The Kingsmen - Yesterday and Today, Feature Article

Apr

2006

The Kingsmen - Yesterday and Today

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The Kingsmen are a group with longevity. Tell us a little about the history of the Kingsmen Quartet.

Over the next year the Kingsmen will be celebrating 50 years of singing the Gospel and having a blast doing it. Originating in Asheville, North Carolina the Kingsmen started singing locally and then rose to national notoriety under the management of Eldridge Fox. They were among the first Gospel groups to perform at the White House, and record a video at the Opry. Many great artists have been part of the Kingsmen and will always be a part of the Kingsmen family. We hopefully, one day we will be celebrating 75 years.

This is the best group of Kingsmen to date to compete with the Jim Hamill era, what makes this bunch of guys so unique?

As for unique, we have a mixture of veterans and young singers, along with the live music, plus 50 years of songs to perform. We can just minister and have fun. There will never be another team of Bronx bombers with the likes of Babe Ruth or Mickey Mantel, but people still enjoy going to the ball field see the modern Yankee line up. In the same way, there will never be another Kingsmen Ton of Fun era, but fans still enjoy seeing the new crop of singers.

When the Kingsmen are looking for new material for a project, what kind of songs are you looking for?

Anything that hits us in the face and makes us say WOW. Some songs can be written and sound great on CD, but need a push with the band live like “I'll Live Again” or “I Stand Upon The Rock”.

The Kingsmen are one of only a few top groups who still use a live band, what part of your success do you think comes from having live music? What are the benefits of having a live band?

As with any group in Gospel music the words, testimony, and message are the most important part, but we think the energy the musicians bring is important, Also, there is more spontaneity and freedom to do what ever we want or what ever we are lead to do.

Is there any place that the Kingsmen have not yet sang that is still a dream to reach?

No. 1 tee at Augusta National.

What do the Kingsmen listen too while driving down the highway? What's in the CD player right now?

Recently our driver for the past 8 months, Gary Gray decided to leave the group to go back to his home town of Albamaro, but for those 8 fabulous months we were all treated to the experience of night after night going to the front of the bus and listening Gary’s Siris Satellite Radio in full blast mode. Gary always kept it on the all Elvis or all Barbra Streisand stations.

Since then there has been a mixture of Brian Free, Dixie Melody Boys, Rascal Flats, Brad Paisley, Alan Jackson, old Kingsmen, and many more.

Right now, Rascal Flats.

Are there any particular artists that each individual is musically influenced by?

Phil - Jim Hamill and Duane Allen
Ray - London Paris
Tony - My father
Jason - Tim Surret and Michael English
Brandon - Neil Peart, Buddy Rich, Robert Sweet, Doug Riley, and Greg Fox
Nick - Ian Gillen, John Lord, Richie Blackmore, and Lesley West
Jeremy - Ernie Philips and Jimmy Fortune

What is a typical off day between concerts while the whole group is still on the bus traveling like?

Well, as a group we will find a hotel and all or some of us will throw a football, baseball, or go to a movie or mall. Individually if we are on the bus:
Phil - Sleep or watch something to do with NASCAR.
Ray - Watch sportscenter or the Encore Western Channel.
Tony - Sleep or make everybody laugh and continuously make up one liners.
Jason - Watch baseball and play acoustic guitar.
Brandon - Play xbox360, Xbox, n64, Supernes, Nes, Saga Genesis or watch music videos.
Nick - Listen to music on a Ipod.
Jeremy - Pretty much get out his mixing consol, midi controller, laptop with Protools, and any other musical program you can think of and make an entire album for someone.

If the Kingsmen were forced to retire tomorrow, what would be the last two songs that the guys would agree to sing and why?

Jim Hamill - "Love Lifted Me” because of the words and the message of the song, also I feel it was written for me.
Ray Reese - "Healing Stream” for the strong testimony in the song and because of what it means to me in my life.

What "closet" song do the guys sing on the bus that no one would ever dream they sing?

Phil - "Please Remember Me" by the Anchormen
Tony - "Some Glad Day After While"
Nick - "Pictures Of Home"
Brandon - "In God We Trust by Stryper"
Jason - "Gods Building A Church" (the bass part) by Gold city
Jeremy - "Child Child" by the Kingsmen

You can visit the Kingsmen online at http://www.kingsmenquartet.com

You can also make plans to see the Kingsmen at the 7th Annual Gospel Music Fan Festival, Tuesday, July 25, 2006 in Smyrna, TN.

Reader Comments

Great article on one of my all-time favorite groups.

God is good all the time & all the time God is good.

Elaine Harcourt

Commented by On 04/18/2006

This is a great article. The Kingsmen have been my favorite group since I was 5 years old. Congrats guy on 50 years, and I pray that the Lord sustains you till He returns! Hope to see you guys soon.

Commented by On 04/18/2006

nothing is mentioned about jim hamill.
please reply as to what he is doing now if he is still living.

Commented by On 04/20/2006

Jim Hamill is doing good. He travels with the guys on occassion. He was with them when they came to Orlando back in October. He still knows how to WOW the crowd.

Commented by On 04/20/2006

Do they announce in advance the dates that Jim will be there?

Commented by On 04/21/2006

not to my knowledge. i think they just kind of leave it as a suprise. but i could be wrong. either way, i love it when he's with them.

i'm alittle disappointed though that The Kingsmen didn't receive hardly any nominations for the fan awards this year. hopefully next year they won't be overlooked.

Commented by On 04/21/2006

With all due respect to Jim Hammill, the Kingsmen are doing a great job on their own whether he is there or not. Thank the Lord and The Kingsmen for a LIVE band. Live bands are getting to be very rare indeed! I guess all those talented musicians that once traveled with these groups are doing studio work, selling used cars, gone back to farming, etc? I'm not intentionally be cynical in saying that, but being a pastor with a musically gifted family, I'm partial to any live band. It's strictly my opinion but ANYONE with a ten cent voice and a million dollar band on a sound trak backing them up can sound pretty good. It's amazing how studio music can cover up so much poor voice quality. I even like it when occassionally a band member might miss a lick. You know you are seeing the real thing in motion! These guys have weathered some storms as the "other Kingsmen" retired, coming back as The Carolina Boys, and finally getting the "Kingsmen" name back. Was that some kind of legal foolishness going on there? Aren't we all glad Jesus didn't copyright his words? As Elijah pronounced a double portion of his anointing upon Elisha, may that double anointing be upon every member of The Kingsmen.

Commented by On 04/24/2006

i too am very partial to a live band. that's one of the things that have made The Kingsmen great. anyone who has read any of my posts before, knows just how passionate i am about live bands. i hate tracks, and i don't believe that there is any valid excuse at all as to why every group out there doesn't have a live band. God can provide the money, and everything else.

God bless Ray and all the guys. and to my buddy Brandon......keep poundin the snot out of those drums!

Commented by On 04/24/2006

Are ths Kingsmen going to have a 50th anniversary sing in Asheville? I sure hope so.

G.Jean Taylor

Commented by On 05/05/2006

I'm listening to old Kingsmen albums and they are as good today as they were back in the 70's. Would love to email Jim Hamill, anyone know his address? My husband played with him many, many years ago.

Commented by On 06/17/2007

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