John P. Kee

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John P. Kee
Birth nameJohn Prince Kee
Also known as"The Prince of Gospel Music"
Born (1962-06-04) June 4, 1962 (age 61)
Durham, North Carolina, US
OriginDurham, North Carolina, US
GenresGospel, praise and worship
OccupationsSinger, songwriter, pastor
Years active1986-present
LabelsTyscot (1987–1993)
Verity (1994–present)
Websitewww.johnpkee.com

John P. Kee (born John Prince Kee on June 4, 1962) is an American gospel singer and pastor.

Kee has been active for more than 20 years in the music field. He is primarily known for mixing traditional gospel with modern contemporary gospel, and for having a soulful husky voice. Kee is also known as "The Prince of Gospel Music".[1]

Early life and education[edit]

John P. Kee was born on June 4, 1962 in Durham, North Carolina. At an early age he began developing his musical talent both instrumentally and vocally. He attended the North Carolina School of the Arts in Winston-Salem. At age 14, he and his brothers, Wayne and Al, moved to California. There he began attending the Yuba College Conservatory School of Music in Marysville, California. During this time, he began playing with various groups such as Cameo, Donald Byrd and the Blackbyrds.

Due to having a hard time adjusting in California, he moved to Charlotte, North Carolina (only to find himself living in a part of the city known for its violence and drug activities). After watching one of his friends being murdered in a drug deal gone bad, he rededicated his life back to God during a visitation to a revival meeting.[2]

Music career[edit]

In the mid-1980s, Kee formed a community choir in Charlotte known as the New Life Community Choir or "NLCC". Over time, the choir grew in popularity, and has continued to travel throughout the area. The choir also included Kee's own children.

In 1990, Kee founded the Victory in Praise Music and Arts Seminar Mass Choir, or "V.I.P." to fellowship with various ministries, songwriters, musicians and choir directors from all over the country.

In 2007, Kee was inducted into the Christian Music Hall of Fame.[3]

Personal life and ministry[edit]

In December 1995, Kee married Felice Sampson. They are the parents of nine children. His son, Christopher Kee, was selected to join Diddy's live band as a drummer for his upcoming tour of Last Train to Paris (2010).

Kee said that it was during a trip to Michigan with his choir that he received a calling from God to be a preacher. He was in his mid-twenties when he became an ordained minister.

In 1995, while ministering in Ohio, Kee received a prophetic vision and went forward with the building of a Fellowship Center in Charlotte which could minister to the people in the community. He officially founded the New Life Fellowship Center where he became and remains the senior pastor. The church is located in the same area where he had once led a life of crime and drugs.

Discography[edit]

Solo albums

Title Details Peak chart positions
US
[4]
US
Gospel

[5]
US
Heat

[6]
US
R&B/HH

[7]
Yes Lord
  • Released: 1987
  • Label: Tyscot
  • Format: LP, Cassette, Digital
Just Me This Time
  • Released: August 30, 1990
  • Label: Tyscot
  • Format: CD, LP, Cassette, Digital
12
Colorblind
  • Released: April 26, 1994
  • Label: Verity
  • Format: CD, Cassette, Digital
4
The Color of Music
  • Released: August 10, 2004
  • Label: Verity
  • Format: CD, Digital
3 37 56
The Legacy Project
  • Released: January 18, 2011
  • Label: Verity
  • Format: CD, Digital
123 2
Level Next
  • Released: September 25, 2015
  • Label: Kee, Motown Gospel
  • Format: CD, Digital
4
I Made It Out
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart

With choir

Title Details Peak chart positions
US
[4]
US
Gospel

[5]
US
Heat

[6]
Brethren in Unity
(The New Life Community Choir)
  • Released: 1984
  • Label: Lipsong Music/Audio Concepts
  • Format: LP, Cassette, Digital
Wait on Him
(The New Life Community Choir)
  • Released: 1989
  • Label: Jive
  • Format: CD, LP, Cassette, Digital
There is Hope
(John P. Kee & Friends)
  • Released: 1990
  • Label:
  • Format: CD, LP, Cassette, Digital
11
Wash Me
(New Life Community Choir)
  • Released: May 7, 1991
  • Label: Jive
  • Format: CD, LP, Cassette, Digital
2
Never Shall Forget
(Victory in Praise Choir)
  • Released: 1991
  • Label: Jive
  • Format: CD, Cassette, Digital
We Walk By Faith
(feat. New Life Community Choir)
  • Released: 1992
  • Label: Verity
  • Format: CD, Cassette, Digital
Lily in the Valley
(Victory in Praise Choir)
  • Released: 1993
  • Label:
  • Format: CD, Digital
Show Up!
(The New Life Community Choir)
  • Released: January 24, 1995
  • Label: Jive
  • Format: CD, Cassette, Digital
147
Stand
(Victory in Praise Choir)
  • Released: February 27, 1996
  • Label: Jive
  • Format: CD, Digital
A Special Christmas Gift
(feat. New Life Community Choir)
  • Released: September 13, 1996
  • Label: Jive
  • Format: CD, Digital
Strength
(The New Life Community Choir)
  • Released: October 28, 1997
  • Label: Verity
  • Format: CD, VHS, DVD, Cassette, Digital
107 2
Any Day
(Victory in Praise Choir)
  • Released: October 13, 1998
  • Label: Verity
  • Format: CD, Cassette, Digital
Not Guilty: The Experience
(feat. New Life Community Choir)
  • Released: October 13, 2000
  • Label: Verity
  • Format: CD, VHS, DVD
Mighty in the Spirit
(Victory in Praise Choir)
  • Released: October 5, 2001
  • Label: Verity
  • Format: CD, Cassette, Digital
Blessed By Association
(feat. New Life Community Choir)
  • Released: November 12, 2002
  • Label: Verity
  • Format: CD, Digital
Live at the Fellowship
(Victory in Praise Choir)
  • Released: May 3, 2005
  • Label: Verity
  • Format: CD
24
The Reunion
(The New Life Community Choir)
  • Released: December 6, 2005
  • Label: Verity
  • Format: LP, Digital
10 27
Nothing But Worship
(The New Life Community Choir)
  • Released: September 4, 2007
  • Label: Verity
  • Format: CD, Digital
3
Live in Miami
(feat. Victory in Praise Choir)
  • Released: September 2, 2008
  • Label: Verity
  • Format: CD, Digital
Life and Favor
(feat. New Life Community Choir)
  • Released: August 28, 2012
  • Label: Kee Music Group
  • Format: CD, Digital, Stream
32
Life and Favor: Deluxe Edition
(Includes John P. Kee's Book "Life and Favor: The Manual")
  • Released: 2013
  • Label: Kee Music Group
  • Format: CD/Book
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart

Videography[edit]

  • "It Will Be Alright" – 1990 (VHS)
  • "Wash Me" – 1991 (VHS)
  • "We Walk By Faith" – 1994 (VHS)
  • "Show Up" – 1995 (VHS)
  • "Stand" – 1996 (VHS)
  • "Strength" – 1998 (VHS)
  • "Not Guilty: The Experience" – 2001 (VHS/DVD)
  • "Absolutely Live!" (compilation) – 2003 (DVD)

External links[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "John P. Kee".
  2. ^ "John P. Kee Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic.
  3. ^ "Welcome to the Christian Music Hall of Fame and Museum". Christian Music Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on August 19, 2009. Retrieved February 19, 2008.John P Kee inducted into the Christian Music Hall of Fame
  4. ^ a b "John P. Kee Album & Song Chart History – Billboard 200". Billboard.
  5. ^ a b "John P. Kee Album & Song Chart History – Gospel Albums". Billboard.
  6. ^ a b "John P. Kee Album & Song Chart History – Heatseekers Albums". Billboard.
  7. ^ "John P. Kee Album & Song Chart History – Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Albums". Billboard.