Arden, North Carolina (November 22, 2024) — “Where do we start with this massive historic collection?” asks legendary Southern Gospel group The Kingsmen’s Alan Kendall as they contemplate Decades Vol. 3 & 4, their new super-sized retrospective collection on Horizon Records out now. “The first compilation, Decades Vol. 1 & 2, was so well-received that we immediately delved into the archives for some more songs.”
Ranging across the decades of their storied career, Decades Vol. 3 & 4 not only presents a bountiful selection of high points in the quartet’s extensive catalog, but brings the story into the present moment with the current lineup’s reworking of three treasured entries. “We’ve already been re-recording several Kingsmen classics in anticipation of our 70th anniversary with our current team of Thomas Nalley, Cole Watson, Brady Jones, and myself,” reveals Kendall. “Three of those re-cut classics — ‘Saints Will Rise,’ ‘So High,’ and ‘The Judgement’ — we decided to include on this set. We wanted to update these timeless songs in such a manner that they would be refreshing all over again in 2024, and I feel like we accomplished that.”
When Kendall calls those songs “timeless” — and the word applies to the entire set — it’s no exaggeration. As he notes, The Kingsmen are heading toward their 70th anniversary, which makes them not only a musical ministry of unparalleled longevity, but a virtual “school of Southern Gospel,” as generations of singers passed through the ranks. Decades Vol. 3 & 4 drives the point home, as it features some two dozen Kingsmen alumni, including such beloved names as original members Reece McKinney and Raymond McKinney, Eldridge Fox, Big Jim Hamill, Squire Parsons, Ed Crawford, Ernie Phillips and Johnny Parrack. Longtime fans will enjoy having their memories stirred by old favorites, while the collection serves as an indispensable introduction for newcomers — and for old and new fans alike, it includes some rarities that are sure to delight and inspire with abundant talent and unshakable faith.
“There are 39 songs in all on this set, including hits, rarities, and personal favorites selected by members of the Kingsmen,” says Kendall. “Once again, we found some more unique pieces of Kingsmen history that have never been digitally released until now. We found a studio-recorded version of ‘The Cross Has Won Again’ from 1992 that was only released to radio stations, but never to the public. Two songs from the very first albums by the Kingsmen in 1960 and 1961 are available digitally for the first time. We have included a SCALDING instrumental by Brandon Reese, Nick Succi, and Grant Barker from 2007 of ‘God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen,’ which previously was only available for a limited time on a custom live album. And perhaps the rarest of all of them is a transcription from an appearance on the popular Bob Poole’s Gospel Favorites in 1965, complete with dialogue between host Bob Poole and longtime Kingsmen pianist Ray Talley.”
“If you love the Kingsmen and love the heritage of southern gospel music,” he concludes with humble assurance, “you will LOVE this compilation!”
Listen to Decades Vol. 3 & 4 HERE.
About The Kingsmen
For more than half a century, no other group has secured such a far-reaching legacy as that of The Kingsmen Quartet. Since 1956, this group has risen from humble beginnings in the mountains of western North Carolina to become one of the most beloved and innovative groups in Christian music. Countless renowned artists have been a part of this great lineage, such as Eldridge Fox, “Big” Jim Hamill, Ray Dean Reese, Squire Parsons, Johnny Parrack, Anthony Burger, Ernie Phillips, Gary Sheppard, and a host of others. The momentum has not stopped as this group continues to help define the Southern Gospel genre for a whole new generation of music lovers, perhaps more so than any other group.
In the mid-fifties, brothers Raymond, Reese, and Louis McKinney formed a gospel group, traveling locally throughout the western part of the Carolinas and completing dozens of recordings by the late 60’s. By the early 70’s, area natives Eldridge Fox and Ray Dean Reese joined this emerging quartet and in 1974 released their first live recording, “Big & Live” consisting of Fox, Reese, Jim Hamill, and Johnny Parrack. This Dove award winning album brought to gospel music, fresh arrangements and catchy melodies that would later become southern gospel classics, such as “Glory Road,” “Look for Me At Jesus Feet,” and “Love Lifted Me.” This would be the start of many legendary live albums for the Kingsmen. Traveling with a live band, the Kingsmen became one of few groups during this era to be able to perform with three to five musicians, granting them individuality and innovation in the industry.
Always seeking to have a creative edge, they began introducing themselves as, “The Ton of Fun.” Through the late 1970’s and 80’s, more hits were churning from albums such as “Chattanooga Live,” “Live Naturally,” & “Live at The University of Alabama.” These albums combined with high energy and up-tempo music brought music lovers an exciting brand of showmanship. Songs like, “Old Ship of Zion,” “Shake Hands with a Poor Boy,” “Beautiful Home,” “Saints Will Rise,” and “Child, Child” became gospel music staples. In 1981, “Excuses” became the Kingsmen’s biggest hit of that era; it was steady at number one for 18 months, making it the longest running number one song in Southern Gospel Music history.
The successes of The Kingsmen have led to many prestigious opportunities. In 1977, The Kingsmen performed on the south lawn of the White House for President Jimmy Carter and in 1982 they performed at the opening ceremony of the World’s Fair in Knoxville, TN which was broadcast on local and regional TV, with President Ronald Reagan present to open the fair. The Kingsmen was also the first group to film and record a live performance at the famous Grand Ole Opry in Nashville and in 2000 they were inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame followed by the Christian Music Hall of Fame in 2008. They’ve garnered multiple dove awards and numerous Singing News Fan awards including favorite bass vocalist, tenor, baritone, lead, instrumentalist, video, the 1992 favorite song “Wish You Were Here” as well as favorite album by the same name, male quartet of the year, and group of the year. The Kingsmen band was voted favorite band a record 17 times making this quartet one of the most awarded groups in Southern Gospel Music.