Wright Funerals-Cremations is in charge of arrangements. You have inspired us to do the same. It was while he was with the Gaithers that he and Bill, along with backup singers Steve Green and Lee Young, began fooling around with a quartet sound. Over the course of two days, more than a dozen Homecoming friends will gather for the first live concert video-taping in more than a decade. Stephen has appeared on dozens of Homecoming DVDs and television specials both as a soloist and a group singer. In a 2005 interview with Cross Rhythms, Pierce said Jones co-wrote six songs on his album Sanctuary. To all the Hess family and especially Jake Jr.: You shared your dad and granddad with the world. Our prayer is that he now has the strong body and voice he deserves. The finest 'Lead' singer I have ever heard! We love you all. Goodman began singing gospel music in the 1940s with her family and eventually became a staple of the Gaither Homecoming concerts. With deepest sympathy to the entire family and special love and prayers to Jake Jr and Judy. Listen to Bill Gaither's 30 Favorite Homecoming Hymns (Live) by Various Artists on Apple Music. Stephen Hill, 55, of Nashville, TN, died Sunday, Aug. 5, 2012. Through the years, Jake's powerful voice and unique styling influenced generations of singers, including a young Elvis Presley, who often hung around concerts where The Statesmen were performing. She had many of his tapes and played them over and over. Jake was a true inspiration at all the Gaither Homecoming Concerts. A veteran singer, McSpadden had filled in for Jake Hess with the Statesmen Quartet, later joining the Oak Ridge Boys before becoming an original member of the Imperials. In the 21st century, it's not just urns and gravestones anymore. He was also a soloist, writer, and television host. We lost a dear friend today, said Bill Gaither in announcing McSpaddens departure. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. this evening at McMullen Funeral Home, 3874 Gentian Blvd., Columbus. I will always remember the way I felt when Mr. Hess would sing a song. Danny was a college student, and Mary Ann was in the sixth grade. Ben was inducted into the Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame in 1995, the Southern Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame in 1998, and the Southern Gospel Piano Roll of Honor in 2002. Our prayers and heart go out to the Hess family. CMD / Spring House / Gaither Music Group. Jake Hess December 24, 1927 - January 4, 2004 OPELIKA, AL . A former member of the Gaither Vocal Band, Hill was a solo artist who had sung in numerous television specials and DVDs. Anticipating a large turnout and knowing that there was much. Jake Hess was one of the most gracious men we ever had the pleasure of meeting. He sang with the Christ Church Choir in Nashville, where he attracted the attention of Naomi Judd. GOD BE WITH YOUALL. He will be missed by all who knew him and by so many who never met him but loved him still. Jason Bruce Cooper, age 41 years of West Union, Ohio passed away Thursday, January 14, 2021, after a battle with a long-term illness. I am looking forward to the gospel choir in heaven. 2023 Wright Funerals-Cremations. He was a friend of the Wilson family going back to his days singing with the Statesmen.We will hear him sing again in heaven one day. MAY GOD COMFORT YOU THROUGH THIS DIFFICULT TIME. The family will receive friends on Monday April 10, from four until seven oclock in the evening at Woodlawn-Roesch-Patton Funeral Home and from eleven until one oclock on Tuesday followed by a Celebration of Life Service at one oclock at The First Church of the Nazarene, 510 Woodlawn Street. Information and advice to help you cope with the death of someone important to you. We were blessed to go to the semitary. Pisgah, Ala., the youngest of 12 children born to the late Stovall and Lydia Hess of Haleyville, Ala. I look forward to shaking his hand and hearing that voice again one day! I just wanted to add my condolences to the Hess family. My heart is breaking-Jake was my friend for 55 years. The Homecoming family is extremely sad to announce that our dear friend, Stephen Hill, passed away suddenly on Sunday evening, August 5. Mr. Hess will be missed but he leaves us such wonderful memories and a beautiful family. He performed at the White House and on "Today" as well as the Billy Graham Crusade and won awards from the Southern Gospel Association. Vestal Goodman was known as the Queen of Southern Gospel Music and was renowned for her distinctive handkerchief. You just know J. D.,Glenn,James,Rex and all those who preceded him are rejoicing at his arrival. Love you Jake! Over the years, Jake's family has lovingly shared their father and grandfather with his friends and fans. Ben was a singer, musician, music publisher, and record company executive. You will live forever in our hearts. Pierce was born Jonathan Pierce Hildreth in Odessa, Texas, in November 1970. Pierce was married to Denise Jones between 1994 and 2007. "Phil was a creative force behind Homecoming Radio for over 15 years." Bill Gaither states. McSpadden was a former member of the Oak Ridge Boys and a vocal legend who performed with many other groups, including the Statesmen, Oak Ridge Boys, and Imperials. READ NEXT: Teenage Porn Star Controversy Rocks California High School, Jonathan Pierce Dead: Gospel Singer Dies at 49, Copyright 2023 Heavy, Inc. All rights reserved. As Jake sang, "We are so blessed" and we are. Stephen was in the middle of a sound check before a solo concert in Lumberton, North Carolina, when he suffered a massive heart attack that took his life. And David Phelps has recently left the group to pursue a solo career. So sorry to hear of his passing. Market data provided by Factset. We would like to offer our sincere support to anyone coping with grief. Gospel Singing Artist, Ms. Lillie Knauls! Our loss is Heavens gain. Most recently, he'd been a guest artist and pianist for Gaither Homecoming concerts headlined by gospel superstar Bill Gaither. 15 Feb 2022. Gaither Vocal Band 2023 tour will finish its run with a final performance on November 6th, 2070 at 7:00pm at the McLean Bible Church, which can be found at 8925 Leesburg Pike, Vienna, VA. I just don't understand what is going on in Heaven, but I know it must be super special, for those two (Characters) to personally be drafted in heaven in lest than ten days, Could it be the rehersal for heaven's Choir? In addition to being a member of the group, McSpadden was a pastor at the Faith and Wisdom Church in Branson, Missouri. With over 1,900 locations, Dignity Memorial providers proudly serve over 375,000 families a year. I dont remember any cross word, ever, she noted. He was so talented that he later toured with the band and performed in front of the Iron Lady. Jake's influence on the rock 'n' roll superstar is well documented and Elvis' affection for him continued over the years. Since He, Denver Doy, Jim And Hovie sang out of Atlanta. The Gaither Vocal Band also lost Mark Lowry, the original tenor in the Bill Gaither Trio. Watching and listening to a legend will alway's be one of our fondest memories. Bill served in the United States Air Force. Our hearts are heavy as we try to understand how quickly life changes. Copyright 2022 - 2023 Heart Eyes Magazine -. Born Clyde Lamar Thrasher in 1940, he was known as Buddy most of hi Jerry served with Singing News Magazine from May 1969 until his retirement in 2010, encompassing a total of 492 issues. As a pre-teen I used to go to the V.F.W. Gaither died Friday in Indianapolis after a five-year battle with lymphoma. One day, Bill Gaither arrived at the Nashville studio where Paschal was recording and invited her to be the soloist for the Gaither Homecoming Tour. I grew up going to the all night singings in Birmingham, Al. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 7, at Morningside Baptist Church in Columbus, according to McMullen Funeral Home. The Homecoming family is extremely sad to announce that our dear friend, Stephen Hill, passed away suddenly on Sunday evening, August 5. Jim Baileys column appears on Thursday. He was 77. No doubt Heaven's choir is sounding better than ever! In a survey by the Gaither Music organization, Larry was one of the three most requested soloists on the Gaither Homecoming videos (April, 2014). My Mother took me to hear Jake Hess from the time I was born 48 years ago. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Consider offering these words of comfort if you're not sure what's appropriate. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--Rex Nelon, one of the most respected men in Southern Gospel music, died suddenly in London after suffering a heart attack on Jan. 23. about 11:30am, finding cars and folks everywhere. Ben later became the music director of the Gaither Homecoming programs. Buddy Greene) [Live], There Is a Fountain Filled With Blood (Live), When the Saints Go Marching In (feat. His last few years he pastored in Branson, Missouri, also appearing at one of Bransons entertainment venues. Listed below are some of the most notable. Her music, her life, her ministry, her fans, and more, are all here! His wife, Carol, has made a tribute to her husbands memory, while his sister Cheryl Kartsonakis has shared a touching message. Preview of the newest Gaither Homecoming videos. Local news, sports and entertainment when you want it. That piano never returned to the store. View Tribute Book He was a Southern Gospel group The Imperials member and performed with the Gaither Vocal Band. Low 38F. When He died in 2004 I was unable to attend his Funeral. Guy Penrod & David Phelps) [Live]. Right now, there are 0 Gaither Vocal Band concert tickets available for the band's final performance. Popular Southern Gospel Pianist Jeff Stice Passes Away. My thoughts and Prayers are with the Hess family. His schedule normally involves weekend church services or concerts, although he occasionally schedules two to three week . met jake one time. After the band split in 1967, McSpadden became pastor of a large nondenominational church in Fort Worth, Texas. Legal Statement. "His energy, talent, and commitment to Christ were constant. Jake, you have run a good race, you have fought a good fight. We will miss Jake's beautiful music and humble, sweet spirit. His unexpected death has left a hole in the Gaither Vocal Band family. Price was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 1998. Nelon was in London to record music for the Gaither Homecoming Tour. WE WILL MISS JAKE'S SMILING FACE ON THE HOMECOMING VIDEOS. Be comforted in the legacy your love one left and the heritage that is yours. Jonathan Pierce. Ways to honor Jake Hess's life and legacy. WE ALL KNOW HE HAS A BIG SMILE ON HIS FACE NOW THAT HE, VESTEL AND JOYCE ARE SINGING FOR THE LORD JUST AS HE ALWAYS HAS.I WILL ENJOY ALL HIS MUSIC, HIS BOOK AND REMEMBER THE TIMES I HAVE MET AND TALKED TO HIM. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. A Nashville-based Christian musician, Jonathan Pierce was born and raised in Odessa, Texas. Thank you. Danny was a college student, and Mary Ann was in the sixth grade. Unfortunately, there is no way to list each member, The Gaither Vocal Band has lost another member in the form of Gary McSpadden. To offer your sympathy during this difficult time, you can now have memorial trees planted in a National Forest in memory of your loved one. Jake's daughter remembers the occasion where the piano was moved to the center of the auditorium and all four of the Statemen were singing on top of the piano. Name Born Age Birth_Place Died; Kadur, Paul: 02/12/1926: 80: Laubau, Germany: 12/30/2006 I will miss you. Jake Hess, a founder of the Imperials and a member of the Statesmen Quartet, also passed away in a hospital. We joined with his family in love and prayer when he suffered his first heart attack. Legal Statement. NASHVILLE, Tenn. Gospel music pianist Anthony Burger, who played for the popular Gaither Homecoming shows and earned Dove Award nominations for his albums of instrumental music, collapsed and died during a performance. Our deepest sympathy to each member of his family. I have been a fan all my life. Dr. Ben Lacy Speer, age 86, passed away on April, 7, 2017. He won four Grammy Awards: for "Beautiful Isle of Somewhere" in 1968, for "Ain't That Beautiful Singing" in 1969, for "Everything Is Beautiful" in 1970, and for "The Masters V" in 1982. SO IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO HELP ME CARRY THE "GOOD NEWS" IN WORD AND SONG .. Family and friends can send flowers and condolences in memory of the loved one. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Ben spent his entire life surrounded by music. How my life has been enriched! Jul 13, 2013 - Explore Gail Carlisle's board "Christian Singers who have passed", followed by 476 people on Pinterest. When visited in the hospital or at home, Jake wore his baseball cap. He earned his net worth mainly from his devotion in the Christian music industry. Ill see the lights of glory and Ill know he reigns. Armond Morlaes of the Imperials passes away. My heartfelt condolences to the family and friends in this time of deep sorrow. Family and friends are coming together online to create a special keepsake. In a 2001 interview with Cross Rhythms, the singer spoke about his performance style, saying: I am me and thats what I want to be me. Sign up now to get our FREE breaking news coverage delivered right to your inbox. In Germany, these sermons were often collected and published. After graduating from Liberty University, he continued his studies. Thank you for sharing Jake with us. Gloria Gaither is also on the Advisory Board for the Spirit and Place Festival, an organization sympathetic to the "new (age) spirituality." Its hard to believe that the Queen of Gospel Music is no longer with us. He was dearly loved by his friends, family and the music community. The music community mourns the loss of Stephen. He was a tool and die maker at Delco-Remy, formerly of Anderson for 32 years retiring in 1972. STEPHEN HILL OBITUARY. Amen Bill. I have followed Jake for the last 40 yrs. He is greatly missed and loved. A friend said in a Facebook post that Pierce died while recovering from heart surgery. (0) 2009. Get the "Give the World a Smile" & "Sweeter As The Days Go By" DVDs & CDs here! rather meet him than elvis.. my heart feels like i am one of his family. The Rev. He had previously performed with such country and gospel icons as Marie Osmond, Jake Hess, and Dolly Parton. I will never know or feel the depth of your loss, but know my prayers are being offered for all of you to have comfort and peace. 2 Flowers or Condolences have been shared with support of Bill's family -. Despite his busy schedule as a pastor, McSpadden focused on his music career, eventually stepping down from his position as co-pastor of the church. Cousins once removed Mark, Marty, Scott and Todd Frendt lost their mother, Onie Martin, 85. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Thanks for everything Mr. Hess. Interior Staterooms: A starter option for those wanting an interior cabin, these cozy staterooms include two luxurious twin beds (convertible to a queen-size), a sitting area, vanity area and private bathroom with approximately 151-233 square feet of space. Jonathan Pierce, the Nashville-based gospel singer, has died at the age of 49. See you one day in Heaven. One of the best added to God's Chorus! Unfortunately, there is no way to list each member individually, but you can explore the careers of all four men. Enter Hess is survived by his son Jake Jr. and ten grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. After a few minutes you realize, you know, it really doesnt matter.. Tickets for this exciting event are on sale now! It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Connie Hopper (Brownwood, Texas), born in Brady, Texas, who passed away on June 15, 2018, at the age of 78, leaving to mourn family and friends. We were blessed to meet family and friends. Another member of the Gaither Vocal Band who passed away is Jonathan Pierce. Gaither Homecoming Videos A chronological listing of the 89 Homecoming videos and 21 Compilations with track listings. Also this year, Burger's album "A Tribute to Bill and Gloria Gaither" was nominated for the Gospel Music Association's Dove Award in the instrumental album category. Earl Weatherford died in 1992. George W. Gaither Alexandria, Indiana December 21, 1913 - January 20, 2005 Tribute Wall Obituary & Events Share a memory Plant a tree Obituary George had lived in Alexandria all of lifetime. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. or redistributed. My prayers and thoughts are with you - Becky, Jake Jr and Chris. SUE. Write CSS OR LESS and hit save. To this day I still listen to Jake's wonderful music. Gilead; step-daughter, Julie Jones of Charlotte, sister, Pauline Lurye of Phoenix, AZ; grandchildren, Mitch Gaither (Shae) of Lexington, Allison Koonts (Daniel) of Landis, NC. He has now reached the home he has been singing about for so long. Powered by. His last album, "Homecoming," was a hit and won a Grammy Award for Best Southern Gospel Recording. Published by Columbus Ledger-Enquirer from Jan. 5 to Jan. 6, 2004. Serving as pallbearers are Dave Clark, Gene McDonald, Tim Reid, Mike Allen, Brian Speer, Marc Speer, Tom Powell, Shannon Fontaine and Per Norstrand. He will be missed.. You are all in our thoughts and prayers. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. We're sorry but our Web TV app doesn't work properly without JavaScript enabled. God bring comfort and mercy to his family., Another of Pierces friends, fellow singer Jody McBrayer, said in a tweet, So extremely sad to hear about the tragic passing of Jonathan Pierce. I DIDN'T KNOW HIM BUT I WAS A FAN OF HIS MUSIC AND SINGING. Joining with Hovie Lister, he began a magical 15 years in which the legendary group recorded for RCA Victor, sang on network television, created one of the earliest syndicated TV shows and blessed audiences all over the country. Sumner and James Blackwood. In 1948, he became lead singer of The Statesmen Quartet. His last album, Homecoming, was a hit and won a Grammy Award for Best Southern Gospel Recording. Jake is in the best of company! His widow, Kathy, and children are left behind. I used to go to the wings when the. In 1999, Lily published an autobiography, With All My Heart. Jake Hess, He was indeed unique, but take comfort, you can sure see him again, but this time we will all sing together in that beautiful isle of somewhere, take comfort from the Martinez Family in HOnduras we are praying for you. Gaither Homecoming is a series of songs, videos and concerts promoted by Bill Gaither. I will surely miss the wonderful voice of Jake Hess! The series started in 1991. We will truly miss him. Pierce was born Jonathan . They too were a groundbreaking group that set new standards in gospel music. and there will never be another like him. He never dreamed there would be more songs to sing. We were blessed to have a front row seat at the funeral. Jonathan Pierce Hildreth, better known as Jonathan Pierce (November 15, 1967May 9, 2020), [1] [2] was an American CCM, gospel singer from Odessa, Texas and an interior designer in Nashville. I loved to hear Jake sing, he will be missed. Grief researchers say holding that missing funeral service, even a year or more later, can still help us heal. While you may have missed a particular member, remember that he was an integral part of the Gaither Vocal Band. A kind and gentle man who lived what he sang. The Bob Robinson family, Bob, Carolyn, Rick, Leigh Ann and Lynne were mightily blessed in 1968 when we became neighbors of Jake & Joyce Hess on Williamsburg Rd, Brentwood, TN. He was the gospel giant, full of humility and love that was shown to everyone. He also starred in a country television series called Ultimate Country Home. Mr. Jake I never had the pleasure of knowing you but listening to your songs over and over I know I was blessed with your presence.You and Vestal keep the angels singing in heaven cause we all knew you were angels here. The Gospel Music World has lost another great singer. A pastor by training, McSpadden, had a musical relationship with the Gaithers beginning in 1977 when he joined the Gaither Trio alongside Bill and Gloria Gaither. Man Man Man, I love the Lord, but i just want to ask him one question today, What is he doing in Heaven, that takes need of Vestal Goodman and her old Boyfriend Jake hess, in less than 10 days? Over and over be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed and was renowned for her distinctive.! Legend will alway 's be one of Bransons entertainment venues, music publisher, and record executive... 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