Inducted 1997

Jake Hess started singing gospel music with a family group, the Hess Brothers, when he was just five years old. After singing with several other local groups, he accepted his first professional position at the age of sixteen with the legendary John Daniel Quartet. From there, he also served brief stints in the late 1940s with the Sunny South Quartet and the Melody Masters. 

In December 1948, Jake joined the Statesmen and, over the next few years, cemented his place in Southern Gospel Music as a premier lead vocalist. 

Late in 1963, he left the Statesmen to form the Imperials. Forced to retire four years later due to persistent health problems, Jake sang on-forming his own family group, The Sound of Youth and, in the early 1980s, filling a spot as one of the original Masters V. Through the end of the century, Jake continued as one of Southern Gospel's most-distinctive stylists and best-loved personalities.