This listing is for a rare factory sealed (see condition notes) copy of The Kingsmen - "Just In Time" LP.

 

About The Artist:

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

Several groups have used the Kingsmen name over the years, both in sacred and secular music. The most popular secular artists to use the name were the pop group The Kingsmen who had a hit with “Louie Louie” and the Statler Brothers, who changed their name once “Louie, “Louie” became a hit. Other groups have used altered spellings of the name, such at the “King’s Men.”

In Southern Gospel circles, a male quartet based in Asheville is the best-known group calling themselves the Kingsmen. Brothers Raymond, Reese, and Louis McKinney formed the group in the 1950s. David Young played for the McKinney brothers in 1957 and 1958 while he was a student at Mars Hill College. Young had his own group called the Kingsmen Quartet based in Lenoir City, Tennessee from 1953 to 1956. Charles Collier and Harold Bailey were also members of the group around this time. Eldridge Fox joined in 1958 after returning home from the military service to play piano. After a year or two, he left to organize a new group called The Ambassadors. He later worked for the Statesmen Publishing Company until he returned home for good in the mid-1960s. He sang baritone in the mid and late 1960s and by 1970-71 bought out the other members, obtaining full control of The Kingsmen. Longtime bass singer Ray Dean Reese joined the Kingsmen in 1967. Reese sang bass for a little over a year. He then left the group for a couple of years to sing with The Journeymen and Kathleen and deliver JFG coffee on the side. He returned to the group in early 1971. A third individual whose name came to be synonymous with the group joined in 1971, lead singer Jim Hamill. Hamill was formerly a member of the Rebels, Blue Ridge Quartet and Oak Ridge Boys. Hamill sang with the Kingsmen for a little more than five years, then left in May 1976 to move Memphis, TN and joined the Senators. However, by the end of that same year he left the Senators and returned to the Kingsmen where he remained until he officially retired in 1996 at the National Quartet Convention.

In 1973, the group recorded a trend-setting live recording called Big and Live. On this project they introduced fans to their exciting brand of singing. Unlike the more polished and choreographed Statesmen and Blackwood Brothers of the previous two decades, the Kingsmen emphasized an exuberant energy. Big And Live also showcased a number of songs that would go on to become classics. Their first version of "The Glory Road" is on the recording. The project also included their own arrangement of "Love Lifted Me" and "Love Will Roll The Clouds Away." With the success of "Big and Live" (which won a "Album of the Year" Dove Award) in 1974), and never missing an opportunity for creative marketing, the group was billing themselves as the “Ton Of Fun” during the 1970s. Indeed, when the entire group of eight individuals including band members stood on a set of vehicle scales, they did surpass 2000 pounds (900 kg).

The Kingsmen of the 1980s continued to combine high energy, up-tempo music with an exciting brand of showmanship. They recorded more live projects than the average Southern Gospel group because the concert setting was where they excelled. Popular songs for the group during this time included “Saints Will Rise”, "Child, Child", and the novelty song “Excuses”. Ernie Phillips, Ed Crawford, Wayne Maynard, Squire Parsons, Anthony Burger, Arthur Rice and other individuals passed through the group over the next few years. Burger was so popular during his extended stint with the group, he won the Singing News Fan Awards for Favorite Musician ten years in a row. For several years after that, the award was named after him.

By the early 1990s, the Kingsmen had joined forces with Gold City to record a series of live recordings called KingsGold. Parker Jonathan was singing baritone for the group by this time. Tim Surrett took on a dual role singing lead at times in Hamill’s place, and playing with the band. The multi-talented Randy Miller played guitar, harmonica, and was featured on selected songs as a vocalist. A hit with the sentimental song “Wish You Were Here” featuring Surrett’s bluegrass tinged vocals marked a turning point for the group. The song proved the group could have success with a polished studio ballad in addition to their success in emotion driven concert settings. Tim left in June 1996 to join "The Isaacs".

Bryan Hutson was hired to sing lead, while Hamill was semi-retired. In the fall of 1996, Eldridge Fox suffered from a series of strokes which left him unable to travel consistently. Andrew Ishee became the group’s piano player in early 1997. Jerry Martin joined in March 1998 as tenor. The departing tenor; Chris Collins left to join his new wife's family group, The Griffiths.

In 2000, The Kingsmen were inducted into The Gospel Music Hall of Fame. Several former members were able to attend the ceremony.

In time, Fox and Hamill withdrew from traveling, though they did continue to appear at selected events. Greg Fox, son of Eldridge and longtime drummer for the group, assumed road manager duties for a few years. Hutson left in the spring of 2001 and Randy Crawford was hired as lead vocalist.

At the 2001 National Quartet Convention in Louisville, the Kingsmen Quartet name was retired abruptly after it had been purchased by Charles Burke, a businessman from Maiden, North Carolina.

Andrew Ishee left the group near or at the time the retirement was announced.

Officially, the legal ownership of the name was turned over to Charles Burke, a businessman from Maiden, North Carolina and owner of the Singing Americans.

Meanwhile, Ray Dean Reese reorganized the remaining Kingsmen members toured for two years billed as the "Carolina Boys Quartet". The group had to get its own sound equipment, bus, etc. During their first near 10 months as the CBQ, the Southern Gospel music industry's top magazine Singing News (then owned by Maurice Templeton and Jerry Kirksey; since 2005, owned by Salem Communications) totally ignored the group. After the release of their album and the subsequent success of the song "God Sits on High", the group could not be ignored. "The Carolina Boys", despite carrying a lineage that featured over 40 years of quartet singing, were honored with the "Horizon Award" by the readers of the Singing News the following year (legally, with the new name and owner in Reese, the group could be declared "new").

During this time, they had a hit song ”God Sits On High,” featuring tenor singer Jerry Martin. Nick Succi had replaced the departing Andrew Ishee at piano at Reese's "new" group, and Tim Surrett returned the following year replacing Parker Jonathon. Jerry Martin left to join the Dove Brothers Quartet and was replaced by Derrick Boyd, who was later replaced by Jeremy Peace.

Reese and his Carolina Entertainment, Inc, organization was able in 2004 to acquire the Kingsmen Quartet name back from Burke, and promptly changed his group's name back to the Kingsmen Quartet.

The group subsequently released a project titled "Born Again" that included several previous Kingsmen hits like "Excuses," “Love Will Roll The Clouds Away” and “When I Wake Up To Sleep No More." Vocal problems plagued Surrett over the next year and he ultimately left the group. Former Wilburns and Palmetto State Quartet baritone Tony Peace joined the Kingsmen in 2005 replacing Surrett. The top vocal half of the group in 2005 included Jeremy Peace at tenor and Phillip Hughes at lead. Bass player Jason Selph was frequently featured as a vocalist as well. Nick Succi (piano) and Reese's son Brandon (drums) completed the Kingsmen band.

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 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 of 2011, Cody McVey left to pursue a college education.

 

This 1976 LP is on "Canaan Records".

Record # CAS-9801

Condition notes: The shrink wrap has deteriorated and there is some slight color fading along the top edge of the cover, but this classic, vintage LP remains factory sealed! Photos have been updated and are of the actual LP that you will receive.

 

Song list

Side 1

1. Just In Time

2. Caught Up

3. Captain Jesus

4. He Never Gave Up On Me

5. Some Sweet Day

6. When That Old Ship Of Zion Sails In Home

 

Side 2

1. Innocent Blood

2. Another Child Has Made It Home

3. Don't Be Knocking

4. Beyond the Clouds

5. Joy In The Morning

6. Prayed Up, Packed Up

 

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