SPOTLIGHT INTERVIEW: JERRY MARTIN AND BRIAN ALVEY OF THE KINGDOM HEIRS

SOUTHERN GOSPEL SPOTLIGHT PRESENTS

A SPECIAL SPOTLIGHT INTERVIEW WITH JERRY MARTIN AND BRIAN ALVEY OF THE KINGDOM HEIRS

The Kingdom Heirs are one of Southern Gospel's most beloved quartets. They have experienced great success over their 30 year career receiving many Singing News Fan Awards and other accolades. Their sound is a blend of the classic and the modern with tight four part harmony. The tenor part is vital to the overall sound of the quartet and this group has one of the best, Jerry Martin. Martin joined the quartet back in 2011 following a tenure with the Dove Brothers. Martin brings a clear and resonant tenor voice to the group and some incredible high notes as well.

In the fall of last year, founder and baritone Steve French retired from full time Gospel singing. Pianist Andy Stringfield assumed the position for a short while as he has done previously. This was only a temporary fill in as they began auditions for a new baritone earlier this year. Brian Alvey, formerly of Tribute Quartet and later The Talleys, joined the quartet in April. Alvey brings an incredible range to the group as he has sung both tenor and lead previous to joining the Kingdom Heirs. He has rich, smooth tone to his voice and can deliver a lyric with great emotion.

Recently, I contacted Mr. Martin and was able to get an interview with each member of the group. This post will include both brief interviews with Jerry and Brian. Enjoy!

J. Gilmore: Hello gentlemen! So, How did you get your start in Southern Gospel music?

J. Martin: I started out singing with my family who were very musical and sang all the time. My Dad sang Tenor and my Mom was a Soprano and played piano. They were in a Quartet in the late 60’s to early 70’s called the Tidewater Quartet based out of Virginia. I started singing and on stage when I was 2 years old. My first songs I ever sang were “Momma’s Teaching Angels How To Sing” and “I’ll Fly Away”. I recorded my first “8 Track” (yeah that’s showing my age a little), when I was 9 years old. I sang in churches, at revivals, and homecomings until my teenage years. I took a break from singing during that time and finished school and went to college. After college I was asked to sing Tenor for the Lumber River Quartet based out of Lumberton, NC. I traveled the country and into Canada with them for three years. My big break was when my favorite group, the Kingsmen called and they wanted me to audition for them. So February of 1998 I auditioned and was hired. I traveled with them all across the US and into Canada to. We made yearly trips to the West Coast and worked our way there and back. I gained a lot of experience traveling and performing with them. I was inducted into the GMA (Gospel Music Association’s) Hall of Fame as apart of the Kingsmen in the year 2000. That’s been one of the highlights of my career.

B. Alvey: I started singing full-time with Tribute Quartet in 2008.

J. Gilmore: Great! Who are your musical influences?

J. Martin: My musical influences are many. I take pieces from all kinds of music and from different genres of music and learn from it all. I listen to a lot of music. To me that’s how you become a more well rounded singer and performer. On the Southern Gospel side I listened to Brian Free, Gary Sheppard, & Ernie Phillips. I also listened to Steve Perry, and a host of other “80’s” bands.

B. Alvey: Gold City, The Cathedrals, Gaither Vocal Band

J. Gilmore: What a great list of influences! Who is your favorite singer (in Gospel or secular music)?

J. Martin: In Gospel it’s Brian Free. He’s been a mentor to me. Secular it’s hands down Steve Perry. What a voice.

B. Alvey: David Phelps

J. Gilmore:Both David Phelps and Brian Free are fantastic! What is your highest note?

J. Martin: What do you mean? All of them are high Haha! I have a 5 octave range and I used to focus on my top range when I was younger but I’ve worked on the lower register as well which gives you more of a broader tone throughout your range. I’d rather be remembered as a good singer who happened to sing high.

J. Gilmore: That's amazing! Who are your favorite groups? Past or present

J. Martin: Past groups would be 80’s Gold City, the Statesmen, Cathedrals. Present Kingdom Heirs of course! Haha! Oh and the Isaac’s.

B. Alvey: Gold City and The Cathedrals

J. Gilmore: Awesome! What is something that people might not know about you?

J. Martin: ALOT! Haha! I like to make people laugh, even though I seem to be quiet. I do studio work, record, engineer, background vocals for artists.

J. Gilmore: Cool! What is your favorite Scripture verse?

J. Martin: Phil 4-19

B. Alvey: Gal. 5:22-23

J. Gilmore: What has it been like performing at Dollywood all these years?

J. Martin: For me it’s a dream come true! I have done a lot throughout my career and ending up as a Kingdom Heir and performing daily at Dollywood is where I want to always be.

J. Gilmore: What has been the best part of traveling with KH?

J. Martin: The guys for sure. They are all so talented and it’s like no other band I’ve traveled with. We only tour for 9 weeks a year but we make it fun and it’s always exciting for me to step out with these guys each night when we are on tour our everyday we perform at Dollywood. I love my job!

J. Gilmore: What a great job it is! What is your favorite song to sing?

J. Martin: I Can Pray would have to be the one. I recorded it years ago while traveling with the Dove Brothers and from the first time I heard it, I knew that was my song. It’s my signature song and I love to hear stories of how it’s helped so many people in their daily lives and how it has changed them and their families.

B. Alvey: A tie between Forever Changed and I Thank You.

J. Gilmore: Those are some incredible songs! What is the most memorable experience you’ve had in your years of singing Gospel music?

J. Martin: Getting inducted into the GMA Hall of Fame was incredible. When I toured non stop before becoming a Kingdom Heir, I would have to say just getting to see a lot of the country that I would probably have never been able to see if I was doing something else other than singing professionally.

B. Alvey: Singing at the NQC for the first time.

J. Gilmore: What can fans expect from the Kingdom Heirs in this new year? Any upcoming projects?

J. Martin: We are celebrating 30 years this year in Gospel Music and in January we came out with a 30th Anniversary CD which was made up of past original cuts that were great songs that might have been looked over. It’s filled with some of our favorites and we are starting to implement some of those songs back into our shows at Dollywood. We just released the “From The Red Book Volume 4” CD which features our new baritone singer, Brian Alvey. These songs are so fun to sing and it’s a very popular segment in our shows. We are currently working on yet another recording for Sonlite Records and it’s scheduled to be released sometime in the fall. So we have been extremely busy this year and happy that we are getting to make great music to share with everyone.

J. Gilmore: Awesome! Any advice for aspiring Gospel artists?

J. Martin: Yeah, apply yourself fully to your craft. Whether it’s playing an instrument or vocally. Always strive to do it skillfully and if you have questions then ask. There’s no shame in asking advice from a mentor or someone who you enjoy listening to. For me, I am always listening to how singers do certain things vocally. It’s an ever learning process so absorb all the knowledge and experience you can and stick to it.

B. Alvey: Keep singing and pray for guidance.

J. Gilmore: Thank you both so much for your time!! God Bless!

For more information on the Kingdom Heirs, visit their website http://kingdomheirs.com/news