The Kingsmen Quartet

The Kingsmen
The Kingsmen
Also known as	Carolina Boys (2001–04)
Origin	Asheville, North Carolina
Genres	Southern gospel
Years active	1956–present
Website	kingsmenquartet.com
Members	Ray Dean Reese; Chris Jenkins; Alan Kendall; Chris Bryant; Brandon Reese; Andrew Ishee;
Past members	see section below

The Kingsmen Quartet (better known as The Kingsmen) is an American Southern gospel vocal quartet.

Musical career[]

The Kingsmen are a Southern Gospel vocal quartet based out of Asheville, North Carolina. Many singers of Southern Gospel including Jim Hamill,^[1] Squire Parsons,^[2] Anthony Burger,^[3] Mark Trammell, and others have been members of The Kingsmen.

GMA Dove Awards

Album of the Year – Big and Live (1974)
Album of the Year – Chattanooga Live (1978)
Southern Gospel Album of the Year – From Out of the Past (1980)

Singing News Fan Awards

Favorite Group (1980, 1985)
Favorite Traditional Male Quartet (1981)
Favorite Horizon Group (2002, as Carolina Boys)
Favorite Lead: Jim Hamill (1974, 1975, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1985)
Favorite Male Singer: Jim Hamill (1981, 1984, 1985)
Favorite Tenor: Johnny Parrack (1976), Ernie Phillips (1980, 1981)
Favorite Bass: Ray Dean Reese (1979, 1985)
Favorite Baritone: Wayne Maynard (1981), Parker Jonathan (1992, 1993)
Favorite Band (1978, 1981 to 1984, 1986 to 1997)
Favorite Musician: Anthony Burger (1980 to 1989)
Favorite Musician (non-pianist): Tim Surrett (2004, 2005)
Favorite Horizon Individual: Bryan Hutson (1997)
Song of the Year: "Sweet Beulah Land" (1981), "Wish You Were Here" (1992)
Album of the Year: Wish You Were Here (1992)

Other

BMI Radio Airplay Award, “Oh Yes I Am” (2016)
BMI Radio Airplay Award, “Battle Cry” (2017)
Gospel Music Hall of Fame (Inducted in 2000)^[4]
Christian Music Hall of Fame (inducted in 2007)^[5]
Southern Gospel Hall of Fame
- Eldridge Fox, inducted in 1998
- Jim Hamill, inducted in 2004
- Anthony Burger, inducted in 2007
- Ray Dean Reese, inducted in 2008
- Squire Parsons, inducted in 2008
- Mark Trammell, inducted in 2018
- Ernie Phillips, inducted in 2019^[6]

Members[]

Line-ups[]

1956–1957 (Under the Name "The Kingsmen Quartet")	1957–1958	1958–1959
Charles Collier – tenor Everett McKinney – lead Raymond McKinney – baritone Reese McKinney – bass Charlie Matthews – piano	Charles Collier – tenor Louis McKinney – lead Raymond McKinney – baritone Reese McKinney – bass David Young – piano	Frank Cutshall – tenor Louis McKinney – lead Raymond McKinney – baritone Reese McKinney – bass Martin Cook – piano
1959	1959–1960	1960–1961
Frank Cutshall – tenor Harold Bailey – lead Raymond McKinney – baritone Reese McKinney – bass Martin Cook – piano	Jack Henderson – tenor Frank Cutshall – lead Raymond McKinney – baritone Reese McKinney – bass Eldridge Fox – piano	Jack Henderson – tenor Frank Cutshall – lead Raymond McKinney – baritone Reese McKinney – bass James N. Ward – piano
1961–1963	1963–1964	1964–1965
Jack Henderson – tenor Frank Cutshall – lead Raymond McKinney – baritone Reese McKinney – bass Ray Talley – piano	Jack Henderson – tenor Frank Cutshall – lead Raymond McKinney – baritone Calvin Runion – bass Ray Talley – piano	Jack Henderson – tenor Frank Cutshall – lead Raymond McKinney – baritone Calvin Runion – bass Eldridge Fox – piano John Dalton – drums Jim Kirby – guitar Jim McCauley – bass guitar
1965–1967	1967–1968	1968–1969
Kermit Jamerson – tenor Frank Cutshall – lead Eldridge Fox – baritone Calvin Runion – bass Ray Talley – piano Jim Kirby – guitar	Kermit Jamerson – tenor Frank Cutshall – lead Eldridge Fox – baritone Ray Dean Reese – bass Ray Talley – piano Jim Kirby – guitar	Kermit Jamerson – tenor Frank Cutshall – lead Eldridge Fox – baritone Calvin Runion – bass Ray Talley – piano Jim Kirby – guitar
1969–1970	1970–1971	1971–1973
Jerry Redd – tenor Frank Cutshall – lead Eldridge Fox – baritone Calvin Runion – bass Ray Talley – piano Tommy Hensley – bass guitar	Jerry Redd – tenor Frank Cutshall – lead Eldridge Fox – baritone Jim McCallister – bass Ray Talley – piano Tommy Hensley – bass guitar	Johnny Parrack – tenor Jim Hamill – lead Eldridge Fox – baritone Ray Dean Reese – bass Charles Abee – piano Jim McCauley – bass guitar John Broome – drums Leonard Hollifield – guitar Eddie Trent – steel guitar
1973–1975	1975–1976	1976–1977
Johnny Parrack – tenor Jim Hamill – lead Eldridge Fox – baritone Ray Dean Reese – bass Nick Bruno – piano Jim McCauley – bass guitar John Broome – drums (1974) Chester Arms – drums Gary Dillard – steel guitar (1974)	Johnny Parrack – tenor Jim Hamill – lead Squire Parsons – baritone Ray Dean Reese – bass Nick Bruno – piano Jim McCauley – bass guitar Chester Arms – drums Gary Dillard – steel guitar	Johnny Parrack – tenor Squire Parsons – lead Eldridge Fox – baritone Ray Dean Reese – bass Nick Bruno – piano Jim McCauley – bass guitar Bob Conley – guitar (1976) Gary Dillard – steel guitar
1977–1978	1978–1979	1979
Ernie Phillips – tenor Jim Hamill – lead Squire Parsons – baritone Ray Dean Reese – bass Nick Bruno – piano Jim McCauley – bass guitar Greg Fox – drums Gary Dillard – steel guitar	Ernie Phillips – tenor Jim Hamill – lead Squire Parsons – baritone Ray Dean Reese – bass Anthony Burger – piano Mark Trammell – bass guitar Gary Dillard – steel guitar Greg Fox – drums	Ernie Phillips – tenor Jim Hamill – lead Eldridge Fox – baritone Ray Dean Reese – bass Anthony Burger – piano Mark Trammell – bass guitar Greg Fox – drums Gary Dillard – steel guitar
1979–1980	1980–1983	1983–1984
Ernie Phillips – tenor Jim Hamill – lead Mark Trammell – baritone, bass guitar Ray Dean Reese – bass Anthony Burger – piano Greg Fox – drums Gary Dillard – steel guitar	Ernie Phillips – tenor Jim Hamill – lead Wayne Maynard – baritone, bass guitar (1983) Ray Dean Reese – bass Anthony Burger – piano Otis Lynn Dillon – bass guitar (1981) Sam Crowe – steel guitar Jim McCauley – bass guitar (1981) Ed Crawford – bass guitar Greg Fox – drums	Ernie Phillips – tenor Jim Hamill – lead Ed Crawford – baritone, bass guitar Ray Dean Reese – bass Anthony Burger – piano Greg Fox – drums
1984–1988	1988–1989	1989–1993
Garry Sheppard – tenor Jim Hamill – lead Arthur Rice – lead, bass guitar Ed Crawford – baritone Ray Dean Reese – bass Anthony Burger – piano Greg Fox – drums Gary Dillard – steel guitar	Garry Sheppard – tenor Jim Hamill – lead Arthur Rice – lead, baritone, bass guitar (becomes baritone when Ed Crawford leaves. Rice departs in April of 1989) Eldridge Fox – baritone Ray Dean Reese – bass Anthony Burger – piano Greg Fox – drums Gary Dillard – steel guitar Tim Surrett - baritone, bass guitar (debuted with group in March of 1989 and split some concerts at baritone with Eldridge Fox, who was recovering from a heart attack, until the hiring of Parker Jonathan in September of 1989)	Garry Sheppard – tenor Jim Hamill – lead Parker Jonathan – baritone Ray Dean Reese – bass Anthony Burger – piano Tim Surrett – baritone, bass guitar (first date was March of 1989) Gary Dillard - steel guitar, banjo, harmonica (left group in 1991) Greg Fox – drums
1993–1995	1995–1996	1996–1997
Chris Collins – tenor Jim Hamill - lead Tim Surrett – lead singer, bass guitar Parker Jonathan – baritone Ray Dean Reese – bass Randy Matthews – piano Greg Fox – drums Randy Miller – guitar	Chris Collins – tenor Jim Hamill – lead Parker Jonathan – baritone Ray Dean Reese – bass Randy Matthews – piano Tim Surrett – lead singer, bass guitar Rory Rigdon – bass guitar Greg Fox – drums Randy Miller – guitar	Chris Collins – tenor Bryan Hutson – lead Parker Jonathan – baritone Ray Dean Reese – bass Tim Lovelace – piano Rory Rigdon – Bass guitar Greg Fox – drums Randy Miller – guitar
1997–1998	1998–2001	2001–2002 (Under the Name "Carolina Boys")
Chris Collins – tenor Bryan Hutson – lead Parker Jonathan – baritone Ray Dean Reese – bass Andrew Ishee – piano Greg Fox – drums Randy Miller – guitar	Jerry A. Martin – tenor Bryan Hutson – lead Parker Jonathan – baritone Ray Dean Reese – bass Andrew Ishee – piano (departs September 2001) Colby McClatchey – (bass player) Jason Selph – bass player (1999) Randy Miller - guitar (departs in 1999) Greg Fox – drums Brandon Reese – drums (1999)	Jerry A. Martin – tenor Randy Crawford – lead (Crawford is the final lead singer prior to the Kingsmen's name retirement, joining the group in mid-2001 after the departure of Bryan Hutson) Parker Jonathan – baritone Ray Dean Reese – bass Nick Succi – piano (debuts September of 2001 right after the Kingsmen name retirement) Brandon Reese – drums Jason Selph – bass player
2002–2003	2003–2004	2004–2005 (Under the Name "The Kingsmen")
Derrick Boyd – tenor Randy Crawford – lead Tim Surrett – baritone Ray Dean Reese – bass Nick Succi – piano Brandon Reese – drums Jason Selph – bass player	Derrick Boyd – tenor Tim Surrett – lead Jason Selph – baritone, bass player Ray Dean Reese – bass Nick Succi – piano Brandon Reese – drums	Jeremy Peace – tenor Phillip Hughes – lead Tim Surrett – baritone Ray Dean Reese – bass Nick Succi – piano Brandon Reese – drums Jason Selph – bass player
2005–2007	2007–2008	2008–2009
Jeremy Peace – tenor Phillip Hughes – lead Tony Peace – baritone Ray Dean Reese – bass Nick Succi – piano Brandon Reese – drums Jason Selph – bass player	Harold Reid – tenor Phillip Hughes – lead, baritone Bryan Hutson – lead, baritone Ray Dean Reese – bass Nick Succi – piano Brandon Reese – drums Grant Barker – bass guitar	Harold Reid – tenor Phillip Hughes – lead, baritone Bryan Hutson – lead, baritone Ray Dean Reese – bass Brandon Reese – sound system
2009–2010	2010–2011	2011–2012
Harold Reid – tenor Phillip Hughes – lead, baritone Bryan Hutson – lead, baritone Ray Dean Reese – bass Cody McVey – piano Brandon Reese – sound system	Harold Reid – tenor Bryan Hutson – lead, baritone Randy Crawford – lead, baritone Ray Dean Reese – bass Cody McVey – piano Brandon Reese – sound system	Ernie Phillips – tenor Bob Sellers – lead, baritone Randy Crawford – lead, baritone Ray Dean Reese – bass Brandon Reese – sound system
2012–2016	2016	2016–2017
Chris Jenkins – tenor Bob Sellers – lead, baritone Randy Crawford – lead, baritone Ray Dean Reese – bass Brandon Reese – sound system	Ernie Phillips – tenor Bob Sellers – lead, baritone Randy Crawford – lead, baritone Ray Dean Reese – bass Brandon Reese – sound system	Josh Horrell – tenor Bob Sellers – lead, baritone Randy Crawford – lead, baritone Ray Dean Reese – bass Brandon Reese – sound system
2017–2018	2018–present	Upcoming 2021
Chris Jenkins – tenor Bob Sellers – lead, baritone Randy Crawford – lead, baritone Ray Dean Reese – bass Justin Nehrkorn – piano Brandon Reese – sound system	Chris Jenkins – tenor Chris Bryant – lead Alan Kendall – baritone Ray Dean Reese – bass Brandon Reese – sound system	Chris Jenkins – tenor Chris Bryant – lead Alan Kendall – baritone Ray Dean Reese – bass Brandon Reese – sound system Andrew Ishee - part-time pianist

Additional musicians[]

Otis Lynn Dillon (bass, 1980–81)
Tommy Hensley (bass guitar, 1969–70)
Jim McCauley (bass guitar, 1971–78)
John Broome (drums, 1971–74)
Leonard Hollifield (guitar, 1971–73)
Eddie Trent (steel guitar, 1971–73)
Bob Conley (guitar/bass guitar, 1976)
Chester Arms (drums, 1974–76)
Gary Dillard (steel guitar/harmonica/dobro/banjo, 1974–80)
Greg Fox (drums, 1977–99)
Mark Trammell (bass guitar, 1978–80)
Wayne Maynard (bass guitar, 1983–84)
Sam Crowe (steel guitar/banjo), 1980–83)
Jim McCauley (bass guitar, 1980–81)
Ed Crawford (bass guitar, 1981–83)
Gary Dillard (steel guitar, 1983–93)
Tim Surrett (bass guitar, 1989–96)
Randy Miller (guitar, 1993–98)
Rory Rigdon (bass guitar, 1995–97)
Jason Selph (bass player, 1999–07)
Colby McClatchey (bass player, 1998)
Brandon Reese (drums, 1999–08)
Tim Surrett (guitar, 2003–06)
Grant Barker (bass guitar, 2007–08)

Discography[]

1959 What Love
1960 New Jerusalem
1962 Closer to Thee
1963 That Kingsmen Sound
1963 From the Land of the Sky
1964 A Visit with the Kingsmen
1965 Carolina's Favorite Quartet
1966 Songs and Spirituals
1967 Sing Out!
1968 Kingsmen Kountry
1968 Daddy Sang Bass
1968 Crown Him King
1969 Try a Little Kindness
1969 Standing Room Only
1970 The Kingsmen
1971 Then and Now
1971 Suddenly There's a Valley
1971 America's Favorite Hymns
1971 Presented by Colonial Mobile Homes
1972 May Day
1972 Turn Your Radio On
1972 It's Time to Ring the Bell
1972 Johnny Parrack Out Front
1972 Hymn Time in the Country
1973 High and Low: Johnny Parrack and Ray Dean Reese
1973 Sing a Lot of Gospel
1973 Reverend Everett Beverly and Anna Laura
1973 Just Plain Singin'
1973 Just As the Sun Went Down (same album as above)
1973 Big and Live
1974 1686 lbs. of Gospel
1975 Jubiliation
1975 The Old and the New: Jim Hamill and Squire Parsons
1975 24 Carat Gospel
1976 It Made News In Heaven
1976 Just In Time
1976 Golden Gospel
1977 Just a Little Closer Home
1977 Chattanooga Live
1978 The Upper Window
1979 From Out of the Past^[7]
1980 Ring the Bells of Freedom
1981 Live...Naturally
1982 Your Ride Is on the Way
1982 With Grady Nutt
1983 Live from the University of Alabama
1984 The Game of Life
1984 Kingsmen Silver (compilation album with two original featuring Garry Sheppard)
1985 Better in Person
1986 Stand Up at Opryland USA
1986 The River
1987 Mississippi Live
1988 Anchors Aweigh
1989 The Judgement
1990 Live in Dayton
1991 Wish You Were Here
1992 Singin' in the Sun Live
1992 Walking with Jesus
1992 Singing News Hits
1992 Living by Faith
1993 Kingsmen Band
1993 27 Great Gospel Songs
1993 New Life
1994 Ridin' High
1994 Live from the Alabama Theatre
1994 A Kingsmen Christmas
1994 30 Great Gospel Songs
1995 Georgia Live
1996 40th Anniversary Reunion: Perfecting the Crown
1996 Beyond the Clouds
1997 You're Not Alone
1997 Kingsmen Klassics
1998 The Old Time Way
1998 Kingsmen Klassics 2
1999 Southern Standards
1999 Shelter
1999 Not Quite as Big, But Just as Live
2000 Proven Time and Again
2001 I Will
2001 Honoring the Heritage 1 (as Carolina Boys)
2002 Good News! (as Carolina Boys)
2003 Ready (as Carolina Boys)
2004 Born Again
2005 My Past Is Past
2006 Good, Good God
2007 I'll Not Turn Back-Live
2007 Honoring the Heritage 2 - Live
2008 When God Ran
2009 Missing People
2010 Honoring the Heritage 3
2010 Live Performances from the National Quartet Convention
2011 Grace Says
2012 Once Again
2013 Front Row Live
2014 Battle Cry
2017 They Don't Know
2019 Victory Shout
2020 40th Anniversary Reunion: Live, Extended, Remixed, Remastered
2021 More to the Story

References[]

^ [1]
^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on May 17, 2011. Retrieved May 18, 2011.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on March 10, 2012. Retrieved March 10, 2012.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on November 26, 2012. Retrieved April 1, 2013.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
^ "Hallmuseum.com". Hallmuseum.com. Archived from the original on August 19, 2009. Retrieved January 4, 2018.
^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on December 6, 2008. Retrieved May 18, 2011.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
^ "Latest Music News - MetroLyrics". Metrolyrics.com. Retrieved January 4, 2018.

External links[]

[1] [1]

[2] "Archived copy". Archived from the original on May 17, 2011. Retrieved May 18, 2011.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)

[3] "Archived copy". Archived from the original on March 10, 2012. Retrieved March 10, 2012.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)

[4] "Archived copy". Archived from the original on November 26, 2012. Retrieved April 1, 2013.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)

[5] "Hallmuseum.com". Hallmuseum.com. Archived from the original on August 19, 2009. Retrieved January 4, 2018.

[sgma.org-6] "Archived copy". Archived from the original on December 6, 2008. Retrieved May 18, 2011.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)

[7] "Latest Music News - MetroLyrics". Metrolyrics.com. Retrieved January 4, 2018.

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