For more than a half a century, no group has secured such a far reaching legacy
like that of The Kingsmen Quartet. Since 1956, this group has risen from humble
beginnings in the mountains of western North Carolina to one of the most beloved and
innovative groups in Christian music. Countless renowned artists have been a part of
this great lineage; such as Eldridge Fox, "Big" Jim Hamill, Ray Dean Reese, Squire
Parsons, Johnny Parrack, Anthony Burger, Ernie Phillips, Gary Sheppard, and a host of
others. The momentum has not stopped as this group continues to help define the
Southern Gospel genre for a whole new generation of music lovers, perhaps more so
than any other group.
In the mid-fifties, brothers Raymond, Reese, and Louis McKinney formed a gospel
group, traveling locally throughout the western part of the Carolinas and completing
dozens of recordings by the late 60's. By the early 70's, area natives Eldridge Fox and
Ray Dean Reese joined this emerging quartet and in 1974 released their first live
recording, "Big & Live" consisting of Fox, Reese, Jim Hamill, and Johnny Parrack. This
Dove award winning album brought to gospel music, fresh arrangements and catchy
melodies that would later become southern gospel classics, such as "Glory Road", "Look
for Me At Jesus Feet", and "Love Lifted Me". This would be the start of many legendary
live albums for the Kingsmen. Traveling with a live band, the Kingsmen became one of
few groups during this era to be able to perform with three to five musicians, granting
them individuality and innovation in the industry.
Always seeking to have a creative edge, they began introducing themselves as,
"The Ton of Fun". Through the late 1970's and 80's, more hits were churning from
albums such as "Chattanooga Live", "Live Naturally", & "Live at The University of
Alabama". These albums combined with high energy and up-tempo music brought
music lovers an exciting brand of showmanship. Songs like, "Old Ship of Zion", "Shake
Hands with a Poor Boy", "Beautiful Home", "Saints Will Rise", and "Child, Child" became
gospel music staples. In 1981, "Excuses" became the Kingsmen's biggest hit of that era;
it was steady at number one for 18 months, making it the longest running number one
song in Southern Gospel Music history.
The successes of The Kingsmen have led to many prestigious opportunities.
In 1977, The Kingsmen performed on the south lawn of the White House for President
Jimmy Carter and in 1982 they performed at the opening ceremony of the World's Fair in
Knoxville, TN which was broadcast on local and regional TV, with President Ronald Regan
present to open the fair. The Kingsmen was also the first group to film and record a live
performance at the famous Grand Ole Opry in Nashville and in 2000 they were inducted
into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame followed by the Christian Music Hall of Fame in
2008. They've garnered multiple dove awards and numerous Singing News Fan awards
including favorite bass vocalist, tenor, baritone, lead, instrumentalist, video, the 1992
favorite song "Wish You Were Here" as well as favorite album by the same name, male
quartet of the year, and group of the year. The Kingsmen band was voted favorite band
a record 17 times making this quartet one of the most awarded groups in Southern
Gospel Music.
"The key is to never lose sight of what we are working towards" says Ray Reese,
Kingsmen manager and bass singer. "We tour year in and year out to spread our music
to people across the country. Our music has a message, the message of Christ. Every
night we work to bring His message to our audience. Our goal is to see people saved
through Jesus Christ whether we're singing indoors, outdoors, in an auditorium, church
or studio recordings ". Today the Kingsmen consist of 2008 hall of fame inductee, Ray
Dean Reese, his son Brandon Reese, Randy Crawford, Bob Sellers, and Chris Jenkins.
Ladies and Gentlemen...From the Land of the Sky...
The Mighty Kingsmen Quartet!