "special appearances" with son-in-law Ernie's new quartet Ernie Haase and Signature Sound, and with his friend Bill Gaither and the Homecoming Tour.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
bass singer, known for performing with Southern Gospel
Southern Gospel
Southern Gospel music—at one time also known as "quartet music"—is music whose lyrics are written to express either personal or a communal faith regarding biblical teachings and Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music...
quartet
Quartet
In music, a quartet is a method of instrumentation , used to perform a musical composition, and consisting of four parts.-Western art music:...
s, especially The Cathedrals
Cathedral Quartet
The Cathedral Quartet, often known as simply The Cathedrals, was an American southern gospel quartet that lasted from 1964 until their retirement in 1999....
.
Biography
Born George Wilson Younce in Patterson, North CarolinaPatterson, North Carolina
Patterson is an unincorporated community in Caldwell County, North Carolina, United States. Patterson is located near U.S. Route 321 north-northwest of Lenoir. Patterson has a post office with ZIP code 28661....
, he was the youngest of four siblings. His father was his biggest influence when young Younce decided he wanted to be a singer. In 1936, the Younce family moved to Lenoir, North Carolina
Lenoir, North Carolina
Lenoir is a city in Caldwell County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 18,228 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Caldwell County. Lenoir is located in the Blue Ridge foothills. The city also contains the Brushy Mountains, a spur of the Blue Ridge Mountains...
. At the age of 15 in his hometown, George received his first taste of Southern Gospel music. As a teenager, Younce joined his first quartet, known as the Spiritualaires. When his voice changed, he switched to the bass part that he would sing for the rest of his life.
Over the next decade he traveled with such groups as the Homeland Harmony Quartet, The Weatherfords
The Weatherfords
The Weatherfords are an American Gospel ensemble.The Weatherfords are husband and wife Earl and Lily Weatherford, who first began singing together in the mid-1940s in California after their marriage in 1945...
, the Florida Boys
Florida Boys
The Florida Boys Quartet is a Southern Gospel vocal quartet founded in about 1946 by J. G. Whitfield. Originally named The Gospel Melody Quartet, the group was re-named in 1954.- History :...
, and the Blue Ridge Quartet
Blue Ridge Quartet
-History:Originally part of the Stamps organization, they eventually split with that group and relocated to North Carolina, later settling in Spartanburg, South Carolina....
. In September 1963, the "Cathedral Trio", became the official vocal group of Rex Humbard
Rex Humbard
Alpha Rex Emmanuel Humbard was a well-known American television evangelist whose Cathedral of Tomorrow show was shown on over 600 stations at the peak of its popularity....
's "Cathedral of Tomorrow" in Akron, Ohio. In November 1964, Younce joined forces with lead singer Glen Payne
Glen Payne
Glen Payne served more than 50 years as a gospel music's singer. At age 17 in 1944, Glen joined the Stamps-Baxter Quartet. He was also a member of the Lester Stamps Quartet, The Stamps All-Stars, and The Stamps-Ozark Quartet...
, Tenor Bobby Clark
Bobby Clark (tenor)
Bobby Clark was the tenor vocalist with the Cathedral Quartet from 1963 through 1967.He was also a member of the Dixie Echoes, Deep South Quartet, The Weatherfords, The Oak Ridge Quartet, The Rangers, & The Men of Music. He appeared with the Rex Humbard National Television Ministry for 8 years...
and Baritone/Piano Player Danny Koker
Danny Koker
Danny Koker was the baritone vocalist and the pianist with the Cathedral Quartet from 1963 through 1969. He was also pianist and vocalist for the Weatherfords and the Foggy River Boys. Koker also owned a television station in Las Vegas.-External links:...
to form the "Cathedral Quartet
Cathedral Quartet
The Cathedral Quartet, often known as simply The Cathedrals, was an American southern gospel quartet that lasted from 1964 until their retirement in 1999....
" out of the "Cathedral Trio". They toured the world for 36 years.
Younce performed on the Gaither Homecoming
Gaither Homecoming
Gaither Homecoming is the name applied to a series of videos, music recordings and concerts, which are organized, promoted and usually presented by Christian music songwriter and impresario Bill Gaither...
Tour, at Radio City Music Hall
Radio City Music Hall
Radio City Music Hall is an entertainment venue located in New York City's Rockefeller Center. Its nickname is the Showplace of the Nation, and it was for a time the leading tourist destination in the city...
and Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States, located at 881 Seventh Avenue, occupying the east stretch of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street and West 57th Street, two blocks south of Central Park....
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, and at the Billy Graham
Billy Graham
William Franklin "Billy" Graham, Jr. is an American evangelical Christian evangelist. As of April 25, 2010, when he met with Barack Obama, Graham has spent personal time with twelve United States Presidents dating back to Harry S. Truman, and is number seven on Gallup's list of admired people for...
Crusades in Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
and Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
. His television appearances include the "Rex Humbard Hour", the "Gospel Singing Jubilee", the “Bill Gaither Homecoming Hour”, NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
’s Today Show, The Nashville Network
The Nashville Network
The Nashville Network, usually referred to as TNN, was an American country music-oriented cable television network. Programming included music videos, taped concerts, movies, syndicated programs, and numerous talk shows...
, “Prime Time Country”, and “The Statler Brothers
Statler Brothers
The Statler Brothers were an American country music vocal group founded in 1955 in Staunton, Virginia.Originally performing gospel music at local churches, the group billed themselves as The Four Star Quartet, and later The Kingsmen...
Show”.
Younce was a 14-time recipient of the Singing News
Singing News
The Singing News is an American magazine which focuses on the Southern Gospel music industry....
Fan Award for “Favorite Southern Gospel Bass” singer. He was Gospel Music’s "Living Legend" of the year in 1988, was inducted into the "Southern Gospel Music Hall of Fame" located in Dollywood
Dollywood
Dollywood is a theme park owned by entertainer Dolly Parton and the Herschend Family Entertainment Corporation. It is located in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Dollywood has 3,000 people on its payroll, making it the largest employer in that community....
in 1998, also inducted in the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 1999. He was awarded the 2004 SGN Scoops Diamond “Lifetime Achievement Award”. He recorded well over 100 projects including the award-winning “Symphony of Praise” with the London Philharmonic Orchestra
London Philharmonic Orchestra
The London Philharmonic Orchestra , based in London, is one of the major orchestras of the United Kingdom, and is based in the Royal Festival Hall. In addition, the LPO is the main resident orchestra of the Glyndebourne Festival Opera...
. George also wrote several Southern Gospel songs including the classic "Yesterday".
In 1998, George recorded the first of three solo projects. Two were GMA nominees for Dove Awards in the Southern Gospel Album of the Year category. The third presents a collection of some of Younce's favorite hymns.
With the passing of his long time friend and partner Glen Payne in October 1999, and George’s failing kidneys, the Cathedrals retired in December 1999. In the fall of 2000 George appeared for the first time without the Cathedrals as a solo performer in Parkersburg, West Virginia on a show called "An Evening with George Younce and Ernie Haase
Ernie Haase
Ernie Haase started singing as a young boy at Washington Ave. Baptist Church. He is a Christian tenor vocalist known for being the founder of Ernie Haase and Signature Sound...
". Late in his career, he sang with The Old Friends Quartet
The Old Friends Quartet
The Old Friends Quartet is a vocal group that sings gospel music. They released all their albums with Spring House Productions. In 2002 their DVD Encore, filmed in Mobile, Alabama, won a Southern Gospel Music Association Award.-Members:...
, which included his son-in-law, former Cathedral tenor Ernie Haase
Ernie Haase
Ernie Haase started singing as a young boy at Washington Ave. Baptist Church. He is a Christian tenor vocalist known for being the founder of Ernie Haase and Signature Sound...
and Southern Gospel legend Jake Hess
Jake Hess
Jake Hess was an American Grammy Award-winning southern gospel singer.-Life:Hess was born Manchild Hess December 24, 1927, in Limestone County, Alabama...
and baritone Wesley Pritchard
Wesley Pritchard
K. Wesley Pritchard sang with the Old Friends Quartet from 2000 through 2002. He filled in for Ernie Haase & Signature Sound in 2003, while they were seeking a new lead singer. He has traveled extensively with "Bill Gaither's Homecoming Friends" and can be seen on many of the Gaither Homecoming...
and pianist Garry Jones. George also provided the voice for some of the characters in several of the Bill Gaither produced "Gaither's Pond" children's videos. Although he had to stop officially touring, he did make occasional "special appearances" with son-in-law Ernie's new quartet Ernie Haase and Signature Sound, and with his friend Bill Gaither and the Homecoming Tour.
Death
Younce suffered from heart trouble as well as kidney failure, and was on dialysis during the last years of his life. He died April 11 at Akron City Hospital in Ohio. He and his wife, Clara, would have celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary April 27.Literature
- Glen Payne, George Younce, Ace Collins, The Cathedrals: The Story of America's Best-Loved Gospel Quartet, 2000