Spreading the ministry of Jesus Christ through song is the goal of the Kingsmen Southern Gospel Quartet.
“Our music has a message, the message of Jesus Christ,” bass singer Ray Reese said recently. “Every night, we work to bring his message to our audience. Our goal is to see people saved through Jesus Christ, whether it is indoors, in an auditorium or a church or by recorded music.”
The Kingsmen will perform in Woodward at 7:30 p.m., Aug. 13, at Woodward High School as part of a fundraiser for the Woodward Fraternal Order of Police (FOP).
A few of the songs they will sing include “Wish You Were Here,” “Stand Up,” “Oh, Ship of Zion,” and “Look for me at Jesus’ Feet.”
The Kingsmen were organized in 1956 in Asheville, N.C., Reese said.
“I have been a part of the Kingsmen for 45 years,” he said. “We have 1,500 to 2,000 recordings, all made over the years. We have DVDs and videos.”
Reese, who has owned the Kingsmen since 2001, said the quartet has 230 dates a year.
“We have our own (traveling) coach,” he said, adding, “There are eight of us, including our product man and bus driver.”
The quartet went into full time ministry in 1971 when Eldridge Fox became owner of the group, according to a news release about the group.
With countless records sold, Grammy nominations, four Dove Awards and induction into the Southern Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2000, the Kingsmen have become one of gospel music’s premier quartets.
“We never lose sight of what we’re working toward,” Reese said. “We tour year in and year out to spread our music across the country.”
Reese was born in Asheville, N.C. He was inducted into the SGMA Hall of Fame in October 2008.
Phillip Hughes, lead singer, is from Enterprise, Ala. He spent a long tenure singing lead for the Anchormen and the Harvesters before joining the Kingsmen in 2004.
Tenor Harold Reed is from cincinnati, Ohio. He has traveled with Squire Parsons, the Dixie Melody Boys and the Florida Boys. He joined the group in 2007.
Bryan Hutson, baritone, was born in Batesville, Ind., and is in his second tenure with the Kingsmen. In 1996, he joined the group as lead singer. Then in 2001, he resigned to become minister of music in his church. He rejoined the Kingsmen in 2007.
Brandon Reese, drummer, sound technician and song writer, is a second generation Kingsmen. He is the son of Ray Reese and joined the group in 1997.
Cody McVey at 18 is the pianist. He is from Alderson ,W.Va. and joined the group in 2009.
For tickets, call (580) 252-5676. Tickets may be purchased at Paradise Christian Book Store, 1107 Main St.
