Kingsmen Quartet
Encyclopedia
The Kingsmen Quartet is an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 Christian music
Christian music
Christian music is music that has been written to express either personal or a communal belief regarding Christian life and faith. Common themes of Christian music include praise, worship, penitence, and lament, and its forms vary widely across the world....

 group.

Musical career

The Kingsmen 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...

 vocal quartet
Quartet
In music, a quartet is a method of instrumentation , used to perform a musical composition, and consisting of four parts.-Western art music:...

 based out of Asheville, North Carolina
Asheville, North Carolina
Asheville is a city in and the county seat of Buncombe County, North Carolina, United States. It is the largest city in Western North Carolina, and the 11th largest city in North Carolina. The City is home to the United States National Climatic Data Center , which is the world's largest active...

. Many legends of Southern Gospel (Jim Hamill, Squire Parsons
Squire Parsons
Squire Enos Parsons, Jr. , is a Southern Gospel singer and songwriter. He was born in Newton, West Virginia, to Squire and Maysel Parsons, and was introduced to music by his father, who was a choir director and deacon at Newton Baptist Church...

, Anthony Burger
Anthony Burger
Anthony John Burger was an American musician and singer, most closely associated with Southern Gospel music.-Early life:...

, Mark Trammell
Mark Trammell
Mark Trammell played bass and was a part-time vocalist for Kingsmen Quartet from 1979 until 1980, and he was the baritone vocalist and bass guitar with the Cathedral Quartet from 1980 through 1990. After leaving the Cathedrals, he sang with Greater Vision from 1990 through 1993 and with Gold City...

, Ed Crawford, Ernie Phillips) have been members of The Kingsmen. The group is currently owned and managed by bass vocalist, Ray Reese.

Several groups have used the Kingsmen name over the years, both in sacred and secular music. The most popular secular artists to use the name were the pop group The Kingsmen
The Kingsmen
The Kingsmen is a 1960s garage rock band from Portland, Oregon, United States. They are best known for their 1963 recording of Richard Berry's "Louie Louie", which held the #2 spot on the Billboard charts for six weeks...

 who had a hit with “Louie, Louie” and the Statler Brothers, who changed their name once “Louie, “Louie” became a hit. Other groups have used altered spellings of the name, such at the “King’s Men.”

In Southern Gospel circles, a male quartet based in Asheville is the best-known group calling themselves the Kingsmen. Brothers Raymond, Reese, and Louis McKinney formed the group in the 1950s. David Young played for the McKinney brothers in 1957 and 1958 while he was a student at Mars Hill College. Young had his own group called the Kingsmen Quartet based in Lenoir City, Tennessee
Lenoir City, Tennessee
Lenoir City is a city in Loudon County, Tennessee, United States. Its population was 8,642 at the 2010 census. It is included in the Knoxville Metropolitan Area....

 from 1953 to 1956. Charles Collier and Harold Bailey were also members of the group around this time. Eldridge Fox joined in 1958 after returning home from the military service to play piano. After a year or two, he left to organize a new group called The Ambassadors. He later worked for the Statesmen Publishing Company until he returned home for good in the mid-1960s. He sang baritone in the mid and late 1960s and by 1970-71 bought out the other members, obtaining full control of The Kingsmen. Longtime bass singer Ray Dean Reese joined the Kingsmen in 1967. Reese sang bass for a little over a year. He then left the group for a couple of years to sing with The Journeymen and Kathleen and deliver JFG coffee on the side. He returned to the group in early 1971. A third individual whose name came to be synonymous with the group joined in 1971, lead singer Jim Hamill. Hamill was formerly a member of the Rebels, Blue Ridge Quartet
Blue Ridge Quartet
-History:Originally part of the Stamps organization, they eventually split with that group and relocated to North Carolina, later settling in Spartanburg, South Carolina....

 and Oak Ridge Boys. Hamill sang with the Kingsmen for a little more than five years, then left in May 1976 to move Memphis, TN and joined the Senators. However, by the end of that same year he left the Senators and returned to the Kingsmen where he remained until he officially retired in 1996 at the National Quartet Convention
National Quartet Convention
The National Quartet Convention is an annual gathering of Southern Gospel quartets and musicians. It is currently held at Freedom Hall on the grounds of the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville, Kentucky.-History:...

.

In 1973, the group recorded a trend-setting live recording called Big and Live. On this project they introduced fans to their exciting brand of singing. Unlike the more polished and choreographed Statesmen and Blackwood Brothers of the previous two decades, the Kingsmen emphasized an exuberant energy. Big And Live also showcased a number of songs that would go on to become classics. Their first version of "The Glory Road" is on the recording. The project also included their own arrangement of "Love Lifted Me" and "Love Will Roll The Clouds Away." With the success of "Big and Live" (which won a "Album of the Year" Dove Award) in 1974), and never missing an opportunity for creative marketing, the group was billing themselves as the “Ton Of Fun” during the 1970s. Indeed, when the entire group of eight individuals including band members stood on a set of vehicle scales, they did surpass 2000 pounds (900 kg).

The Kingsmen of the 1980s continued to combine high energy, up-tempo music with an exciting brand of showmanship. They recorded more live projects than the average Southern Gospel group because the concert setting was where they excelled. Popular songs for the group during this time included “Saints Will Rise”, "Child, Child", and the novelty song “Excuses”. Ernie Phillips, Ed Crawford, Wayne Maynard, Squire Parsons, Anthony Burger, Arthur Rice and other individuals passed through the group over the next few years. Burger was so popular during his extended stint with the group, he won the Singing News Fan Awards for Favorite Musician
Singing News Fan Awards for Favorite Musician
The Favorite Musician award is awarded yearly in the Singing News Fan Awards ceremony to honor the musician Singing News magazine readers select as their favorite that year.-History:...

ten years in a row. For several years after that, the award was named after him.

By the early 1990s, the Kingsmen had joined forces with Gold City
Gold City
Gold City is an American Christian music group that is based in Gadsden, Alabama.-Early years:The Mississippi-based Christianairs were renamed Gold City in Dahlonega, Georgia at the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Eve to begin the year 1980 with bass Dallas Gilliland, tenor Bob Oliver, lead singer...

 to record a series of live recordings called KingsGold. Parker Jonathan was singing baritone for the group by this time. Tim Surrett took on a dual role singing lead at times in Hamill’s place, and playing with the band. The multi-talented Randy Miller played guitar, harmonica, and was featured on selected songs as a vocalist. A hit with the sentimental song “Wish You Were Here” featuring Surrett’s bluegrass tinged vocals marked a turning point for the group. The song proved the group could have success with a polished studio ballad in addition to their success in emotion driven concert settings. Tim left in June 1996 to join "The Isaacs
The Isaacs
The Isaacs are a country and bluegrass gospel music group consisting of mother Lily Isaacs, and daughters Becky and Sonya Isaacs and son Ben Isaacs, along with John Bowman as an instrumentalist and songwriter. Joe Isaacs, formerly a singer and banjo player in the group, has left since his 1998...

".

Bryan Hutson was hired to sing lead, while Hamill was semi-retired. In the fall of 1996, Eldridge Fox suffered from a series of strokes which left him unable to travel consistently. Andrew Ishee became the group’s piano player in early 1997. Jerry Martin joined in March 1998 as tenor. The departing tenor; Chris Collins left to join his new wife's family group, The Griffiths.

In 2000, The Kingsmen were inducted into The Gospel Music Hall of Fame
Gospel Music Hall of Fame
The Gospel Music Hall of Fame, created in 1971 by the Gospel Music Association, is a Hall of Fame dedicated exclusively to recognizing meaningful contributions by individuals and groups in all forms of gospel music.-Inductees:...

. Several former members were able to attend the ceremony.

In time, Fox and Hamill withdrew from traveling, though they did continue to appear at selected events. Greg Fox, son of Eldridge and longtime drummer for the group, assumed road manager duties for a few years. Hutson left in the spring of 2001 and Randy Crawford was hired as lead vocalist.

At the 2001 National Quartet Convention
National Quartet Convention
The National Quartet Convention is an annual gathering of Southern Gospel quartets and musicians. It is currently held at Freedom Hall on the grounds of the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville, Kentucky.-History:...

, in Louisville, the Kingsmen Quartet name was retired abruptly after it had been purchased by Charles Burke, a businessman from Maiden, North Carolina.

Andrew Ishee left the group near or at the time the retirement was announced.

Officially, the legal ownership of the name was turned over to Charles Burke, a businessman from Maiden, North Carolina and owner of the Singing Americans.

Meanwhile, Ray Dean Reese reorganized the remaining Kingsmen members toured for two years billed as the "Carolina Boys Quartet". The group had to get its own sound equipment, bus, etc. During their first near 10 months as the CBQ, the Southern Gospel music industry's top magazine Singing News
Singing News
The Singing News is an American magazine which focuses on the Southern Gospel music industry....

(then owned by Maurice Templeton and Jerry Kirksey; since 2005, owned by Salem Communications
Salem Communications
Salem Communications is a U.S. radio broadcaster, Internet content provider, and magazine and book publisher specializing in evangelical Christian and conservative political talk radio. It owns 99 commercial radio stations, 65 of which are in the top 25 markets. Salem is the fifth largest U.S....

) totally ignored the group. After the release of their album and the subsequent success of the song "God Sits on High", the group could not be ignored. "The Carolina Boys", despite carrying a lineage that featured over 40 years of quartet singing, were honored with the "Horizon Award" by the readers of the Singing News the following year (legally, with the new name and owner in Reese, the group could be declared "new").

During this time, they had a hit song ”God Sits On High,” featuring tenor singer Jerry Martin. Nick Succi had replaced the departing Andrew Ishee at piano at Reese's "new" group, and Tim Surrett returned the following year replacing Parker Jonathon. Jerry Martin left to join the Dove Brothers Quartet and was replaced by Derrick Boyd, who was later replaced by Jeremy Peace.

Reese and his Carolina Entertainment, Inc, organization was able in 2004 to acquire the Kingsmen Quartet name back from Burke, and promptly changed his group's name back to the Kingsmen Quartet.

The group subsequently released a project titled "Born Again" that included several previous Kingsmen hits like "Excuses," “Love Will Roll The Clouds Away” and “When I Wake Up To Sleep No More." Vocal problems plagued Surrett over the next year and he ultimately left the group. Former Wilburns and Palmetto State Quartet baritone Tony Peace joined the Kingsmen in 2005 replacing Surrett. The top vocal half of the group in 2005 included Jeremy Peace at tenor and Phillip Hughes at lead. Bass player Jason Selph was frequently featured as a vocalist as well. Nick Succi (piano) and Reese's son Brandon (drums) completed the Kingsmen band.

In early 2007, former lead singer Bryan Hutson returned to the group to replace the departing Tony Peace as baritone and emcee.

Tenor singer; Jeremy Peace left in May 2007 to concentrate on studio work and former Florida Boys tenor; Harold Reed joined the Kingsmen.

In late 2007 pianist Nick Succi and bassist Grant Barker left the group.

In 2008, the group was inducted into The Christian Music Hall Of Fame in Dallas, Texas. In October 2008, long time bass singer; Ray Reese joined former Kingsmen members (Eldridge Fox, Jim Hamill, Anthony Burger and Squire Parsons) in The Southern Gospel Music Hall of Fame
Southern Gospel Museum and Hall of Fame
150px|right|thumb|Entrance.The Southern Gospel Museum and Hall of Fame is a site operated at Dollywood, in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, by the Southern Gospel Music Association. It was established in 1997...

 in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.

Cody McVey; a 17 year old piano player from Alderson, WV was hired in early 2009.

Phillips Hughes resigned in May 2010 and Bryan Hutson returned to the lead vocalist position. Former Kingsmen Randy Crawford returned in June 2010 as the baritone/lead singer.

In July of 2011, Cody McVey left to pursue a college education.

Awards

Singing News Fan Awards
Singing News Fan Awards
The Singing News Fan Awards is an annual award ceremony held on the Saturday night program of the National Quartet Convention and honors the achievements of professional Southern Gospel artists, songwriters and DJ's.-Award Selection:...

  • Favorite Lead 1974: Jim Hamill, The Kingsmen
    Singing News Fan Awards for Favorite Lead
    The Favorite Lead Singer award is awarded yearly in the Singing News Fan Awards ceremony to honor the male singer Singing News magazine readers select as their favorite lead singer for a quartet or trio vocal ensemble....

  • Favorite Lead 1975: Jim Hamill, The Kingsmen
    Singing News Fan Awards for Favorite Lead
    The Favorite Lead Singer award is awarded yearly in the Singing News Fan Awards ceremony to honor the male singer Singing News magazine readers select as their favorite lead singer for a quartet or trio vocal ensemble....

  • Favorite Tenor 1976: Johnny Parrack, Kingsmen Quartet
    Singing News Fan Awards for Favorite Tenor
    The Favorite Tenor award is awarded in the yearly Singing News Fan Awards ceremony to the fans' favorite tenor over the previous year.- History :The award was instituted in the second Singing News Fan Awards ballot cycle, for the 1971 Fan Awards...

  • Favorite Band 1978: Kingsmen Quartet
    Singing News Fan Awards for Favorite Band
    The Favorite Band award was awarded yearly in the Singing News Fan Awards ceremony to honor the band Singing News magazine readers select as their favorite that year...

  • Favorite Bass 1979: Ray Dean Reese, The Kingsmen
    Singing News Fan Awards for Favorite Bass
    The Favorite Bass award is awarded yearly in the Singing News Fan Awards ceremony to honor the singer Singing News magazine readers select as their favorite bass vocalist.- Honorees :* 1971: Billy Todd, Florida Boys* 1972: Billy Todd, Florida Boys...

  • Favorite Musician 1980: Anthony Burger, The Kingsmen
    Singing News Fan Awards for Favorite Musician
    The Favorite Musician award is awarded yearly in the Singing News Fan Awards ceremony to honor the musician Singing News magazine readers select as their favorite that year.-History:...

  • Favorite Tenor 1980: Ernie Phillips, The Kingsmen
    Singing News Fan Awards for Favorite Tenor
    The Favorite Tenor award is awarded in the yearly Singing News Fan Awards ceremony to the fans' favorite tenor over the previous year.- History :The award was instituted in the second Singing News Fan Awards ballot cycle, for the 1971 Fan Awards...

  • Favorite Group 1980: The Kingsmen
    Singing News Fan Awards for Favorite Group
    The Singing News Favorite Group award is awarded in the yearly Singing News Fan Awards ceremony held at the National Quartet Convention every September. It is awarded to the group which readers of the Singing News Magazine judge to be the best group on the road....

  • Favorite Lead 1981: Jim Hamill, The Kingsmen
    Singing News Fan Awards for Favorite Lead
    The Favorite Lead Singer award is awarded yearly in the Singing News Fan Awards ceremony to honor the male singer Singing News magazine readers select as their favorite lead singer for a quartet or trio vocal ensemble....

  • Favorite Baritone 1981: Wayne Maynard, The Kingsmen
    Singing News Fan Awards for Favorite Baritone
    The Favorite Baritone award is awarded yearly in the Singing News Fan Awards ceremony to honor the singer Singing News magazine readers select as their favorite baritone that year.- Honorees :* 1971: Glen Allred, Florida Boys...

  • Favorite Tenor 1981: Ernie Phillips, The Kingsmen
    Singing News Fan Awards for Favorite Tenor
    The Favorite Tenor award is awarded in the yearly Singing News Fan Awards ceremony to the fans' favorite tenor over the previous year.- History :The award was instituted in the second Singing News Fan Awards ballot cycle, for the 1971 Fan Awards...

  • Favorite Musician 1981: Anthony Burger, The Kingsmen
    Singing News Fan Awards for Favorite Musician
    The Favorite Musician award is awarded yearly in the Singing News Fan Awards ceremony to honor the musician Singing News magazine readers select as their favorite that year.-History:...

  • Favorite Traditional Male Quartet 1981: The Kingsmen
    Singing News Fan Awards for Favorite Group
    The Singing News Favorite Group award is awarded in the yearly Singing News Fan Awards ceremony held at the National Quartet Convention every September. It is awarded to the group which readers of the Singing News Magazine judge to be the best group on the road....

  • Song of the Year 1981:
    Singing News Fan Awards for Song of the Year
    The Song of the Year award is awarded yearly in the Singing News Fan Awards ceremony to honor the song Singing News magazine readers select as their favorite that year....

     "Sweet Beulah Land
    Sweet Beulah Land
    The Southern gospel song Sweet Beulah Land, was written and composed by Squire Parsons in 1973. Parsons recorded it in 1979. It became the number one Southern Gospel single and received the Singing News Fan Awards for Song of the Year in 1981...

    "
  • Favorite Band 1981: Kingsmen Band
    Singing News Fan Awards for Favorite Band
    The Favorite Band award was awarded yearly in the Singing News Fan Awards ceremony to honor the band Singing News magazine readers select as their favorite that year...

  • Favorite Lead 1982: Jim Hamill, The Kingsmen
    Singing News Fan Awards for Favorite Lead
    The Favorite Lead Singer award is awarded yearly in the Singing News Fan Awards ceremony to honor the male singer Singing News magazine readers select as their favorite lead singer for a quartet or trio vocal ensemble....

  • Favorite Musician 1982: Anthony Burger, The Kingsmen
    Singing News Fan Awards for Favorite Musician
    The Favorite Musician award is awarded yearly in the Singing News Fan Awards ceremony to honor the musician Singing News magazine readers select as their favorite that year.-History:...

  • Favorite Band 1982: Kingsmen Band
    Singing News Fan Awards for Favorite Band
    The Favorite Band award was awarded yearly in the Singing News Fan Awards ceremony to honor the band Singing News magazine readers select as their favorite that year...

  • Favorite Lead 1983: Jim Hamill, The Kingsmen
    Singing News Fan Awards for Favorite Lead
    The Favorite Lead Singer award is awarded yearly in the Singing News Fan Awards ceremony to honor the male singer Singing News magazine readers select as their favorite lead singer for a quartet or trio vocal ensemble....

  • Favorite Musician 1983: Anthony Burger, The Kingsmen
    Singing News Fan Awards for Favorite Musician
    The Favorite Musician award is awarded yearly in the Singing News Fan Awards ceremony to honor the musician Singing News magazine readers select as their favorite that year.-History:...

  • Favorite Band 1983: Kingsmen Band
    Singing News Fan Awards for Favorite Band
    The Favorite Band award was awarded yearly in the Singing News Fan Awards ceremony to honor the band Singing News magazine readers select as their favorite that year...

  • Favorite Musician 1984: Anthony Burger, The Kingsmen
    Singing News Fan Awards for Favorite Musician
    The Favorite Musician award is awarded yearly in the Singing News Fan Awards ceremony to honor the musician Singing News magazine readers select as their favorite that year.-History:...

  • Favorite Band 1984: Kingsmen Band
    Singing News Fan Awards for Favorite Band
    The Favorite Band award was awarded yearly in the Singing News Fan Awards ceremony to honor the band Singing News magazine readers select as their favorite that year...

  • Favorite Lead 1985: Jim Hamill, The Kingsmen
    Singing News Fan Awards for Favorite Lead
    The Favorite Lead Singer award is awarded yearly in the Singing News Fan Awards ceremony to honor the male singer Singing News magazine readers select as their favorite lead singer for a quartet or trio vocal ensemble....

  • Favorite Bass 1985: Ray Dean Reese, The Kingsmen
    Singing News Fan Awards for Favorite Bass
    The Favorite Bass award is awarded yearly in the Singing News Fan Awards ceremony to honor the singer Singing News magazine readers select as their favorite bass vocalist.- Honorees :* 1971: Billy Todd, Florida Boys* 1972: Billy Todd, Florida Boys...

  • Favorite Musician 1985: Anthony Burger, The Kingsmen
    Singing News Fan Awards for Favorite Musician
    The Favorite Musician award is awarded yearly in the Singing News Fan Awards ceremony to honor the musician Singing News magazine readers select as their favorite that year.-History:...

  • Favorite Group 1985: The Kingsmen
    Singing News Fan Awards for Favorite Group
    The Singing News Favorite Group award is awarded in the yearly Singing News Fan Awards ceremony held at the National Quartet Convention every September. It is awarded to the group which readers of the Singing News Magazine judge to be the best group on the road....

  • Favorite Musician 1986: Anthony Burger, The Kingsmen
    Singing News Fan Awards for Favorite Musician
    The Favorite Musician award is awarded yearly in the Singing News Fan Awards ceremony to honor the musician Singing News magazine readers select as their favorite that year.-History:...

  • Favorite Band 1986: Kingsmen Band
    Singing News Fan Awards for Favorite Band
    The Favorite Band award was awarded yearly in the Singing News Fan Awards ceremony to honor the band Singing News magazine readers select as their favorite that year...

  • Favorite Musician 1987: Anthony Burger, The Kingsmen
    Singing News Fan Awards for Favorite Musician
    The Favorite Musician award is awarded yearly in the Singing News Fan Awards ceremony to honor the musician Singing News magazine readers select as their favorite that year.-History:...

  • Favorite Band 1987: Kingsmen Band
    Singing News Fan Awards for Favorite Band
    The Favorite Band award was awarded yearly in the Singing News Fan Awards ceremony to honor the band Singing News magazine readers select as their favorite that year...

  • Favorite Musician 1988: Anthony Burger, The Kingsmen
    Singing News Fan Awards for Favorite Musician
    The Favorite Musician award is awarded yearly in the Singing News Fan Awards ceremony to honor the musician Singing News magazine readers select as their favorite that year.-History:...

  • Favorite Band 1988: Kingsmen Band
    Singing News Fan Awards for Favorite Band
    The Favorite Band award was awarded yearly in the Singing News Fan Awards ceremony to honor the band Singing News magazine readers select as their favorite that year...

  • Favorite Musician 1989: Anthony Burger, The Kingsmen
    Singing News Fan Awards for Favorite Musician
    The Favorite Musician award is awarded yearly in the Singing News Fan Awards ceremony to honor the musician Singing News magazine readers select as their favorite that year.-History:...

  • Favorite Band 1989: Kingsmen Band
    Singing News Fan Awards for Favorite Band
    The Favorite Band award was awarded yearly in the Singing News Fan Awards ceremony to honor the band Singing News magazine readers select as their favorite that year...

  • Favorite Band 1990: Kingsmen Band
    Singing News Fan Awards for Favorite Band
    The Favorite Band award was awarded yearly in the Singing News Fan Awards ceremony to honor the band Singing News magazine readers select as their favorite that year...

  • Favorite Band 1991: Kingsmen Band
    Singing News Fan Awards for Favorite Band
    The Favorite Band award was awarded yearly in the Singing News Fan Awards ceremony to honor the band Singing News magazine readers select as their favorite that year...

  • Favorite Baritone 1992: Parker Jonathan, The Kingsmen
    Singing News Fan Awards for Favorite Baritone
    The Favorite Baritone award is awarded yearly in the Singing News Fan Awards ceremony to honor the singer Singing News magazine readers select as their favorite baritone that year.- Honorees :* 1971: Glen Allred, Florida Boys...

  • Album of the Year 1992: Wish You Were Here, Kingsmen
    Singing News Fan Awards for Album of the Year
    The Singing News Favorite Album award is awarded in the yearly Singing News Fan Awards ceremony held at the National Quartet Convention every September. It is awarded to the group which readers of the Singing News Magazine judge to be the best released that year.- History :The award was given in...

  • Song of the Year 1992: "Wish You Were Here"
    Singing News Fan Awards for Song of the Year
    The Song of the Year award is awarded yearly in the Singing News Fan Awards ceremony to honor the song Singing News magazine readers select as their favorite that year....

  • Favorite Band 1992: Kingsmen Band
    Singing News Fan Awards for Favorite Band
    The Favorite Band award was awarded yearly in the Singing News Fan Awards ceremony to honor the band Singing News magazine readers select as their favorite that year...

  • Favorite Baritone 1993: Parker Jonathan, The Kingsmen
    Singing News Fan Awards for Favorite Baritone
    The Favorite Baritone award is awarded yearly in the Singing News Fan Awards ceremony to honor the singer Singing News magazine readers select as their favorite baritone that year.- Honorees :* 1971: Glen Allred, Florida Boys...

  • Favorite Band 1993: Kingsmen Band
    Singing News Fan Awards for Favorite Band
    The Favorite Band award was awarded yearly in the Singing News Fan Awards ceremony to honor the band Singing News magazine readers select as their favorite that year...

  • Favorite Band 1994: Kingsmen Band
    Singing News Fan Awards for Favorite Band
    The Favorite Band award was awarded yearly in the Singing News Fan Awards ceremony to honor the band Singing News magazine readers select as their favorite that year...

  • Favorite Band 1995: Kingsmen Band
    Singing News Fan Awards for Favorite Band
    The Favorite Band award was awarded yearly in the Singing News Fan Awards ceremony to honor the band Singing News magazine readers select as their favorite that year...

  • Favorite Band 1996: Kingsmen Band
    Singing News Fan Awards for Favorite Band
    The Favorite Band award was awarded yearly in the Singing News Fan Awards ceremony to honor the band Singing News magazine readers select as their favorite that year...

  • Favorite Horizon Individual 1997: Bryan Hutson, The Kingsmen
    Singing News Fan Awards for Favorite Horizon Individual
    The Horizon Individual award is awarded yearly in the Singing News Fan Awards ceremony to honor the individual new on the Southern Gospel scene that Singing News magazine readers select as their favorite that year.- Honorees :* 1985: Bo Hinson, the Hinsons...

  • Favorite Band 1997: Kingsmen Band
    Singing News Fan Awards for Favorite Band
    The Favorite Band award was awarded yearly in the Singing News Fan Awards ceremony to honor the band Singing News magazine readers select as their favorite that year...

  • Favorite Horizon Group 2002: Carolina Boys
    Singing News Fan Awards for Favorite Horizon Group
    The Horizon Group award is awarded yearly in the Singing News Fan Awards ceremony to honor the new group Singing News magazine readers select as their favorite that year.- Honorees :* 1984: Kingsboys* 1986: The Talleys* 1988: Dixie Melody Boys...

  • Favorite Musician (non-pianist) 2004: Tim Surrett, The Kingsmen
    Singing News Fan Awards for Favorite Musician
    The Favorite Musician award is awarded yearly in the Singing News Fan Awards ceremony to honor the musician Singing News magazine readers select as their favorite that year.-History:...

  • Favorite Musician (non-pianist) 2005: Tim Surrett, The Kingsmen
    Singing News Fan Awards for Favorite Musician
    The Favorite Musician award is awarded yearly in the Singing News Fan Awards ceremony to honor the musician Singing News magazine readers select as their favorite that year.-History:...



Gospel Music Hall of Fame
Gospel Music Hall of Fame
The Gospel Music Hall of Fame, created in 1971 by the Gospel Music Association, is a Hall of Fame dedicated exclusively to recognizing meaningful contributions by individuals and groups in all forms of gospel music.-Inductees:...

*Inducted in 2000.
Southern Gospel Hall of Fame
Southern Gospel Museum and Hall of Fame
150px|right|thumb|Entrance.The Southern Gospel Museum and Hall of Fame is a site operated at Dollywood, in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, by the Southern Gospel Music Association. It was established in 1997...

  • Inducted in 2008

Christian Music Hall of Fame *Inducted in 2009.

Members

The group today is composed of Owner, Manager, and Bass Singer, Ray Reese; Lead Bryan Hutson; Randy Crawford Baritone and Tenor Harold Reed. Former drummer Brandon Reese is now the group's sound technician.

Tenor

  • Charles Collier (1956–58)
  • Jack Henderson (1958–65)
  • Kermit Jamerson (1965–69)
  • Jerry Redd (1969–71)
  • Johnny Parrack (1971–77)
  • Ernie Phillips (1977–83)
  • Gary Sheppard (1984–93)
  • Chris Collins (1993–98)
  • Jerry Martin (1998-02)
  • Derrick Boyd (2003–04) (only performed with Carolina Boys)
  • Jeremy Peace (2004–07)

*Harold Reed (2007–present)

Lead

  • Everett McKinney (1956)
  • Lewis McKinney (1956–57)
  • Harold Bailey (1957–58)
  • Frank Cutshall (1958–71)
  • Jim Hamill (1971–96)
  • Squire Parsons (1976)
  • Tim Surrett (1993–96)
  • Randy Crawford (2001–03)
  • Phillip Hughes (2005–2010)

*Bryan Hutson (1996-01, (2010–present)

Baritone

  • Raymond McKinney (1956–65)
  • Eldridge Fox (1965–75, 1976, 1979)
  • Squire Parsons (1975–76)
  • Squire Parsons (1977–79)
  • Mark Trammell (1979–80)
  • Wayne Maynard (1980–83)
  • Ed Crawford (1983–88)
  • Arthur Rice (1988–89)
  • Parker Jonathan (1989-02)
  • Jason Selph (2003–04)
  • Tony Peace (2005–07)
  • Bryan Hutson (2007–2010)

*Randy Crawford (2010–present)

Bass

  • Reese McKinney (1956–63)
  • Calvin Runion (1963–67)
  • Ray Dean Reese (1967–68)
  • Calvin Runion (1968–70)
  • Jim McCallister (1970–71)
  • Ray Dean Reese (1971–present)


Members in bold are Current members

Pianist

  • Charlie Matthews (1956–57)
  • David Young (1957–58)
  • Martin Cook (1958)
  • Eldridge Fox (1958–60)
  • Charles Ward (1960–61)
  • Ray Talley (1961–64)
  • Eldridge Fox (1964–65)
  • Ray Talley (1965–71)
  • Charles Abee (1971–73)
  • Nick Bruno (1973–78)
  • Anthony Burger (1978–93)
  • Randy Matthews (1993–96)
  • Tim Lovelace (1996–97)
  • Andrew Ishee (1997-2001)
  • Nick Succi (2001–2008)
  • Cody McVey (2009–2011)

Additional Musicians

  • John Dalton (Drums, 1964–65)
  • Jim Kirby (Guitar, 1964–69)
  • Jim McCauley (Bass guitar, 1964–67)
  • Otis Lynn Dillon (Bass, 1980–81)
  • Tommy Hensley (Bass guitar, 1969–71)
  • Jim McCauley (Bass guitar, 1971–78)
  • John Broome (Drums, 1971–74)
  • Leonard Hollifield (Guitar, 1971–73)
  • Eddie Trent (Steel Guitar, 1971–73)
  • Bob Conley (Guitar, 1976)
  • Chester Arms (Drums, 1974–76)
  • Gary Dillard (Steel Guitar, 1974–80)
  • Greg Fox (Drums, 1977–99)
  • Mark Trammell (Bass guitar, 1978–80)
  • Wayne Maynard (Bass guitar, 1983–84)
  • Sam Crowe (Steel Guitar, 1980–83)
  • Jim McCauley (Bass guitar, 1980–81)
  • Ed Crawford (Bass guitar, 1981–83)
  • Gary Dillard (Steel Guitar, 1983–93)
  • Arthur Rice (Bass guitar, 1984–89, also sang lead)
  • Tim Surrett (Bass guitar, 1989–96)
  • Randy Miller (Guitar, 1993–98)
  • Rory Rigdon (Bass guitar, 1995–97)
  • Jason Selph (Bass player, 1999-07)
  • Colby McClatchey (Bass player, 1998)
  • Brandon Reese (Drums, 1999-08)
  • Tim Surrett (Guitar, 2003–06)
  • Grant Barker (Bass guitar, 2007–08)

*Brandon Reese (Sound system, 2008- )

1950s and 1960s

  • 1959 What Love (Henderson, Cutshall, McKinney, McKinney, Fox)
  • 1960 New Jerusalem (Henderson, Cutshall, McKinney, McKinney, Ward)
  • 1962 Closer To Thee (Henderson, Cutshall, McKinney, McKinney, Talley)
  • 1963 That Kingsmen Sound (Henderson, Cutshall, McKinney, McKinney, Talley)
  • 1963 From The Land Of The Sky (Henderson, Cutshall, McKinney, Runion, Talley)
  • 1964 A Visit With The Kingsmen (Henderson, Cutshall, McKinney, Runion, Fox)
  • 1965 Carolina's Favorite Quartet (Henderson, Cutshall, Fox, Runion)
  • 1966 Songs and Spirituals (Jamerson, Cutshall, Fox, Runion, Talley)
  • 1967 Sing Out! (Jamerson, Cutshall, Fox, Runion, Talley)
  • 1968 Kingsmen Kountry (Jamerson, Cutshall, Fox, Reese, Talley)
  • 1968 Daddy Sang Bass (Jamerson, Cutshall, Fox, Runion, Talley)
  • 1968 Crown Him King (Jamerson, Cutshall, Fox, Runion, Talley)
  • 1969 Try A Little Kindness (Jamerson, Cutshall, Fox, Runion, Talley, Hemsley)
  • 1969 Standing Room Only (Jamerson, Cutshall, Fox, Runion, Talley, Hemsley)

1970s

  • 1970 The Kingsmen (Redd, Cutshall, Fox, Runion, Talley)
  • 1971 Then and Now (Redd, Cutshall, Fox, McCallister, Talley)
  • 1971 Suddenly There's A Valley (Redd, Cutshall, Fox, McCallister, Talley)
  • 1971 America's Favorite Hymns (Redd, Hamill, Fox, Reese, Abee, Broome, Hollifield)
  • 1971 Presented by Colonial Mobile Homes (Parrack, Hamill, Fox, Reese, Abee, Broome, Hollifield)
  • 1972 May Day (Parrack, Hamill, Fox, Reese, Abee, Broome, Hollifield, McCaulley)
  • 1972 Turn Your Radio On (Parrack, Hamill, Fox, Reese, Abee, Broome, Hollifield, McCaulley, Trent)
  • 1972 It's Time To Ring The Bell (Parrack, Hamill, Fox, Reese, Abee, Broome, Hollifield, McCaulley, Trent)
  • 1972 Johnny Parrack Out Front (Parrack, Hamill, Fox, Reese, Abee, Broome, Hollifield, McCaulley)
  • 1972 Hymn Time in the Country (Parrack, Hamill, Fox, Reese, Abee, Broome, Hollifield, McCaulley)
  • 1973 High and Low: Johnny Parrack and Ray Dean Reese (Parrack, Hamill, Fox, Reese, Abee, Broome, Hollifield, McCaulley)
  • 1973 Sing A Lot of Gospel (Parrack, Hamill, Fox, Reese, Abee, Broome, Hollifield, McCaulley)
  • 1973 Reverend Everett Beverly and Anna Laura (Parrack, Hamill, Fox, Reese, Abee, Broome, McCaulley)
  • 1973 Just Plain Singin' (Parrack, Hamill, Fox, Reese, Abee, Broome, McCaulley)
  • 1973 Just As The Sun Went Down (same album as above)
  • 1973 Big and Live (Parrack, Hamill, Fox, Reese, Bruno, Broome, McCaulley, Dillard)
  • 1974 1686 lbs. of Gospel (Parrack, Hamill, Fox, Reese, Bruno, Broome, McCaulley, Dillard)
  • 1975 Jubiliation (Parrack, Hamill, Fox, Reese, Bruno, Arms, McCaulley, Dillard)
  • 1975 The Old and the New: Jim Hamill and Squire Parsons (Parrack, Hamill, Parsons, Fox, Reese, Bruno, Arms, McCaulley, Dillard)
  • 1975 24 Carat Gospel (Parrack, Hamill, Parsons, Fox, Reese, Bruno, Arms, McCaulley, Dillard)
  • 1976 It Made News In Heaven (Parrack, Hamill, Parsons, Fox, Reese, Bruno, Arms, McCaulley, Dillard)
  • 1976 Just In Time (Parrack, Parsons, Fox, Reese, Bruno, Arms, McCaulley, Dillard, Conley)
  • 1976 Golden Gospel (Parrack, Parsons, Fox, Reese, Bruno, Arms, McCaulley, Dillard, Conley)
  • 1977 Just A Little Closer Home (Phillips, Hamill, Parsons, Fox, Reese, Bruno, McCaulley, Dillard)
  • 1977 Chattanooga Live (Phillips, Hamill, Parsons, Fox, Reese, Bruno, McCaulley, Dillard, G. Fox)
  • 1978 The Upper Window (Phillips, Hamill, Parsons, Fox, Reese, Bruno, McCaulley, Dillard, G. Fox)
  • 1979 From Out Of The Past (Phillips, Hamill, Fox, Parsons, Reese, Burger, Trammell, Dillard, G. Fox)

1980s

  • 1980 Ring The Bells Of Freedom (Phillips, Hamill, Maynard, Fox, Reese, Burger, Trammell, Dillard, G. Fox)
  • 1981 Live...Naturally (Phillips, Hamill, Maynard, Fox, Reese, Burger, McCaulley, Crowe, G. Fox)
  • 1982 Your Ride Is On The Way (Phillips, Hamill, Maynard, E. Crawford, Fox, Reese, Burger, Crowe, G. Fox)
  • 1982 With Grady Nutt (Phillips, Hamill, Maynard, E. Crawford, Fox, Reese, Burger, Crowe, G. Fox)
  • 1983 Live From The University of Alabama (Phillips, Hamill, Maynard, E. Crawford, Reese, Crowe, G. Fox)
  • 1984 The Game of Life (Sheppard, Hamill, E. Crawford, Fox, Reese, Burger, Rice, Dillard, G. Fox)
  • 1984 Kingsmen Silver (Compilation album plus two original featuring Sheppard)
  • 1985 Better In Person (Sheppard, Hamill, E. Crawford, Reese, Burger, Rice, E. Fox, Dillard, G. Fox)
  • 1986 Stand Up At Opryland USA (Sheppard, Hamill, E. Crawford, Reese, Burger, Rice, E. Fox, Dillard, G. Fox)
  • 1987 Mississippi Live (Sheppard, Hamill, E. Crawford, Reese, Burger, Rice, E. Fox, Dillard, G. Fox)
  • 1988 Anchors Aweigh (Sheppard, Hamill, E. Crawford, Reese, Burger, Rice, E. Fox, Dillard, G. Fox)
  • 1989 The Judgement (Sheppard, Hamill, E. Fox, Reese, Burger, Surrett, Dillard, G. Fox)

1990s

  • 1990 Live in Dayton (Sheppard, Hamill, Jonathon, Reese, Burger, Surrett, Dillard, G. Fox)
  • 1991 Wish You Were Here (Sheppard, Hamill, E. Fox, Jonathon, Reese, Burger, Surrett, Dillard, G. Fox)
  • 1992 Singin' in the Sun Live (Sheppard, Hamill, E. Fox, Jonathon, Reese, Burger, Surrett, Dillard, G. Fox)
  • 1992 Walking With Jesus (Sheppard, Hamill, E. Fox, Jonathon, Reese, Burger, Surrett, G. Fox)
  • 1992 Singing News Hits (Sheppard, Hamill, E. Fox, Jonathon, Reese, Burger, Surrett, G. Fox)
  • 1992 Living By Faith (Sheppard, Hamill, E. Fox, Jonathon, Reese, Burger, Surrett, Dillard, G. Fox)
  • 1993 Kingsmen Band (Sheppard, Hamill, E. Fox, Jonathon, Reese, Burger, Surrett, Dillard, G. Fox)
  • 1993 27 Great Gospel Songs (Sheppard, Hamill, E. Fox, Jonathon, Reese, Burger, Surrett, Dillard, G. Fox)
  • 1993 New Life (Collins, Hamill, E. Fox, Jonathon, Reese, Matthews, Surrett, Miller, G. Fox)
  • 1994 Ridin' High (Collins, Hamill, E. Fox, Jonathon, Reese, Matthews, Surrett, Miller, G. Fox)
  • 1994 Live From The Alabama Theatre (Collins, Hamill, E. Fox, Jonathon, Reese, Matthews, Surrett, Miller, G. Fox)
  • 1994 A Kingsmen Christmas (Collins, Hamill, E. Fox, Jonathon, Reese, Matthews, Surrett, Miller, G. Fox)
  • 1994 30 Great Gospel Songs (Collins, Hamill, E. Fox, Jonathon, Reese, Matthews, Surrett, Miller, G. Fox)
  • 1995 Georgia Live (Collins, Hamill, E. Fox, Jonathon, Reese, Matthews, Surrett, Miller, G. Fox)
  • 1996 40th Anniversary Reunion: Perfecting The Crown
  • 1996 Beyond The Clouds (Collins, Hamill, E. Fox, Hutson, Jonathon, Reese, Lovelace, Rigdon, Miller, G. Fox)
  • 1997 You're Not Alone (Collins, Hamill, E. Fox, Hutson, Jonathon, Reese, Ishee, Rigdon, Miller, G. Fox)
  • 1997 Kingsmen Klassics (Collins, Hutson, Jonathon, Reese, Lovelace, Rigdon, Miller, G. Fox)
  • 1998 The Old Time Way (Martin, Hutson, Jonathon, Reese, Ishee, Mclatchy, Miller, G. Fox)
  • 1998 Kingsmen Klassics 2 (Martin, Hutson, Jonathon, Reese, Ishee, Selph, Miller, G. Fox)
  • 1999 Southern Standards (Martin, Hutson, Jonathon, Reese, Ishee, Selph, Miller, G. Fox)
  • 1999 Shelter (Martin, Hutson, Jonathon, Reese, Ishee, Selph, Miller, G. Fox)
  • 1999 Not Quite As Big, But Just As Live (Martin, Hutson, Jonathon, Reese, Ishee, Selph, Miller, G. Fox)

2000s to present

  • 2000 Proven Time And Again (Martin, Hutson, Jonathon, Reese, Ishee, Selph, G. Fox)
  • 2001 I Will (Martin, Hutson, Jonathon, Reese, Ishee, Selph, B Reese, G. Fox)
  • 2002 Good News (Carolina Boys)(Martin, R Crawford, Jonathon, Reese, Succi, Selph, B Reese)
  • 2003 Ready (Carolina Boys)(Boyd, R Crawford, Surrett, Reese, Succi, Selph, B Reese)
  • 2004 Born Again (Peace, Surrett, Reese, Succi, Selph, B Reese)
  • 2005 My Past Is Past (Peace, Hughes, Surrett, Reese, Succi, Selph, B Reese)
  • 2006 Good, Good God (Peace, Hughes, T Peace, Reese, Succi, Selph, B Reese)
  • 2007 I'll Not Turn Back-Live (Reed, Hughes, Hutson, Reese, Succi, Barker, B Reese)
  • 2007 Honoring The Heritage 2- Live (Reed, Hughes, Hutson, Reese, Succi, Barker, B Reese)
  • 2008 When God Ran (Reed, Hughes, Hutson, Reese, B Reese)
  • 2009 Missing People (Reed, Hughes, Hutson, Reese, McVey, B Reese)
  • 2010 Honoring The Heritage 3 (Reed, Hughes, Hutson, Reese, McVey, B Reese)
  • 2010 Live Performances From The National Quartet Convention (Reed, Hughes, Hutson, Reese, McVey, B Reese)
  • 2011 Grace Says (Reed, Hutson, Crawford, Reese, McVey, B Reese)

External links

  • http://www.sghistory.com/index.php?n=K.Kingsmen_Quartet Southern Gospel Music history: Kingsmen Quartet
  • www.kingsmenquartet.com The Official Kingsmen Quartet web site
  • http://www.gospelvinyl.com/kingsmen.html illustrated discography
The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
x
OK