A Country Boy from Patterson, North Carolina
George Younce by Charlie Griffin For those who have followed gospel music and for newer quartet gospel music fans, there are many talented people who become icons. Some were propelled into the forefront by sheer talent and audience demand. Others graduated in status over time as they honed and crafted their skills. Such is the case with George Younce. Born February 22, 1930 in the small community of Patterson, North Carolina, in Caldwell County, George Younce fit the norms of the day. He was the youngest of five children: Ruby, Tom, Ray, Brudge and George. The Younce family was typical. They worked hard by day and were in church when the doors opened. Back in the day, often family time and church were graced by music and shaped note singing. George said many times his “biggest influence” in singing came from his father. At the ripe age of 15 he joined a local quartet in the Happy Valley community – the Spiritualaires. Ike Miller, recruited the young man to sing tenor. Younce loved it.
er family stories, “Ike saw something in that boy.”
But nature has a way of changing things. As his voice began to change, those high notes were too high and there was the cracking and uncertainty. He stopped singing for a time. Ike kept up with him. In the Mill-
As the story goes, one day while in Lenoir, Ike saw George and asked to come back to the group and try it again as they needed a singer. That night George said he learned his “voice dropped, and his natural spot was singing bass.” He continued singing bass with the quartet until he left for the army. In radio interviews over the years, he shared how these formative years took hold in him. It is during this time he went to the Stamps Baxter School of Music with Miller and the quartet. George said that he remembered his Dad borrowing the money so that he could go to the music school.
