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The Kingsmen are bringing their signature sound to a collection of songs from some of today's best writers on Victory Shout, which shares messages for daily life about being faithful in the journey to Heaven. The album will be available June 7 from Horizon Records.
Victory Shout begins on a joyful note with that theme in "Running To Win," an upbeat song featuring baritone singer Alan Kendall, about continuing to press toward finishing life well. It's followed by "Just Climb," a slower tune of encouragement to trust in God and have faith He'll move mountains in His own time.
The Kingsmen then sing "I've Ever Been Glad," a jubilant quartet song with bass singer Ray Reese taking the lead. Written by Regina Walden, who wrote the group's recent #1 chart song "Oh Yes I Am," this song is a true Southern Gospel quartet tune where almost every member has a step-out part on the chorus with a drive that will bring the crowd to their feet.
With a message of hope, encouragement and triumph for Christians, "Victory Shout," the album's title track and first single, which is moving quickly up the national charts, reminds that with steadfast belief in God, our needs will be met in His timing. Tenor Chris Jenkins sings:
"Can you feel it the song that is rising
Then you can't help but let it out
If you're trusting in faith
Even now while you wait
Lift up a victory shout"
These lyrics from the chorus of the song are portrayed in the arrangement and bring the listener to a moment where you are completely consumed in the message of overcoming the circumstances of life, even when you don't know what the final outcome will be.
The album continues with Biblical stories in the upbeat "Dear John," about John the Revelator featuring lead singer Chris Bryant; a re-recording of "Prodigal Son," a Kingsmen classic written by Larry Gatlin of the Gatlin Brothers' fame that tells the traditional story of returning home and the power of forgiveness; and in "King of Kings," which paints a picture of the grandeur of Christ through His time on Earth.
Other songs include the moving "It Still Changes Me" about how the Bible's message continues to have an impact even as life evolves and "You'll Move Mountains For Me," a song about trusting that God will always go above and beyond.
The album closes with "That's Where You'll Find Me," a power ballad featuringBryant describing the meeting place at Christ's throne in Heaven. With these songs of worship and praise, The Kingsmen are continuing their far-reaching ministry and legacy.
"I am so excited about this new recording Victory Shout! From start to finish it brings the classic Kingsmen sound to a collection of brand new songs written by some of today's best writers," says Bryant. "These songs will bring messages of hope and encouragement to listeners while keeping us all looking forward to what God is going to do! I am honored to be a part of this album and cannot wait to share it with everyone."
Pre-order Victory Shout HERE.
About The Kingsmen
For more than half a century, no group has secured such a far reaching legacy like that of The Kingsmen Quartet. Since 1956, this group has risen from humble beginnings in the mountains of western North Carolina to 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 "Gloryroad," "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 Regan 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.
"The key is to never lose sight of what we are working towards," says Ray Reese, Kingsmen manager and bass singer. "We tour year in and year out to spread our music to people across the country. Our music has a message, the message of Christ. Every night we work to bring His message to our audience. Our goal is to see people saved through Jesus Christ whether we're singing indoors, outdoors, in an auditorium, church or studio recordings ". Today the Kingsmen consist of 2008 hall of fame inductee, Ray Dean Reese, his son Brandon Reese, Chris Jenkins, Chris Bryant, and Alan Kendall.
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