TOMBSTONE TRIBUTES

George Younce
by: Ed G. Lousararian

    One of the greatest bass singers and songwriters in the history of Gospel music, enthusiastic, joke-telling, cowboy boot wearin’ George Younce lived to perform on stage, in honor of his Lord, Jesus Christ. A Blue Ridge cowboy and an American patriot, Younce, who was born in Patterson, North Carolina and served in the 82nd Airborne Division from 1950 to 1953, thrilled audiences of all ages for more than 50 years with his homespun humor, deep, rich voice, and gloriously-written songs such as the Southern-Gospel non-Beatles standard, “Yesterday”.

    Younce was a pioneer in Christian music and a member of many singing groups including the popular Blue Ridge Quartet. In 1964, Younce joined The Cathedral Quartet. Singing alongside legendary lead Glen Payne, the group would garner 11 Grammy award nominations and become the recently-called The Cathedrals.

    In the 1990s, with the help of legendary gospel singer and songwriter Bill Gaither who continually featured Younce and Payne in the Gaither Homecoming Tours, The Cathedrals kept going strong until Payne’s death in 1999.

    Like Payne, Younce was a zealous performer; but unlike his quiet, reserved friend, Younce had the gift of gab and for decades served as The Cathedral’s spokesman and emcee.

    Younce’s television appearances include Gospel Jubilee, Nashville Network, Prime Time Country, and The Statler Brothers Show. Younce was Gospel Music’s “Living Legend” of the year in 1988 and was inducted into the Southern Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 1998. He recorded more than 100 albums including the award-winning “Symphony of Praise” with the London Philharmonic Orchestra.