Old Friends Quartet

The Old Friends Quartet was a Southern gospel quartet. The group was made of former Cathedrals members George Younce and Ernie Haase and former Statesmen/Imperials member Jake Hess along with Gaither Homecoming artist Wesley Pritchard. The group name came from Bill Gaither song called Old Friends, believing it was the perfect fit since Hess and Younce were friends for many years even though they traveled with different groups. They released all their albums with Spring House Productions. In 2002, their DVD Encore, with special guests Aaron Wilburn, The Talleys Trio and the Gaither Vocal Band was filmed in Mobile, Alabama and won a Southern Gospel Music Association Award. The group disbanded after 2 years due to Younce's and Hess's declining health. After the group disband, Haase and Jones formed The Signature Sound Quartet (which later became Ernie Haase & Signature Sound) in 2002 while Hess and Younce retired from touring. Jones and Haase dissolved their business relationship after the first year and Pritchard joined them while the group was searching for a full-time lead. Jake Hess died on January 4, 2004 aged 76, George Younce died on April 11, 2005 aged 75 and Garry Jones died on April 27, 2025 aged 62.