Glen Payne
Encyclopedia
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. In 1956 he joined The Weatherford Quartet, which featured Glen, Earl & Lily Fern Weatherford, Armond Morales, and George Younce
. Younce was later replaced by Henry Slaughter
. This lineup of the Weatherfords is considered by many gospel experts to have been the best singing group in gospel music history.He was married and had 3 children and 3 grandchildren.
, and Danny Koker
departed to work for evangelist Rex Humbard
at the Cathedral of Tomorrow
in Akron, Ohio
. Together, they formed the Cathedral Trio. With the addition of bass singer George Younce
a year later, the Cathedral Trio became the Cathedral Quartet
. The Cathedrals immediately became a sensation with their smooth quartet sound.Over the next 36 years, the Cathedrals won numerous Singing News Fan Awards
and had several #1 hits on the Southern Gospel
Charts including Step into The Water, Boundless Love, and He Made a Change. While the quartet saw several different people hold the tenor, baritone and pianist positions, Payne and Younce remained the guiding forces of the quartet until Glen's death in 1999 during the Cathedral's farewell retirement tour. Payne and Younce were the only lead and bass singers the Cathedrals ever had.
During the 1970s the Cathedrals were regulars on Sunday Morning Television appearing on "The Gospel Singing Jubilee" and also appeared in several Billy Graham Crusades. They also appeared on NBC
's "Today" show. During the 1990s, the Cathedrals were regulars on the "Gaither Homecoming
" videos and were generally recognized as the top quartet in Southern Gospel music.
Glen was the willing "target" of many of MC George's jokes and icebreakers during the quartet's run. George often referred to Glen as "The Old Man" . Glen's signature song was We Shall See Jesus.
Glen sat as a member of the Board of Directors
of the National Quartet Convention
and the Southern Gospel Museum and Hall of Fame
for many years, being enshrined in the SGMA Hall of Fame at Dollywood
in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
itself in 1998.
in October, 1999 during the Cathedral's farewell tour. Although unable to attend that year, Glen made his final performance at the National Quartet Convention
via telephone hook-up from his hospital bed at Vanderbilt Hospital. During this Cathedral's appearance at NQC, Glen talked with George and the audience over the phone and, at George's behest, sang the old hymn
I Won't Have To Cross Jordan Alone in one of the most memorable NQC performances of all time. It was the final time Glen would perform publicly with the Cathedrals.
Gospel music
Gospel music is music that is written to express either personal, spiritual or a communal belief regarding Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music....
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. In 1956 he joined The Weatherford Quartet, which featured Glen, Earl & Lily Fern Weatherford, Armond Morales, and George Younce
George Younce
George Younce was an American bass singer, known for performing with Southern Gospel quartets, especially The Cathedrals.-Biography:...
. Younce was later replaced by Henry Slaughter
Henry Slaughter
Henry Thaxton Slaughter is an American southern gospel singer and piano player.-Biography:Five-time Dove Award-winning keyboardist, singer and songwriter has captivated countless audiences since the 1940s with such memorable groups as the Stamps-Ozark Quartet, The Weatherford Quartet, The...
. This lineup of the Weatherfords is considered by many gospel experts to have been the best singing group in gospel music history.He was married and had 3 children and 3 grandchildren.
Early work
In 1963, Weatherfords members Glen, Bobby ClarkBobby 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 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:...
departed to work for evangelist 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....
at the Cathedral of Tomorrow
Cathedral of Tomorrow
The Cathedral of Tomorrow was built in 1958 as home to Rex Humbard's ministry. The Cathedral, a round building with the sanctuary in the middle and classrooms and offices around the edges, located in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, seats 5,400. It has a domed roof with a large illuminated cross that hangs...
in Akron, Ohio
Akron, Ohio
Akron , is the fifth largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Summit County. It is located in the Great Lakes region approximately south of Lake Erie along the Little Cuyahoga River. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 199,110. The Akron Metropolitan...
. Together, they formed the Cathedral Trio. With the addition of bass singer George Younce
George Younce
George Younce was an American bass singer, known for performing with Southern Gospel quartets, especially The Cathedrals.-Biography:...
a year later, the Cathedral Trio became 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....
. The Cathedrals immediately became a sensation with their smooth quartet sound.Over the next 36 years, the Cathedrals won numerous Singing News Fan Awards
Singing News Fan Awards
The Singing News Fan Awards is an annual award ceremony held on the Saturday night program of the National Quartet Convention and honors the achievements of professional Southern Gospel artists, songwriters and DJ's.-Award Selection:...
and had several #1 hits on the 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...
Charts including Step into The Water, Boundless Love, and He Made a Change. While the quartet saw several different people hold the tenor, baritone and pianist positions, Payne and Younce remained the guiding forces of the quartet until Glen's death in 1999 during the Cathedral's farewell retirement tour. Payne and Younce were the only lead and bass singers the Cathedrals ever had.
During the 1970s the Cathedrals were regulars on Sunday Morning Television appearing on "The Gospel Singing Jubilee" and also appeared in several Billy Graham Crusades. They also appeared on 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. During the 1990s, the Cathedrals were regulars 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...
" videos and were generally recognized as the top quartet in Southern Gospel music.
Glen was the willing "target" of many of MC George's jokes and icebreakers during the quartet's run. George often referred to Glen as "The Old Man" . Glen's signature song was We Shall See Jesus.
Glen sat as a member of the Board of Directors
Board of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
of the National Quartet Convention
National Quartet Convention
The National Quartet Convention is an annual gathering of Southern Gospel quartets and musicians. It is currently held at Freedom Hall on the grounds of the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville, Kentucky.-History:...
and the Southern Gospel Museum and Hall of Fame
Southern Gospel Museum and Hall of Fame
150px|right|thumb|Entrance.The Southern Gospel Museum and Hall of Fame is a site operated at Dollywood, in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, by the Southern Gospel Music Association. It was established in 1997...
for many years, being enshrined in the SGMA Hall of Fame at 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 Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
Pigeon Forge is a mountain resort city in Sevier County, Tennessee, located in the southeastern United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 5,875....
itself in 1998.
Death
Glen died due to complications from cancerCancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
in October, 1999 during the Cathedral's farewell tour. Although unable to attend that year, Glen made his final performance at the National Quartet Convention
National Quartet Convention
The National Quartet Convention is an annual gathering of Southern Gospel quartets and musicians. It is currently held at Freedom Hall on the grounds of the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville, Kentucky.-History:...
via telephone hook-up from his hospital bed at Vanderbilt Hospital. During this Cathedral's appearance at NQC, Glen talked with George and the audience over the phone and, at George's behest, sang the old hymn
Hymn
A hymn is a type of song, usually religious, specifically written for the purpose of praise, adoration or prayer, and typically addressed to a deity or deities, or to a prominent figure or personification...
I Won't Have To Cross Jordan Alone in one of the most memorable NQC performances of all time. It was the final time Glen would perform publicly with the Cathedrals.