Jake Hess

American Southern Gospel singer. Born December 24, 1927, Limestone County, Alabama. Died January 4, 2004, Opelika, Alabama (76 years old). In 1963, Jake founded The Imperials, hand-picking the members from other quartets. They too were a groundbreaking group that set new standards in gospel music. He was a member of the Southern Gospel Music Hall of Fame and Alabama Music Hall of Fame, which also presented him the American Music Award. He was a founding member of the National Quartet Convention and received a Life Achievement Award from SESAC. 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. In 2002, he won the Southern Gospel Music Association Award for Best Video with The Old Friends Quartet. Groups: The Statesmen Quartet - (1948-1963, 1975-1979, 1992-1993) The Imperials - (1964-1967) Masters V - (1980-1986) John Daniel Quartet - (1946-1947)