GROUP SPOTLIGHT: THE KINGSMEN QUARTET
SOUTHERN GOSPEL SPOTLIGHT PRESENTS
A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE KINGSMEN QUARTET (1956-PRESENT)
In 1956, three brothers in Asheville, North Carolina formed a quartet that would become one of the greatest groups to sing Southern Gospel Music, The Kingsmen Quartet. Brothers Raymond (Baritone), Louis (Lead), and Reese McKinney (Bass) with the addition of tenor Charles Collier and pianist Charles Matthews made up the original Kingsmen, dedicating their lives to spread the Gospel through song. Matthews unexpectedly passed away a year later and was replaced with “Little” David Young, a member of another group called The Kingsmen Quartet from 1953-1956. The quartet over the years has had many personnel changes. By 1965, all of the original members had left the group and replaced by Kermit Jamerson (Tenor), Frank Cutshall (Lead), Eldrige Fox (Baritone/Pianist), and Calvin Runion (Bass). Two years later Runion departed and Ray Dean Reese joined in the bass position. Reese’s first stint with the quartet only lasted one year before he left to drive a coffee truck and sing bass for the Pine Ridge Boys. Around 1970 or 1971, Fox had taken over the ownership of the group and became a major figure in the industry. In 1971, Ray Dean Reese returned to the group where he has remained to this day.
Many of Southern Gospel Music’s most popular and celebrated artists have been members of this incredible group. The 1970s brought artists such as: celebrated tenors Johnny Parrack (1971-1977) and Ernie Phillips (1977-1983), lead singers Jim Hamill (1971-76, 1977-1993, 1995-56) and the great songwriter Squire Parsons (1976-1977, also sang baritone 1975-1979), and baritones Eldrige Fox (1965–75, 1976, 1979) and Mark Trammell (1979-1980) who would go on to join the Cathedrals. Also, the incredible virtuoso Anthony Burger joined the group in 1978 as pianist. Burger’s amazing talent would be a major part of the group’s continued success. Burger would stay with the group until 1993 when he left to join the Gaither Vocal Band/Homecoming Tour.
The 1970s also brought great success for the group with monumental records such as the trend setter Big And Live (1973) which included their first version of “Glory Road” which featured the incredible high notes of tenor Johnny Parrack. This album won a Dove Award in 1974 which shows the growing popularity of the group during this time. The quartet performed with great energy and made concerts fun for their audiences while staying true to the purpose and message of the Gospel.
The 1980s brought more great artists through the Kingsmen bus. Tenor Gary Shepard (1984-1993), and baritones Wayne Maynard (1980–83), Ed Crawford (1983–88), Arthur Rice (1988–89), and Parker Jonathan (1989-02) would join Hamill (Lead), Fox (Owner/occasional Baritone), Reese (Bass) and Burger (Pianist). The group won several Singing News Fan Awards over the decade with Anthony Burger wining the Favorite Musician Award ten years in a row.
In the 1990s, the Kingsmen joined forces with Gold City to record a series of live recordings titled KingsGold. By this time, the lineup of the quartet consisted of Tenor Chris Collins, lead singer Tim Surrett who shared the part with Jim Hamill, baritone Parker Jonathan, and bass Ray Dean Reese. Throughout the 1990s, Randy Matthews, Tim Lovelace, and Andrew Ishee served as the group’s pianist. The group continued to experience great success with songs such as “Wish You Were Here” which featured Surrett’s bluegrass twang voice. Bryan Hutson also joined the group as lead in 1996 following the departure of Jim Hamill. Hutson’s powerful lead would be a fixture of the group until 2001. Chris Collins left the group in 1998 and was replaced by Jerry Martin in the tenor position.
The 2000s brought about more changes with the passing of longtime owner and vocalist Eldrige Fox in 2002. The Kingsmen name was retired in 2001 and the remaining group members toured under the name Carolina Boys Quartet under the leadership of longtime bass Ray Dean Reese. The group had a hit song called “God Sits On High” which featured tenor Jerry Martin. Martin left the group in 2002 and was replaced by Derrick Boyd who joined the quartet in 2003. Former lead singer Tim Surrett returned to the group after a brief absence as the new baritone in 2002 following the departure of Parker Jonathan. Surrett left again in 2003, but promptly returned in 2004. During his brief absence Jason Selph served as baritone. Randy Crawford, formerly of Brian Free & Assurance, joined the group in 2001 as the new lead singer following Hutson’s departure. However, he left the group in 2003 and Philip Hughes joined the group in 2004 at lead. In 2004, Ray Dean Reese acquired the rights back to the Kingsmen name and the Kingsmen Quartet was reborn. At this time, the quartet’s lineup was Jeremy Peace at tenor, Philip Hughes at lead, Tim Surrett at baritone, Reese at bass, and Nick Succi on piano. The quartet found a renewed sense of energy and drive and released several great CDs with previous hit songs such as “Excuses,” “Beautiful Home,” “When I Wake Up To Sleep No More,” and many more. Surrett left the group in 2005 and was replaced by Tony Peace who would also serve as emcee.
The group experienced even more change beginning in 2007 with the departures of tenor Jeremy Peace and baritone Tony Peace. Harold Reed joined the group in the tenor position and blew fans away with his three octave supersonic classic Kingsmen tenor sound. Former Lead/ baritone singer Bryan Hutson returned to the group as the new baritone replacing Tony Peace. Nick Succi also left a year later and was replaced at the keys with young pianist Cody McVey who remained with the quartet until 2011. During this time, the group released several incredible recordings including When God Ran in 2008 and Missing People in 2009 both featuring greats song such as “When God Ran,” “God Saw A Cross,” and “When It’s All Said And Done.” In 2010, lead singer Philip Hughes left the group and Bryan Hutson switched back to lead. Former lead/ baritone Randy Crawford returned to the group as the new baritone. This lineup released the hit project Grace Says in 2011 which included the number one song “He’s Everything I Need (That’s All I Need).” Tenor Harold Reed left the group in 2011 and then joined the LeFevre Quartet. Also at this time, Bryan Hutson announced his departure from the group. He later joined Soul’d Out Quartet as their lead/baritone singer. Chris Jenkins of the Vintage Quartet was hired as the new tenor in 2012. Jenkins brings the energy and incredible range to the group and fits the mold of the classic Kingsmen tenor. Bob Sellers joined the group as the new lead singer in 2011 and continues the tradition of powerful leads for the quartet. Joined by Randy Crawford and veteran Ray Dean Reese, this lineup is one of the strongest in the group’s history. In 2012, they released a CD featuring previous hit songs called Once Again. The quartet released another live project the following year featuring performances from the National Quartet Convention. Most recently, the group released their latest recording called Battle Cry which features the classic Kingsmen sound and powerful lyrics and catchy tunes. This group shows no signs of slowing down and under the leadership of Ray Dean Reese the quartet stays true to classic sound. They have been truly blessed by God and their fifty-nine year career is a testament to God’s faithfulness.
For more information on this legendary group, visit their website: http://kingsmenquartet.musiccitynetworks.com/index.htm