Career
He is known for being the lead singer of The Cathedral Quartet. At age 17 in 1944, he joined the Stamps-Baxter Quartet. In 1956, he joined The Weatherford Quartet, which featured Glen, Earl and Lily Fern Weatherford, Armond Morales, and George Younce.
Younce was later replaced by Henry Slaughter.
In 1963, Weatherfords members Glen, Bobby Clark, and Danny Koker departed to work for evangelist Rex Humbard at the Cathedral of Tomorrow in Akron, Ohio. Together, they formed the Cathedral Trio.
With the addition of bass singer George Younce a year later, the Cathedral Trio became the Cathedral Quartet. The Cathedrals immediately became a sensation with their smooth quartet sound.
While the quartet saw several different people hold the tenor, baritone and pianist positions, Payne and Younce remained the guiding forces of the quartet until Glen"s death in 1999 during the Cathedral"s farewell retirement tour.
Payne and Younce were the only lead and bass singers the Cathedrals ever had. During the 1970s, the Cathedrals were regulars on Sunday Morning Television appearing on "The Gospel Singing Jubilee" and also appeared in several Billy Graham Crusades. They also appeared on National Broadcasting Company"s "Today" show.
During the 1990s, the Cathedrals were regulars on the "Gaither Homecoming" videos and were generally recognized as the top quartet in Southern Gospel music
Glen was the willing "target" of many of Military Cross George"s jokes and icebreakers during the quartet"s run. George often referred to Glen as "The Old Manitoba".
Glen"s signature song was We Shall See Jesus. Glen died due to complications from cancer in October, 1999 during the Cathedral"s farewell tour.
Although unable to attend that year, Glen made his final performance at the National Quartet Convention via telephone hook-up from his hospital bed at Vanderbilt Hospital.
During this Cathedral"s appearance at NQC, Glen talked with George and the audience over the phone and, at George"s behest, sang the old hymn I Won"t Have To Cross Jordan Alone in one of the most memorable NQC performances of all time. lieutenant was the final time Glen would perform publicly with the Cathedrals.
