Southern Gospel History | G / GlenPayne

Glen Payne (October 20, 1926 – October 15, 1999)

Biography

Glen Weldon Payne was born in Royce City, Texas on October 20, 1926. He developed an interest in Southern Gospel music at an early age and studied at the Stamps Baxter School Of Music while still in his teens. After school, he joined Stamps Baxter Quartet. After returning from military duty in 1946, he joined the Lester's Stamps Quartet. He was also a member of the Stamps Ozark Quartet and, in 1957, he joined the Weatherfords where he stayed until 1963. It was in that year that Glen, Danny Koker, and Bobby Clark formed the Cathedral Trio for Rex Humbard’s Cathedral of Tomorrow.

When George Younce joined the trio the following year, the group changed the name to the Cathedral Quartet. For the next 35 years, Glen and George were the mainstays of the quartet. The Cathedrals steadily climbed their way to the top of the Southern Gospel industry.

In 1999, Glen and George decided to retire the Cathedrals due to Glen’s age and George’s declining health. It was during their farewell tour that Glen became ill. He was diagnosed with liver cancer. Six week later, on October 15, 1999, Glen Payne passed away. Former Cathedrals member Roger Bennett wrote the tribute song, Heroes Of The Faith in honor of Glen.

Even after their deaths, the partnership of Glen and George continues to influence Southern Gospel music through groups that were started by former Cathedrals members such as Legacy Five, the Mark Trammell Trio, Greater Vision, and Ernie Haase And Signature Sound, and by individuals such as Danny Funderburk and Kirk Talley.

Glen Payne was inducted into the Southern Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame in 1997.

Awards

GMA Hall Of Fame (1995)
SGMA Hall Of Fame (1997)

Singing News Fan Awards:
Favorite Baritone (1982)
Favorite Lead (1984, 1986, 1987, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999)

Biography

Awards

Solo Discography