GROUP HISTORY: THE KINGDOM HEIRS
SOUTHERN GOSPEL SPOTLIGHT PRESENTS
A HISTORY OF THE KINGDOM HEIRS THROUGH SONG
This history post will be different than those I've done previously. It will include videos that represent each lineup of the group's history.
The Kingdom Heirs Quartet was founded by brothers Steve and Kreis French in 1981in Pidgeon Forge, Tennesee. The original lineup included Wayne Mitchell singing tenor, David McGill at lead, Steve French at baritone and emcee, and Eric Hawkins at bass with Kreis French plyaing bass guitar, Larry Hutson on lead guitar,and Randall Hunley on the piano. The group began singing at Silver Dollar City theme park later in the year. In 1986, Silver Dollar City became Dollywood after Dolly Parton took ownership of the theme park. The quartet also began a full-time residency at the park at this time. This is also the year the group began recording with Sonlite Records, a partnership that still remains today. The quartet also experienced its first personnel change with the departure of bass singer Eric Hawkins. Jody Medford joined the quartet as their new bass. The lineup of Mitchell, McGill, French and Medford lasted until 1987, but began to experience great success. Here is a video of this formation singing "Traveling The Road To Glory."
In 1987, both Wayne Mitchell and Jody Medford left the quartet and were replaced by Rick Strickland and Bob Caldwell respectively. This particular formation lasted for about two years until lead David McGill left the group in 1989. 1989 was a key year in the history of the group as they received their first Singing News Fan Award for Horizon Group and the new lineup with former Singing Americans member Clayton Inman, experienced national success. Here is the group singing "Bought By The King" in 1990.
The year 1991 brought more changes to the group as bass singer Bob Caldwell departed from the quartet to joine Hovie Lister & The Statesmen. Eric Bennett joined the quartet as the new bass singer in the same year. Dennis Murphy joined the band as the new drummer. The following year tenor Rick Strickland left to join JD Sumner & The Stamps and David Walker stepped in to fill the position in 1993. Pianist Randall Hunley left in 1992 and was replaced by Jamie Graves. In 1994, Clayton Inman and David Walker both left the group and were replaced by Steve Lacey and David Sutton respectively. Lacey left the group a year later and former Kingsmen Quartet member Arthur Rice joined in the lead position. Rice's powerhouse vocals added a new dynamic to the group that gelled to form the solid sound the group would become known for to this day. In 1999, Pianist Jeff Stice joined the group following the departure of Graves.The Sutton/Rice/French/Bennett lineup experienced great success which included their first number one song (a remake of Rex Nelon's "I Love To Call His Name") on the Singing News charts in September 2001. By this time, the quartet was receiving great turnouts at Dollywood and only toured a few weeks out of the year spending most of their time at the park. Here is their remake of the classic Nelons song.
Near the end of 2002, David Sutton, Eric Bennett, and Jeff Stice all left the group to form Triumphant Quartet with Clayton Inman and his son Scotty. Steve hired Jodi Hosterman to sing tenor, bass singer Jeff Chapman, and Adam Harman to play the keyboard. This lineup became a quick fan favorite. They garnered two more number one songs both in 2005. The first of these was "I Know I'm Going There" in February which showcased the incredible and rich bass voice of Jeff Chapman.
The second of these number one songs was the beautifully written and testimony song "Forever Changed" featuring the unbelievable lead vocals of Arthur Rice. It has become one the most popular and most requested song the quartet performs.
In 2005, Jodi Hosterman left the group due to vocal troubles and was replaced by former Dixe Echoes tenor Billy Hodges. Hodges remained with the group until 2011 when he too left due to vocal strains. During this time, the group had several hit songs and continued to produce quality records and concerts. Also, it was during this era that the Kingdom Heirs band comprised of Dennis Murphy, Kreis French and Adam Harman (and later Andy Stringfield) solidified themselves as a fan favorite in the industry receiving the Singing News award for favorite band on multiple ocassions (2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2012). Here are some of the most popular songs of this lineup: "What We Needed" (2007, 2008), and "He Locked The Gates" (2009, 2010).
In 2007, Adam Harman left the group after five years as pianist, He was later replaced by Andy Stringfield who reamins with the quartet to this day also singing baritone ocassionally. Jerry Martin, formerly of the Kingsmen and the Dove Brothers, joined the group as their new tenor in 2011 following the departure of Hodges. This solid lineup recording several incredible projects including songs such as "Where's John," "Expect The Unexpected," "No Bones About It," "I'll Know I'm Home," and "I Thank You." In 2014, founder and baritone Steve French decided to retire and therefore resigned from the quartet. Andy Stringfield filled-in during the audition process until a new baritone was chosen. In April of this year, Brian Alvey, formerly of Tribute Quartet and the Talleys, was hired as the new baritone. This group shows no signs of slowing down and continues to spread God's Word through song.
Here are some of the recent songs: "No Bones About It," "I'll Know I'm Home," "Hide Thou Me," and "How Beautiful Heaven Must Be."