Jake Hess

Jake Hess (December 24, 1927 – January 4, 2004) was an American Grammy Award-winning southern gospel singer.

Life The son of "a sharecropper who was a shape-note singing-school teacher," Hess was born in Mt. Pisgah,

Hess's entry on the Encyclopedia of Alabama's website says of his name: "His parents did not officially name him, so the attending physician entered his name as 'Man Child' Hess in official documents."

When he registered with the draft board in Lincoln, Nebraska, he gave his name as "William Jesse Hess." In 1997, when Hess was preparing to get a passport to travel overseas, he discovered that his birth certificate actually read Manchild Hess. His son, Jake Jr., named his recording company Manchild Records in honor of his father.

Career Hess' career started at the age of 16, when he joined the popular John Daniel Quartet in 1943,

Solo career Hess was a noted soloist in his own right. He had won several Grammy Awards on RCA Victor as a solo artist. His last 12 years, he appeared on the Gaither Homecoming concerts and videos. These videos featured Hess from noted concerts in the U.S. at the Kennedy Center, the Ryman Auditorium, and Hawaiian islands and Europe.

Television Hess had The Jake Hess Show on WLAC in Nashville, Tennessee and performed in the Old Time Singing Convention.

Family Hess and Joyce McWaters were married on October 5, 1952. They had three children. In 1989 Jake's nephew Steve Hess & Eugene Baker (Hess & Baker, Skylite/Sing) were in Nashville to record several segments on Bobby Jones Gospel (BET Network). Jake accompanied them to the studio and liked what he heard. While they were visiting with Jake in Brentwood, he asked whether they would be interested in forming with him a new version of Jake Hess & Friends. The group would ultimately consist of Jake, Steve, Eugene & Chris, Jake's son. They started rehearsals in Jake's family room and started touring later in the year. There were several dates in Missouri and Florida, but Jake determined that the traveling was going to be more demanding than he anticipated, so by 1990 the tours were put on hold with the possibility of doing something with television.

Book In 1995, Hess's autobiography, Nothin' but Fine: The Music and the Gospel According to Jake Hess,

Death Hess died January 4, 2004, in Opelika, Alabama after suffering a heart attack December 14, 2003, just days after a performance in Atlanta, Georgia.

He was survived by a daughter, two sons, 10 grandchildren, one great-grandchild and a sister. 1981: Grammy for Best Gospel Performance, Traditional for "The Masters V" 1987: Inducted into the Gospel Music Association's Gospel Music Hall of Fame 1995: Inducted into the Alabama Music Hall of Fame, with a John Herbert Orr Pioneer Award 1997: Inducted into the Southern Gospel Music Association's Hall of Fame. 1998: Inducted into the Gospel Music Association's Gospel Music Hall of Fame as a member of The Imperials

Discography Solo albums 1962: The Great Voice of Jake Hess (BibleTone Records) 1968: The Incomparable Jake Hess (RCA Victor) 1968: Beautiful Isle of Somewhere (RCA Camden) 1969: Ain't That Beautiful Singing (RCA) 1969: Spiritual Reflections (RCA) 1970: Everything Is Beautiful 1981: I'm Gonna Keep On Singing (Skylite) 1996: Terry & Jake (Terry Bradshaw) (Chordant [Gaither Series]) 2001: All of Me (Cathedral) 2005: Gotta Get a God Said (Crossroads Records) (released posthumously)

With The Statesmen 1957: The Statesmen Quartet with Hovie Lister 1958: The Statesmen Quartet Sings with Hovie Lister 1958: The Bible Told Me So 1959: Hymns 1959: I'll Meet You By the River 1959: Get Away Jordan 1960: Mansion Over the Hilltop 1960: On Stage 1960: Something To Shout About 1960: Encores 1960: Peace, O Lord 1960: Statesmen Blackwood Favorites 1961: Out West 1961: Through the States 1962: Stop, Look & Listen for the Lord 1962: Camp-Meeting Hymns 1962: Singing Time in Dixie 1963: The Mystery of His Way 1963: Message in the Sky 1963: A Gospel Concert 1977: The Legendary Statesmen Return 1977: Sing Gospel Songs Elvis Loved 1978: His Love Put A Song In My Heart 1978: Merry Christmas 1978: Glory, Glory, Clear The Road 1992: I Surrender All 1992: The Bible Told Me So 1992: Get Away Jordan 1992: Jubilee's A Coming 1992: Revival 1992: O What a Savior 1993: O My Lord What a Time 1997: Hovie Lister & The Statesmen

Jake Hess and the Imperials

Albums with Elvis Presley 1966 How Great Thou Art

With the Masters V 1981: The Masters V (Skylite Records) 1982: O What a Savior (Skylite) 1982: The Legendary Masters V 1983: Featuring… 1983: Live at the Joyful Noise 1984: Thru the Years 1984: Good Things 1985: The Master's Hymns

Album with The Talleys 2007 Stages (Crossroads Records) (posthumous duet)

Video 1994: Hovie Lister And The Sensational Statesmen: An American Classic 1998: Jus' Jake And A Few Close Friends 2002: Old Friends Quartet: Encore 2004: A Tribute To Jake Hess

Gaither Homecoming Performances 1991: Homecoming 1995: All Day Singin' with Dinner on the Ground "Waiting For His Return" 1995: Revival "Prayer Is The Key To Heaven (But Faith Unlocks The Door)" 1995: Ryman Gospel Reunion "Goodbye, World, Goodbye," "You And Me, Jesus," "Sunday Meetin' Time" 1998: Atlanta Homecoming "Where Could I Go?" 1998: Down By The Tabernacle "Old Camp Meeting Days," "Come Sunday" 1998: Hawaiian Homecoming "I Don't Think, I Know," "Jesus, I Believe What You Said," "Over The Moon" 1998: Marching To Zion "When He Calls, I'll Fly Away" 1998: Rivers Of Joy "I Came To Praise The Lord" 1998: Singin' With The Saints "He Keeps Me Singing," "I Know Where I Am Now" 1999: Kennedy Center Homecoming "Old Friends." "It Is No Secret" 1999: Singin' In My Soul "Wore Out" 1999: Sweet, Sweet Spirit "I'm Telling The World About His Love" 2000: Harmony in the Heartland "Thanks For Sunshine," "Move That Mountain," "Get Away, Jordan" 2000: Irish Homecoming "No Fishin'" 2000: Memphis Homecoming "Give The World A Smile," "Up Above My Head" 2000: Whispering Hope "Doesn't Get Any Better Than This" 2001: Christmas... A Time for Joy "White Christmas" 2001: Journey To The Sky "He Knows Just What I Need" 2001: London Homecoming "Too Much To Gain To Lose," "O, How I Love Jesus/To Me, It's So Wonderful" 2001: What A Time "Oh, What A Time" 2002: Freedom Band "I Shall Not Be Moved" 2002: I'll Fly Away "So Many Reasons" 2002: New Orleans Homecoming "When The Saints Go Marching In" 2003: A Gospel Bluegrass Homecoming, Volume 1 "Sunday Meetin' Time" 2003: Heaven "Beautiful Isle Of Somewhere" 2003: Red Rocks Homecoming "I've Never Loved Him Better Than Today" 2003: Rocky Mountain Homecoming "I Just Love Old People" 2004: A Tribute: Howard & Vestal Goodman "I'm Winging My Way Back Home" 2004: Build a Bridge "Get Away, Jordan" 2004: Dottie Rambo with The Homecoming Friends "Too Much To Gain To Lose" 2004: We Will Stand "Sweeter As The Days Go By" 2005: Hymns "Without Him" 2012: Homecoming Celebration! "Faith Unlocks The Door Medley"