Craig Valley Baptist Church will host a free concert by the southern gospel group The Kingsmen Quartet at 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 26.
The concert will be held at the church, 171 Salem Ave., next to Bibo’s. Admission is free, but seating is limited and available on a first-come basis. Additional parking will be available at Helms Hardware and the town park. A love offering will be received to support the group’s ministry.
Founded in 1956 in western North Carolina, the Kingsmen rose to national prominence in the 1970s and have remained active on the southern gospel circuit for decades. In recent years, the quartet has continued to chart songs on southern gospel radio and earn industry recognition, including nominations for Gospel Music Association Dove Awards and a No. 1 album on the Billboard charts.
Over the years, the group has been inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame and the Christian Music Hall of Fame, and several former members are also part of the Southern Gospel Music Hall of Fame. The Kingsmen have performed at notable venues and events, including appearances at the White House during the administration of Jimmy Carter and at the 1982 World’s Fair in Knoxville attended by Ronald Reagan, as well as recording a live performance at the Grand Ole Opry.
Among the group’s best-known songs are “Wish You Were Here,” “Saints Will Rise,” and “When God Ran,” part of a catalog that includes more than 100 charted releases.
Longtime bass vocalist Ray Dean Reese, who anchored the quartet for decades, now serves as owner and CEO and continues to support the group’s touring ministry. The current lineup includes baritone and emcee Alan Kendall, tenor Harold Reed, lead vocalist Cole Watson, and bass and pianist Brady Jones, with Brandon Reese serving as road manager.
-The New Castle Record
