Was George Younce the Best?
Was George Younce the greatest bass singer of all time?
In a word, yes.
I am finding that some of the most insightful posts in Southern Gospel right now are coming from The Inquiring Mind. In a recent post, he makes the case against George being the greatest. With all due respect to one of the most knowledgeable Southern Gospel historians out there, let’s look at some of his arguments.
First off is that people who think of Younce as the greatest haven’t heard the other great bass singers:
And leaving aside the obvious talents of great bass singers such as Arnold Hyles, Jim Waites, and Aycel Soward, does anyone seriously believe that Younce was the superior talent to men such as JD Sumner, London Parris, Jay Simmons, Herschel Wooten, Bill Lyles, Jim “Big Chief” Wetherington, Herman Harper, Bob Thacker, Armond Morales, Noel Fox, Billy Todd, Doug Jones, Gerald Williams, Brock Speer, or even Chalmers Walker?
Perhaps some of these men…but certainly not the majority of them. I would be willing to wager that most of the supporters of the idea that Younce is the greatest of all never even HEARD of most of those men. What basis, then, does someone have for making such a claim without the ability to make a fair comparison?
I can’t speak for others who perceive Younce as the greatest, but I know that as for myself, I have heard and have songs, albums, or CDs in my collection featuring the bass voices of Arnold Hyles, Jim Waites, J.D. Sumner, London Parris, Jay Simmons, Bill Lyles, “Big Chief” Wetherington, Herman Harper, Bob Thacker, Armond Morales, Billy Todd, Gerald Williams, and Brock Speer. I’m not positive I have heard the others mentioned, although chances are I have.
So I think I have the ability to make a fair comparison.
Inquirer1 does make an interesting point in that Younce was not recognized as the greatest when he was at the top of his game in the 1960s and 1970s.
When Younce really entered gospel music’s “big leagues” and joined the Blue Ridge Quartet in the late 1950s, he was in one of gospel’s most popular and visible quartets, and yet, despite his voice being at its’ arguable best, no one even thought of Younce as among the very best basses. The names mentioned most in that regard were JD, Chief, Morales, even Parris(from some!), but Younce was never ever regarded as the best. This despite the fact that he could probably do what he’s so adored for today as well(if not better)than he could at any time. He just was not seen in that light.
That is a valid consideration, but it is worth remembering that becoming the “greatest” isn’t something that happens overnight; it is a verdict rendered at or after the culmination of a lifetime on the road.
Having said all that, why do I believe George Younce was the greatest bass singer of all time?
I believe that the greatest bass singer is the one who best connects with his audience, whether on stage or on record. And in that regard, I believe that George Younce was the complete package.
Until his last years, he could rattle the floors with a double low A-flat. And on the very next song, he would sing a melody in a range which bass singers normally leave to the baritones or lead singers. He knew how to read a crowd like few others and did a masterful job emceeing concerts. And his recitations had an emotive quality that would still send chills down the backs of his fellow group members, who heard him do them every night.
And then, when the concert was over, many are the stories of the little kindnesses he showed to his many fans, young and old, who were waiting for a chance to meet their hero.
So why do I believe he was the greatest? It wasn’t because he was the lowest singer ever. He may not have been the most musically talented, either. Quite possibly, other bass singers were even more entertaining. But George Younce connected with the hearts of his listeners in a way that few have equaled and none have surpassed.
Comment by JIM (October 16, 2006, 9:53 am)
No doubt Younce was a great bass. But JD Sumner could out sing him, equaled him in the narratives, and connected with the audience just as well. Plus, he wrote hundreds of songs and is responsible for a lot of the innovations in SG. You compare Younce’s live performances to recordings of the others. I saw most of those names live, which is the only way to compare, and while Younce was one of my favorites he wasn’t on a par with Sumner.
Comment by A.B. Kendall (October 16, 2006, 11:09 am)
Wow…somebody commented on my page. Thanks! Appreciate the compliments. Take care n ttyl.
Comment by Dean Adkins (October 16, 2006, 11:46 am)
But how many of those that you “write off” have you seen in a live in-concert setting? You mention ability to connect with the audience - a difficult comparison to make without being a part of the audience. Even a video of a live set is not the same as being there.
I agree with Inquirer.
Comment by Inquirer (October 16, 2006, 3:51 pm)
Thanks for the mentions, Daniel…I appreciate them!
But don’t you think that if it was so apparent how great Younce was, people would have noticed it well before he was on top of the industry with the Cathedrals? The things you cite Younce doing were done just as well(if not better)by a lot of the names I cited…perhaps that’s why audiences of the 1950s and 1960s didn’t notice Younce as much.
Keep in mind that Younce and these other bass singers were onstage in the same concerts with Younce night after night, and if audiences then noticed what they say they did years later, they never said so. Furthermore, none of the other singers noticed all that either, though they did respect Younce for his talents.
And most of the qualities you cite in Younce as being special to him weren’t. London Parris’ low A-flats were far more authoritative than Younce’s. As Jim said, JD could sing everything Younce ever sang, and he was also well known for moving audiences with his recitations, as did Big Chief and the often overlooked Bob Thacker. Even Younce’s vocal quality was far surpassed by singers like Aycel Soward and Armond Morales.
Those are my opinions, but I’m willing to wager that people who heard these other gentlemen extensively would be more in agreement with me than disagreement.
Again, Younce was a very good singer…but to say he was the best ever is a bit of a stretch, especially when most of the people who say that have no basis to make a comparison.
By saying that, I don’t mean you, Daniel, because at least you make the attempt to hear as many different singers as you can. But all of us, to one degree or another, tend to gravitate to those who we heard the most, and first.
Comment by Daniel J. Mount (October 16, 2006, 4:15 pm)
Inquirer, thank you for stopping by and commenting. It is true that George Younce was not on top of Southern Gospel in the 1950s and 1960s. But let me ask a question: When the Big Chief stepped on stage in the late 1940s as the bass singer for the Melody Masters Quartet, would his peers or his fans have thought of him as the best ever?
I don’t know how you would answer the question, but I would answer it “no, probably not.” Big Chief did not really become legendary until he was with the right combination of voices.
And by the way, I agree wholeheartedly with your final comment: “But all of us, to one degree or another, tend to gravitate to those who we heard the most, and first.”
You know that I have a love for Gospel Music history. The Cathedrals got me hooked on Southern Gospel music, so even if the day comes when I acknowledge another bass as the best, I have to admit the Cathedrals will always have a special place in my heart.
Comment by Inquirer (October 16, 2006, 4:39 pm)
To answer your question, Daniel…no, I don’t think people were calling Big Chief the best ever that early on…but I must remind you of something.
The Statesmen were formed under much different circumstances than were the Cathedrals. Hovie Lister wanted to assemble a “supergroup”…the best singers he could find. Once Jake Hess joined, he suggested to Hovie that they get Big Chief as well…for his reputation was growing even then, and Hess, JD Sumner, and others all thought Chief was the kind of singer Hovie wanted…and it turned out, he was.
The Cathedrals were formed to be the house quartet for a major church, and Younce was chosen on that basis. They had no ambition to be #1 in the gospel music business, they were just trying to form a good group. Younce fit that bill as well.
As it turned out, both men were perfect for their groups…it’s hard to imagine anyone else singing bass with either group.
Comment by Tom (October 16, 2006, 9:32 pm)
Daniel,
Both you and Inquirer are engaged in an excellent debate, and I think both of you have made some well-nuanced arguments and counterarguments.
But I’m a bit curious how you might distinguish between naming “the best” and naming one’s “favorite.” Do you see those as different categories, such that it would be possible to name a different person for each?
And how would the category of “who do you believe to have been the most popular of all time?” fit in with the categories of “best” and “favorite”?
Comment by Jared (October 16, 2006, 11:46 pm)
I don’t know why people think JD Sumner was so great. Sure, he could get real low, but he was breathy and it just severely lacked in richness and fullness that makes a bass singer great, in my opinion. If I had to illustrate this point, I’d have to liken Tim Riley’s low bass voice to a tuba-like brass instrument, while JD Sumner just sounds like somebody who has been smoking for 50 years when he gets really low.
Personally, when looking at vocal sound alone, I believe Tim Riley is the greatest bass I have ever heard. Forget about emcee work or connecting with the audience, and all that other stuff. It’s like Tom said, you really turn this into a discussion about who your “favorite” bass singer is when you start bringing up such things like that into the mix. In my opinion, Riley is vocally the most impressive bass I have ever heard because he has such a rich and full sound to his low pitches that JD certainly didn’t come close to having, and Younce couldn’t quite match.
I am not the historian that the two of you fellows are, and I have not heard a whole lot from the other singers that have been mentioned. I’m only speaking based on what I have personally heard.
Comment by Earl (October 17, 2006, 12:26 am)
There is no question about it George Younce is the best bass singer to ever to come along in Southern Gospel Music. He knew when to hit the low notes, but most of all knew when and how to blend with the rest of the guys. Most bass singers today just want to Boooarrrrr in the “special microphone” and see how low they can get all through the song.
In my opinion, Jeff Chapman (Kingdom Heirs), Jeff Pearls (Kings Herald), and Burman Porter (Palmetto State) are the finest bass singers singing today that can carry on the legacy that George left them.
Comment by Dean Adkins (October 17, 2006, 12:31 am)
Jared,
I wonder if you are familiar with JD’s work with the Sunshine Boys and stint with the Blackwood Brothers as well as his early Stamps years. Some of the comments you made are those I have heard before from those who are only familair with JD’s latter years - a far cry from his younger days. BTW, JD isn’t my pick for best.
Comment by Daniel J. Mount (October 17, 2006, 5:28 am)
Dean,
I don’t know about Jared, but I do have at least two dozen pre-Stamps J.D. records. If he had continued singing that way throughout his career, I believe I would have rated him differently. As it is, I still believe he was one of the best.
Tom,
I think that George Younce may well have been the favorite, and some other bass, even perhaps one unheard of, may have been the best musically. You are right, it can be confusing to try to distinguish different terms. I think it all comes down to the question of what makes someone the best.
It would be fascinating to know the total number of records and videos the Statesmen sold as compared to the total number of records, CDs, and videos the Cathedrals sold (in addition to the Gaither Homecomings in which they were star performers).
Comment by Sheldon (October 17, 2006, 6:09 pm)
Wow - big subject and one of my favorite ones. I was a huge Cathedrals fan starting in the late ’70s with Kirk and Mark, but I would have to say while George was one of my favorite people in SG and the best emcee I have seen I have never ranked him as the best bass singer. George was certainly better on recordings in the 70s and 80s then when I finally had the privilege of hearing him live in the late 90s. George’s last 5-10 years were tough for me to listen to because he had lost the breath support to sustain a note longer than a few beats, he was wonderful at getting the most out of what he had left.
Of the bass singers I have heard in concert –
Low notes with no end - JD Sumner, even towards the end of his career he would put more on key low notes in a song than most basses put in a concert.
Biggest Voice - Tim Riley, his low C’s and B flats would fill a building like no one I’ve ever heard.
Range and flexibilty - Gene MacDonald, listening to Gene’s rendition of “When They Ring Those Golden Bells” in concert was one of greatest bass leads that I have ever heard.
Consistent Pitch - tie Tim Duncan, Jeff Pearles — I’ve never heard either of them hit a sour note.
I never heard Armond Morales, Big Chief, Arnold Hyles, Aycel Soward or many others live but of all the “old” basses the one who impressed me the most on recordings was Bill Lyles, not thunderously low but an incredibly precise singer with a smooth voice.
The “greatest” bass singer ever?? Of those I’ve heard - I’ll go with Gene MacDonald.
Comment by Tommy (October 17, 2006, 10:49 pm)
Trying to say who the “greatest bass singer ever” is like trying to say what the greatest hymn or gospel song ever written would be. There is too much personal preference that goes into the mix. I have read all of the above and in part agree with most of it. But there are other really great basses that could also be touted as GREAT. Where is Noel Fox, Herman Harper, John Gresham. These guys were fabulous!
I personally had such a fondness for George Younce - his singing, humor, testimony, emceeing, etc. He was a great man, in my estimation, not just a great bass.
I believe JD, in his early years, took bass singing to a different level. He is always the first person I think of when I think of a Gospel Bass Singer. Yet there are so many others who are great in their own right and in the eyes of their own fans, that it is nearly impossible to say “Who the greatest bass singer ever” is.
Comment by Jared (October 18, 2006, 12:37 am)
Dean, I probably am not familiar with those earlier recordings. All I have heard is what they have played on XM Enlighten channel 34 in the last 7 months. I guess it’s possible that they primarily play later recordings. So I’m not gonna argue with you on the point that he was much better in the younger years, because I don’t know if I have heard those older recordings.
Sheldon, I agree that Gene McDonald does have an exceptional range. I was at NQC during the “Bass Singer Competition” (which really wasn’t a competition, but more of a showcase of some of today’s SG bass singers), and at the end they made a traditional SG quartet with 4 of the basses for one song, and Gene sounded surprisingly well as the tenor.
Comment by Jim E. Davis (October 18, 2006, 2:59 am)
Never had the opportunity to hear the early guys sing except on records but I would have to vote for Tim Riley. Didn’t pay much attention to bass singers until I heard him singing with the stellar Gold City of the early 80’s.
Loved George Younce, but more for his big heart and audience communication. What set him apart from the rest? He was in the ultimate group of the 90’s and no one could compete with - as Daniel mentioned above - the complete package which included Glen Payne and the gang. Not to mention the most elaborate platform of the century created by Bill Gaither and a video camera. Only the angels really know…they are hearing them sing side by side all the time!
Comment by JJS (February 15, 2007, 11:03 pm)
Crispness, rhythm as no other bass has had, recitation as none other, range - whether high or low with no thin areas, percision in hitting the notes, tone, inflection, control, volume, interpretation that fit the message of the song, durability, innovation, stage presence, congeniality and looks - Big Chief was the complete package. Few, if any other basses, could have swelled and tapered a lyric in keeping with a lead like Jake Hess, much less stay up with him and mirror his phrasing the way Jim Wethrington did. Listen to all Statesmen recordings (from the early 50s through the mid 60s), and when it fit, he not only could lay down the low notes (What a Day That Will Be, When My Soul Takes Its Flight, Where Could I Go?, etc.), but he could enunciate while doing so. Most, if not all, current basses that have a true exposure to the last 50 years of SGM will tell you Chief is the benchmark. Younce was great - maybe the third or fourth best. Sumner was fun but lacked so much of the above qualities of the Chief. Not only do the pioneers deserve due credit, but remember their equipment (live and in the recording studio) was inferior to what groups have today. Pearles is fine. Riley has some of the Chief in him. Porter has pretty good rhythym and shows respect to the Chief by mostly staying with his interpretation when he sings his signatures songs. Buy, hey, I am thankful for the great music that basses have embellished through the years that shows why trios never quite have it - unless it is a ladies group. Above all, it is for God’s glory and not man’s, as we all know and as the truly great basses have told us in song.
Comment by QN (September 13, 2007, 9:56 am)
Tim Riley, Big Chef, Jeff Pearles, David Hester, and (the most underrated and unrecognzed talent in bass singing today. Also the best of all of these mentioned in this theread)
BIG JIM STEWART
He’s like Tim, rattles the building with a very rich, full tone. Yet Jim’s like JD with depth. His version of “Rainbow Of Love” maks JD seem an amateur.
Comment by ken (November 9, 2007, 9:07 pm)
i like younce for his singing and clarity of his bass notes– some guys have the ability to talk really low and sing loww notes, such as sumner and lest we forget the great paul downings? but their voices didn’t project with clarity as younce , who may not have the lowest voice but clean.
Comment by GORDON D FRENCH (March 2, 2008, 4:57 pm)
As a Southern Gospel Quartet fan from waaaaay back in the days before amplification, and a retired Gospel Music DJ, I have heard, in person and via other means, most all of the “Great Basses.” I could never attempt to name “The Greatest,” but my all time favorite was Berl Strevel with the Blue Ridge. “His Eye Is On The Sparrow” was and will remain the number one song on which he led as far as I am concerned. I sure do miss those old timers.
Comment by marvin nave (May 9, 2008, 8:07 pm)
nobody sang lower than J D Sumner, but in the area of smoothness you must go with Armand Morales. Not to forget Richard Sturben, of the Oaks and Stamps, never overlook Paul Downing, one of the lowest, smoothest and best loved bass singers ever.
Comment by marvin nave (May 9, 2008, 8:13 pm)
Also Tommy, kudos to the Noel Fox mention. His vocals on the Oaks album (Light) were maybe as good as it ever gets
Comment by marvin nave (May 9, 2008, 8:15 pm)
I will love the Chief til the day I die
Comment by B. Donal James (May 20, 2008, 5:23 pm)
All wonderful bass singers with special attributes noted only to each one. However,I’d like to add on that is rarely mentioned, but those who knew him will vouch for him - Fulton Nash, formerly with the WEatherfords. Actually Earl tried to hire him when Armond joined the ranks as I understand. Fulton is one, of not the smoothest bass and a phenominal ‘blender’ - as highly required by the Weatherford sound. This is also not to mention his recitations which, by the way were some of the best rendered - especially, “Heaven’s Sounding Sweeter”. Earl left the concert arena’s and sung mostly in churches, thus perhaps why Fulton isn’t included in many accolades as others.
Comment by Ed Hollingsworth (June 10, 2008, 9:14 pm)
While I am not a bass, I have been singing gospel music for almost 55 years. I have heard and listened to all of the bass singers in this article. Some of them, are very good and some are just okay. I won’t go into that.
There is no doubt in my mind that George Younce was the greatest bass I’ve ever heard. JD Sumner was known for his ability to sing lower than just about anybody. However, musicians can tell you that he was frequently sharp and his sound was sometimes muddy. George Younce had what I like to call nice round notes. I never heard him sing off key once even in the last years before his death.
There were other basses who were more popular at times but lets face it, at different times, different sounds are popular. But fron=m a musicians standpoint, Grorge Younce was always musically far superior to most of the basses out there.
Comment by thomas anderson (June 17, 2008, 12:26 pm)
George Younce was the best bass singer from mid 70’s until the late 90’s when his health started to fail him. George could do more than just hit the low notes, he could flat out sing. J.D. didn’t have the voice George did. Although Tim Riley doesn’t solo as well, he is a close second. Tim Riley hit the low notes with as much power and clarity as anyone and his voice blended in with the others beautifully.
I think Gene Mcdonald is the next best bass out there today. Armon Morales was smooth and was part of a group Glen Payne said may have been the best ever. I think George and Riley liked the Big Chief as well as anyone. One can argue George may not have been the best ever, but I think he was the best during a certain period. I also think Noel Fox was a great bass who could sing who should have stayed around longer.
Comment by thomas anderson (July 20, 2008, 6:13 pm)
Gene McDonald, Jeff Chapman, Eric Bennett, Mike Holcombe, and Jeff Pearles stand out from most of the bass singers out there today. I forgot to mention Herman Harper as one of the greats in my last post.
Comment by Mark Cates (August 22, 2008, 7:57 pm)
I will have to agree with the writer of this column when it was written some two years ago. His last paragraph sums up George perfectly. George will always be on top for me. George tought me much about the whole package traits.
Comment by M. K. Gatewood (September 12, 2008, 5:32 pm)
Through the years, whenever I’ve heard a professional asked for his “all-star” lineup, there would be various names mentioned for the different parts; almost always, when the bass was chosen, it would be the Big Chief.
Comment by James C (September 24, 2008, 9:55 pm)
IMO All these guys were awesome in their prime like JD with the Blackwoods, London Parris with the Rebels,George with the Cats,Chief with the Statesman,Herman Harper with the Oaks and so on,,,, Ive loved to hear bass singers from an early age and I think as mentioned above all had their time in the spotlight as the “best”. I still am amazed though at the quality and smoothness of Herman Harper and equally London Parris during the early sixties. If you can watch the videos on youtube i would highly recommend it as it is WONDERFUL to see these old videos, Its very sad that most of the GREATS are no longer with us.
Comment by Haley (October 1, 2008, 6:33 pm)
I haven’t had the privilege of hearing all of the bass singers mentioned, but of the ones I have heard George Younce is my favorite. And it is entirely possible that it’s because my earliest memory is him singing “The Laughing Song” on the Homecoming Kids “I’m Something Special” tape. I think he was definitely one OF the best ever, but I think that to name a “best ever” is not only difficult but impossible. None of has heard all the bass singers that ever lived, so we can’t make a real decision. And everyone has different qualities they appreciate. For pure lowness, yes J.D. Sumner had George beat. But George was, in my personal opinion, easier to understand. Of today’s basses, Tim Duncan is my favorite. Although, Josh Turner (who is actually a country singer) has a great, smooth voice…