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Jake Hess

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Jake Hess

Birth
Pisgah, Limestone County, Alabama, USA
Death
4 Jan 2004 (aged 76)
Opelika, Lee County, Alabama, USA
Burial
Juniper, Marion County, Georgia, USA Add to Map
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Southern Gospel Singer. Born on Christmas Eve, 1927, the last of twelve children born to Stovall and Lydia Hess. An old friend J.D. Sumner stated, Jake Hess took gospel music from the dirt road, paved it, and broadened it into a four-lane highway by forming several groups and launching his solo career. He studied harmony at the Stamps-Baxter school, sang with his brothers and organized vocal groups around northern Alabama. Jake married Joyce McWaters, the daughter of a gospel promoter, who sang with her cousins in the Gallant Quartet on October 5, 1952. Jake was Elvis' all-time favorite singer. He used Jake and the Imperials on his Grammy-winning gospel album "How Great Thou Art" Jake would later sing at Elvis' own funeral. In 1991, Bill Gaither launched his "Homecoming" gospel video series. Jake credits it for saving his life. That year, too, he started a new version of The Statesmen, but a year later a doctor ordered him off the road for health reasons. In 1993, Jake retired from gospel music and moved with Joyce to Columbus, Georgia, to be near Becky and her family. As soon as Jake's health improved He went solo and launched the Old Friends Qt. with George Younce and others. Hess was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 1997 and SESAC presented him with its Lifetime Achievement Award. Jake won several others awards too numerous to mention. He released his final project "Gotta get a God said" on October 2003.
Southern Gospel Singer. Born on Christmas Eve, 1927, the last of twelve children born to Stovall and Lydia Hess. An old friend J.D. Sumner stated, Jake Hess took gospel music from the dirt road, paved it, and broadened it into a four-lane highway by forming several groups and launching his solo career. He studied harmony at the Stamps-Baxter school, sang with his brothers and organized vocal groups around northern Alabama. Jake married Joyce McWaters, the daughter of a gospel promoter, who sang with her cousins in the Gallant Quartet on October 5, 1952. Jake was Elvis' all-time favorite singer. He used Jake and the Imperials on his Grammy-winning gospel album "How Great Thou Art" Jake would later sing at Elvis' own funeral. In 1991, Bill Gaither launched his "Homecoming" gospel video series. Jake credits it for saving his life. That year, too, he started a new version of The Statesmen, but a year later a doctor ordered him off the road for health reasons. In 1993, Jake retired from gospel music and moved with Joyce to Columbus, Georgia, to be near Becky and her family. As soon as Jake's health improved He went solo and launched the Old Friends Qt. with George Younce and others. Hess was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 1997 and SESAC presented him with its Lifetime Achievement Award. Jake won several others awards too numerous to mention. He released his final project "Gotta get a God said" on October 2003.

Bio by: Paul J. Lambert

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  • Maintained by: Find a Grave
  • Originally Created by: Paul J. Lambert
  • Added: Jan 3, 2004
  • Find a Grave Memorial ID:
  • Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/8236839/jake-hess: accessed ), memorial page for Jake Hess (24 Dec 1927–4 Jan 2004), Find a Grave Memorial ID 8236839, citing Buck Family Cemetery, Juniper, Marion County, Georgia, USA; Maintained by Find a Grave.