Testimony Tuesday ….. When God Ran

Happy Tuesday.

You may be struggling today. You may feel like you have gone too far.

Let this Throwback from The Kingsmen remind you that just like The Prodigal son, You too can come back home.

Kingsmen On Gospel Music Today

Kingsmen On Gospel Music Today

The Kingsmen are the guests on Gospel Music Today for the week of January 21. Ken and Jean Grady host southern gospel news and concert updates. The Feature Group is Westward Road, and Jean reviews  new recordings by Chapter 2 and The Pine Ridge Boys.  An article from AbsolutelyGospel.com is the subject of this week’s News Notes. The show features a new music video by Andy Calderwood, singing by Triumphant Quartet, exclusive concert video of Gold City Quartet, recorded by Gospel Music Today’s cameras in Siloam Springs, AR, and a visit to the Gospel Music Today Archives for an exclusive video of Donnie Sumner, recorded by Gospel Music Today’s cameras in Broken Arrow, OK.

Mighty Kingsmen regain Chris Jenkins

The Kingsmen with Chris Jenkins

Chris Jenkins Rejoins The Kingsmen Quartet

Asheville, NC (Dec. 31, 2017) — Ray Dean Reese is happy to announce that former Kingsmen tenor Chris Jenkins has re-joined the award-winning quartet effective December 31, 2017.Chris has continued to stay in the gospel music industry in last 2 years, serving in other capacities and spent more time at home with his wife, Stephanie and son, Ryan.

Chris Jenkins, The Kingsmen

Chris states, “Being a quartetman at heart, it’s hard to imagine myself as anything else. I am beyond honored to have the opportunity to climb back on The Kingsmen bus and reunite with this strong 61-year legacy. I want to thank Ray Dean and Brandon Reese and the rest of The Kingsmen for their friendship and welcoming me back to The Kingsmen family.

Chris Jenkins, The Kingsmen

“What a joy it will be to see old friends I haven’t seen in two years and most importantly sharing with people the message of the gospel through song! I am looking forward to great things from the Lord and the opportunity to make more life-changing music with this wonderful ministry.”

Source: Brandon Reese/Kingsmen Quartet// singingnews.com

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Throwback Thursday – Kingsmen, Anthony Burger

1991

“Salute to the Troops”

Watch this;

The Kingsmen Quartet: Decades of Following the Call

The Kingsmen

Few groups in any genre of music have been able to enjoy such a longstanding presence in their industry as The Kingsmen Quartet. Since their beginning in 1956, this beloved group of singers has continued to bring us songs of hope for the Christian life. Their quartet harmonies have provided a constant soundtrack for decades in a world that is continually changing. Listeners have enjoyed their Southern Gospel style, their incredible musical talent, and their powerful testimonies for almost 60 years.

The Kingsmen

If you ask any member of this much-loved quartet what their secret is for remaining such a strong influence in Gospel music, they will tell you that there is actually no secret at all – The Kingsmen Quartet is simply following the call that God has placed on their hearts to minister for Him through song, and He is doing the rest!

Started by the three McKinney brothers in the hills of North Carolina, The Kingsmen would go on to steadily gain a large following in Christian music. Many renowned artists have been blessed to call The Kingsmen home for a time. Such artists include Eldridge Fox, Big Jim Hamill, Squire Parsons, Johnny Parrack, Anthony Burger, Ernie Phillips, Ed Crawford and Gary Sheppard. The group has received numerous awards, including Dove awards, Hall of Fame awards, and Singing News awards.

The Kingsmen have five members past and present in the Southern Gospel Music Hall of Fame, which are Eldridge Fox, Jim Hamill, Anthony Burger, Squire Parsons, and Ray Dean Reese. The group is also in the Gospel Music Hall of Fame and the Christian Music Hall of Fame. The Kingsmen Quartet currently consists of Ray Dean Reese, Brandon Reese, Bob Sellers, Chris Jenkins, and Randy Crawford. Read more »

Dean Adkins’ Gospel Music Memories: New Year’s Eve 1976

Conrad Cook and the Calvary Echoes

“Ring out the old, ring in the new,

Ring, happy bells, across the snow:
The year is going, let him go;
Ring out the false, ring in the true.”

~~Alfred Tennyson In Memoriam (1849)

For many people, New Year’s Eve means a time to party or to go out with friends and celebrate. My New Year’s Eves were usually spent in a different way. When I was young, I would attend a service at a nearby church where local groups would sing out the old and sing in the new. As I grew older, and was able to drive, I started to attend New Year’s Eve concerts featuring professional groups. One of the biggest sings was promoted by Cecil “Sonny” Simmons and held at the Charleston (WV) Municipal Auditorium. Over the years I was able to see many of the top groups.

Kingsmen c.1976

One of those concerts that stands out, was held December 31, 1976. This particular concert was one that I recorded on my portable tape recorder so I can relive it via the recording. There were a number of reasons that this concert was memorable to me. The lineup was very diverse and along with the national groups, some regional groups were also featured. So let me give a recap of this concert.

The concert opened with “Sonny” Simmons introducing the Telestials. The Telestials at this time were featuring their lead singer Jim Wood on “One Way Flight” and “Here They Come”. Both of these were well received by the capacity crowd.

Calvarymen

The next group was a Charleston-based group, the Calvarymen Quartet. The Calvarymen had recently undergone a couple of changes. Squire Parsons had left to join the Kingsmen Quartet and Conrad Cook had left to form his family group, the Calvary Echoes. The Calvarymen still used songs written by Parsons and Cook, including “When My Feet Touch the Streets of Gold”, “There Is Joy In Serving Jesus” and “I Get A Little Heaven.”

Naomi and the Segos were the next group to hit the stage. They sang “Thank God I Am Free” and “Learning to Lean.” The highlight, at least for me, was when they sang “The Dearest Friend” and James Sego gave a moving testimony. He told how he had been delivered from alcoholism and also described his recent stroke. He admitted his voice wasn’t what it used to be, but he was blessed to be able sing at all.

The Segos

The group to follow the Segos was Conrad Cook and the Calvary Echoes. A lot of fans were happy to see Conrad since he had previously been a favorite with the Calvarymen. Conrad’s daughter, Robin, was featured on “I Came On Business For The King” and Conrad’s unique style was manifested on “Sweet Holy Spirit.” The crowd definitely loved this group.

Willie Wynn and the Tennesseans were the next group. Willie was featured on “My Soul Has Been Set Free” and “I Am A Seeker.” Ron Hutchins, formerly of the Inspirations and LeFevres, did a masterful job on “He Is So Precious To Me.” The other selections were fast, hard-driving songs that had the crowd clapping along.

Willie Wynn and the Tennesseans

Roger Horne began his professional career as tenor for the Gospel Harmony Boys and later joined the Cathedral Quartet. He also spent some time with the Scenicland Quartet. However, on this night, he was joined by his wife Becky and Eddie Burns as the Roger Horne Trio. They sang: “He Kept On Loving Me,” and “I Can Feel The Spirit,” both written by Roger Horne.

The group that most fans were waiting to see was the Kingsmen. Many would be seeing Squire Parsons for the first time with this group. The Kingsmen began with “Beyond the Clouds,” and followed that with “I’d Rather Be An Old Time Christian.” Squire was featured on “The Land of Beulah.” They also did “When I Wake Up To Sleep No More,” and “Gloryroad.” Their set concluded the first part of the concert.

Each group came back after intermission and sang a couple of songs. A couple of songs from the second part really stood out. One was Willie Wynn being featured on “You’ll Never Walk Alone” and the other was the Kingsmen singing and encoring “I’ve Made A Covenant.”

There were other songs besides those I mentioned, but I hope this will give you a taste of what this concert was like.

By Dean Adkins

First published by the SGN Scoops magazine in January 2015. For more features, see the latest issue on the SGN Scoops mainpage.

June 2015 SGNScoops Magazine

June 2015 SGNScoops Magazine

Summer is finally here! Happy June and welcome to another edition of SGNScoops Magazine. We start off with a bang by featuring 11th Hour on our cover. This trio is on the charts and on the lips of Gospel music fans. You will enjoy getting to know them in this article by Marcie Gray!

Bill Bailey Presents The North Louisiana Gospel Music Weekend

COMING THIS WEEKEND TO OAK GROVE, LA!!!

DECLARATION TRIO TO HOST BENEFIT CONCERT FOR VICTOR SEATON OF ENCORE PRODUCTIONS

BENEFIT CONCERT FOR VICTOR SEATON OF ENCORE PRODUCTIONS

DECLARATION of Nashville, Tennessee in conjunction with two of Michigan’s finest artists have come together to announce a benefit concert for one of the most beloved figures in the Michigan Southern Gospel scene. Victor Seaton is the owner of Encore Productions in Roseville, Michigan. For well over three decades, Seaton has been one of the main promoters of not just Southern Gospel concerts, but numerous Christian Events in the state of Michigan, as well as in regions throughout Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, and West Virginia. Through Seaton’s efforts and support, audiences spanning generations have enjoyed the artistry of legendary groups including The Cathedral Quartet, Gold City, The Kingsmen, and Bill Gaither; the region has also come to know such talented artists as Greater Vision, Legacy Five, The Booth Brothers, and many others active in the industry today.

The Kingsmen: Alive and Well

Ray Dean Reese and The Kingsmen

Today’s Southern Gospel music is a range from traditional quartets to country-styled family groups to edgy trios and everything in between. The shift can be heard as radio deejays play an early Statesmen record followed by The Booth Brothers and then perhaps an Isaacs’ song. One group that has survived this evolution of sound is The Kingsmen and they have done it with flare, winning Dove Awards, being nominated for Grammy Awards and becoming members of the Gospel Music Hall of Fame. The Kingsmen came on strong in the ‘70’s and ‘80’s with several live albums, showing that they were the best in live performances that engaged the audience.   Now they are back with a new live album, demonstrating that the Kingsmen of today are still the masters of live quartet performance. [Editor’s note: Feature first published in July 2013 in SGN Scoops.]

Front Row Live showcases the best of the current Kingsmen lineup, including Bob Sellers, Chris Jenkins, Randy Crawford and the patriarch of the group, Ray Dean Reese still belting out a powerful bass. Ray’s son Brandon, who serves as the drummer and bandleader whenever the group appears with a live band, handles their live sound and co-produced this recording. The recording was made during the 2012 National Quartet Convention and highlights some older favorites like “Traveling Home” to newer ones like “He’s Everything I Need”, a number one song and song of the year nominee from their 2010 recording, Grace Says. The Kingsmen’s current radio single off the live recording is “Land Of The Free”, written by Phil Cross, a patriotic anthem that is garnering a lot of airplay.

Live Kingsmen albums have always had their own place in Southern Gospel history and Front Row Live is long overdue. Brandon Reese says, “I think people have wanted a great live recording from the Kingsmen for a long time and the best way to give them that live Kingsmen sound is to mix some old and some new music that everyone will love.”

Kingsmen fans know that the group’s sound is still much the same as it was when the group became known as the Ton of Fun in the 1970’s, and baritone Randy Crawford says that is not just by chance. “The Kingsmen have always been filled with excitement,” says Crawford, “Excitement for the music and the message.  The reason the style has changed so little over the years is because it works!  You find a formula and stick with it.  Each group must find its own style and sound to really set themselves apart.  The Kingsmen established theirs in 1973 with Big and Live and have never looked back.  Because of the excitement in the music and message it continues to ring with old and young listeners alike.”

Ray Dean Reese explains that the reason the music still clicks with so many is a mixture of several ingredients. “The Kingsmen have a 57-year heritage of spreading the Gospel,” says Reese. “We have always tried to keep the presentation of the message of the Gospel as a priority, down through the years. As for our sound, we try to stay in touch with what the people want to hear and would open their hearts to the message of Jesus. We have been blessed to have talented singers through the years who have each added their particular gifts to the mix.”

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