The Kingdom Heirs Quartet are a Southern Gospel

Southern Gospel

Southern Gospel music—at one time also known as "quartet music"—is music whose lyrics are written to express either personal or a communal faith regarding biblical teachings and Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music...

 quartet based at Dollywood

Dollywood

Dollywood is a theme park owned by entertainer Dolly Parton and the Herschend Family Entertainment Corporation. It is located in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Dollywood has 3,000 people on its payroll, making it the largest employer in that community....

 in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

Tennessee

Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...

.

Musical career

The Kingdom Heirs perform multiple shows daily at Dollywood during the months that the park is open. While the park is closed, they tour just like any other group. The group has been at the park since 1981, when it was known as Silver Dollar City

Silver Dollar City

Silver Dollar City is a theme park in the state of Missouri. Opened on May 1, 1960, the park is located between Branson and Branson West, Missouri, on Highway 76...

. It is estimated that they sing to over 2 million people each year - more than any other Southern Gospel group.

The Kingdom Heirs have had 5 songs - "That's Why I Love To Call His Name," "I Know I'm Going There," "Forever Changed," "What We Needed," and "He Locked the Gates" - reach #1 on the Singing News

Singing News

The Singing News is an American magazine which focuses on the Southern Gospel music industry....

 magazine charts.

Discography

• 2011 We Will Stand Our Ground
• 2010 It's Christmas
• 2010 25th Anniversary
• 2010 Live at Dollywood (dvd/cd set)
• 2009 When You Look at Me
• 2007 True To The Call
• 2006 White Christmas
• 2006 Off the Record
• 2006 Live in Grand Style (video)
• 2005 Give Me The Mountain
• 2005 Series One
• 2004 Going on With the Song: Live (video)
• 2004 Lyrics Not Included (band)
• 2004 Forever Changed
• 2004 Spirit of Christmas
• 2003 Going on With the Song
• 2003 Sing It Again
• 2002 Anchored (video)
• 2002 City of Light (video)
• 2002 Together in Song (video)
• 2002 Gonna Keep Telling
• 2002 N' Tune (band)
• 2001 Classic Collection Double CD
• 2001 Shadows of the Past
• 2001 Journey Home (video)
• 2001 Live in the Smokies (video)
• 2000 Impressions (band)
• 2000 City of Light
• 1999 A Christmas Celebration (Christmas)
• 1999 The Journey Home
• 1998 Reflections
• 1998 Anchored Live
• 1997 Anchored
• 1997 My Father Is Rich
• 1997 Christian Family
• 1996 Feelin' at Home
• 1995 Forever Gold
• 1994 Song of Praise
• 1993 Timeless
• 1992 Telling the World
• 1992 Extraordinary
• 1991 Good Christian Men Rejoice (Christmas)
• 1990 Live at Dollywwod
• 1989 From the Heart
• 1988 Live in Concert (video)
• 1988 Classics
• 1988 Steppin' on the Bright Side
• 1987 Pure Gold
• 1987 Favorites
• 1986 Heirlooms
• 1986 The Good Times
• 1985 Southern Live
• 1984 Special Edition
• 1983 Just Arrived
• 1982 The Kingdom Heirs (Later Changed to Vol. 5)

Members

The Current group consists of Arthur Rice

Arthur Rice

Arthur Rice is the lead singer for the Kingdom Heirs. He has been with the Kingdom Heirs since 1995...

 (lead), Jerry Martin

Jerry Martin

Jerry Lindsey Martin is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. He is the son of major league pitcher Barney Martin....

 (tenor), Steve French

Steve French (singer)

Steve French is the baritone, emcee, owner, and a founding member of the Kingdom Heirs. French and his brother, Kreis, founded the group in 1981; both began performing musically at their church...

 (baritone), Jeff Chapman

Jeff Chapman (singer)

Jeff Chapman is the bass singer for the Kingdom Heirs. He has been a member of the group since 2002. He has previously traveled with Bob Wills, The Sound, The Anchormen, and The Blackwoods....

 (bass), Andy Stringfield (Pianist), Dennis Murphy

Dennis Murphy (Gospel musician)

Dennis Murphy is the drummer for the Kingdom Heirs.-Biography:He has been a member of the group with 1990. Before he joined the Kingdom Heirs he toured with The Greenes....

 (drums), and Kreis French

Kreis French

Kreis French is the bass guitarist, owner, and a founder member of the Kingdom Heirs. He has been with the group since 1981.-Musical career:...

 (bass guitar).

Tenor

• Wayne Mitchell (1981–87)
• Rick Strickland
  Rick Strickland
  Rick Strickland is a Southern Gospel singer. Although he is currently a soloist, Strickland has sung tenor with several groups in the past, including The Singing Americans , The Sound , The Kingdom Heirs , The Stamps Quartet, and Ed Enoch and Golden Covenant...
  
   (1987–92)
• David Walker (1992–1994)
• David Sutton (1994–2002)
• Jodi Hosterman (2002–05)
• Billy Hodges (2005–2011)
• Jerry Martin (2011-today)

Lead

• David McGill
  David McGill
  David McGill is a Canadian former professional soccer player who played in the North American Soccer League between 1979 and 1981 for the Vancouver Whitecaps, Detroit Express and Washington Diplomats. McGill also earned four caps for the Canadian under-20 side in 1979, and participated at the 1979...
  
   (1981–89)
• Clayton Inman (1989–94)
• Steve Lacey
  Steve Lacey (singer)
  Steve Lacey is a Southern Gospel singer. He has sung baritone for Gold City and lead for Gold City , The Kingdom Heirs , and The Steve Lacey Trio....
  
   (1994–95)
• Arthur Rice (1995-today)

Baritone

• Steve French (1981-today)

Bass

• Eric Hawkins (1982–85)
• Jody Medford (1986–87)
• Bob Caldwell (1987–91)
• Eric Bennett (1991–2002)
• Jeff Chapman (2002-today)

Piano/Keyboards

• Randall Hunley
  Randall Hunley
  Randall Hunley is a Southern Gospel musician. He was pianist for The Kingdom Heirs and The McKameys .-References:...
  
   (1981–1992)
• Jamie Graves
  Jamie Graves
  Jamie Graves was the pianist for many gospel groups during the late 80's and throughout the 90's. The Telestials 1987-1989, The Perrys 1989, The Greenes 1989, The Sharps 1990-1991 Kingdom Heirs from 1992-1999. During this time he was nominated several times for instrumentalist of the year by...
  
   (1992–99)
• Jeff Stice (1999–2002)
• Adam Harman
  Adam Harman
  Adam David Harman was the pianist for the Kingdom Heirs from 2002 through 2007. He previously traveled with True Heart and The Perrys....
  
   (2002–2007)
• Joseph Cox (2007)
• Lucas Case (2007)
• Joshua Pope (2007)
• Andy Stringfield (2007-today)

Drums

• Rich Wilson (1984–88)
• Stephen Arant (1988–90)
• Dennis Murphy (1990-today)

Bass guitar

• Kreis French (1981-today)

Lead guitar

• Larry Hutson (1981–1982)

External links

• Kingdom Heirs Website
• Group History