The Kingsmen Quartet

The Kingsmen
Also known as Carolina Boys (2001-04)
Origin Asheville, North Carolina
Genres Christian, Southern Gospel
Years active 1956-present
Website kingsmenquartet.com
Members Ray Dean Reese (bass)
Chris Jenkins (tenor)
Randy Crawford (baritone)
Bob Sellers (lead)
Brandon Reese (sound system)
Past members see section below

The Kingsmen Quartet (better known as The Kingsmen) is an American Christian music group.

Musical career

The Kingsmen are a Southern Gospel vocal quartet based out of Asheville, North Carolina. Many legends of Southern Gospel (Jim Hamill,[1] Squire Parsons,[2] Anthony Burger,[3] Mark Trammell, Ed Crawford, Ernie Phillips, and Bryan Hutson)[4] have been members of The Kingsmen. The group is currently owned and managed by bass vocalist, Ray Reese.

For a brief period from 2001-2004, they were known as The Carolina Boys Quartet. That name now belongs to a quartet from Anderson SC formerly known as Total Praise Quartet, with full support & blessing from Ray Dean Reese.

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[5] 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 2011, Cody McVey left to pursue a college education.

In December, 2011, Bryan Hutson announced that he was leaving the Kingsmen to join Soul'd Out Quartet. Lead singer Bob Sellers was brought in to fill the vacancy.

Harold Reed also left the Kingsmen at that time, joining the Lefevre Quartet. Chris Jenkins was hired in May of 2012 as Tenor.

Awards

Singing News Fan Awards

Other

Members

The group today is composed of Owner, Manager, and Bass Singer, Ray Reese; Lead Bob Sellers; Baritone Randy Crawford and Tenor Chris Jenkins. Former drummer Brandon Reese is now the group's sound technician.

Tenor

(names in bold are current members)

Lead

Baritone

Bass

Pianist

Additional Musicians

Discography

1950s and 1960s

1970s

1980s

1990s

2000s to present

References

  1. ↑ http://www.sgma.org/inductee_bios/jim_hamill.htm Jim Hamill biography (Southern Gospel Music Association)
  2. ↑ http://www.sgma.org/inductee_bios/squire_parsons.htm Squire Parsons biography (Southern Gospel Music Association)
  3. ↑ http://www.sgma.org/inductee_bios/anthony_burger.htm Anthony Burger (Southern Gospel Music Association)
  4. ↑ http://burkesbrainwork.wordpress.com/2011/12/14/bryan-hutson-departs-kingsmen-joins-sould-out/
  5. ↑ http://www.sgma.org/inductee_bios/ray_dean_reese.htm Ray Reese at the Southern Gospel Music Hall Of Fame
  6. ↑ http://www.gmahalloffame.org/site/year-of-2000 Gospel Music Hall of Fame 2000
  7. ↑ http://hallmuseum.com/induction.htm Christian Music Hall of Fame inductions
  8. ↑ http://www.sgma.org/inductee_bios/ray_dean_reese.htm
  9. ↑ http://www.metrolyrics.com/1979-dove-awards.html 1979 Dove Awards for From Out Of The Past
  10. ↑ http://www.southerngospelblog.com/archives/3125 Southern Gospel Blog: CD Review: Missing People

External links