Kingdom Heirs

**The Kingdom Heirs Quartet** is a Southern gospel quartet based at Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.

The Kingdom Heirs formed in 1971 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Original members included Patty Wilson (alto), Jim Bluford (tenor), Gene McKinney (lead), Raymond Parker (bass), and a 13-year-old Gary Bilyeu (piano). Gary Arnold was added on bass guitar and 13-year-old drummer Jim Ford came close behind with Tom Bailey on Rhythm. The name *Kingdom Heirs* was chosen by the group from James 2:5. After they began expanding their singing beyond local churches, Wilson, Parker, and Arnold left the group for various reasons, and Steve Gouge replaced Arnold on bass guitar in July-1971. Mike Shuemaker joined to sing baritone in August of that same year.

After learning of a group from near Sparta, Tennessee who was using the name *Kingdom Heirs*, rather than checking legal availability for Kingdom Heirs, the group simply added New and became the *New Kingdom Heirs*. In 1974 they incorporated as a non-profit under that name. That same year Larry Hutson joined the group on lead guitar, Duane Wyrick became Bass vocal and in 1975 after short stints by Johnny Trott and Mark Nipper, Buddy Mulkey took tenor vocal, while Tommy Rowe assumed baritone vocal. Larry’s father, Bill Hutson, began managing the group. From 1972 to 1982 their ministry grew substantially and their booking schedule began to expand. Manager Bill Hutson arranged TV, radio, church and concert appearances from Michigan to Florida. Along the way, well known gospel music promoter and host of the widely syndicated Mull’s Singing Convention television show Rev. J. Bazzell Mull took note and started using the New Kingdom Heirs in concerts and television. Now they were appearing with top names in gospel music like The Chuck Wagon Gang, The Kingsmen, The Hinsons, The Hemphills, Windy Bagwell, Jerry Goff, The Cathedrals, The Nelons, The Singing Cookes, The Primitive Quartet and many more.

Rev. Mull's recommendation in 1977 opened the door for an audition and their first performance and long association with Silver Dollar City in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, now Dollywood. They first sang at the October Craft Festival, then the spring Young Christians Day and mid-summer Mountain Music Festival, which all became annual appearances. In 1979, at the prompting of promoter Rev. J. Bazzell Mull, they secured a registered trademark for the name Kingdom Heirs, and dropped the word "new" from the group name and began recording and appearing as *The Kingdom Heirs*. The late’70s saw 3 new albums recorded on Trail Records and produced by Jim Hamell, of The Kingsmen, and Bobby All. By 1981, The Kingdom Heirs, with band, had expanded to a total of 12 members (including manager Bill Hutson) and recorded their 10th Anniversary Edition in Nashville, with acclaimed producer and musician Gary Prim.
In late 1982, after the departure of 8-year veteran bass singer Duane Wyrick earlier in the year, six more members of The Kingdom Heirs decided to retire to raise families including founding members Gene McKinney, Gary Bilyeu, and Jim Ford along with Steve Gouge, Buddy Mulkey and bass Jeff Crisp. With Wayne Mitchell who had replaced Tommy Rowe, Larry Hutson, George Beeler (who had replaced Jim Ford), steel player Ron Ward and manager Bill Hutson remaining, they brought in David McGill (lead), Steve French (baritone), Kreis French (bass guitar), and Randall Hunley (piano).

## Musical career

The Kingdom Heirs perform multiple shows daily at Dollywood during the months that the park is open. While the park is closed, they tour just like any other group. The group has been at the park since 1977, when it was known as Silver Dollar City. It is estimated that they sing to over 2 million people each year - more than any other Southern Gospel group. Despite a short travel schedule, the guys always take time to join in the Gospel Celebration at The National Quartet Convention.

The Kingdom Heirs have also had many top ten songs, and currently have had 31 top 5 songs in a row and 10 number 1 songs including their latest number #1 song, "I'll Know I'm Home" along with "The Borrowed Tomb" and "Just Beyond The Sunset" which is off of the same cd "Redeeming The Time". Many other #1's include, "Just Preach Jesus", "Tell Me Why" and “He Locked The Gates”. Over the past years they have had 26 songs nominated for Song Of The Year, including songs like - "Just Beyond The Sunset" "Just Preach Jesus", "The Joys of Heaven", "That's Why I Love To Call His Name," "I Know I'm Going There," "Forever Changed," "What We Needed"- which reached #1 on the Singing News magazine charts. The Kingdom Heirs have been nominated many times for industry awards such as The SGMA Awards, Dove Awards and The Singing News Fan Awards. Winning *Newcomer Group Of The Year* in 1989, the group has been a constant favorite. The latest award is **2014 Band Of The Year**, which the band also won in 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2013 and 2014.

## Discography

* 2015 *A New Look*
* 2015 "From the Red Book". Vol 4
* 2015 "30th Anniversary"
* 2013 *The Heart Of Christmas*
* 2013 *Redeeming The Time*
* 2012 *From The Red Book Vol. 3*
* 2011 *By Request*
* 2011 *We Will Stand Our Ground*
* 2010 *It's Christmas*
* 2010 *25th Anniversary*
* 2010 *Live At Dollywood* (DVD/cd set)
* 2009 *When You Look At Me*
* 2007 *True To The Call*
* 2006 *White Christmas*
* 2006 *Off The Record*
* 2006 *Live In Grand Style* (video)
* 2005 *Give Me The Mountain*
* 2005 *Series One*
* 2004 *Going On With The Song: Live* (video)
* 2004 *Lyrics Not Included* (band)
* 2004 *Forever Changed*
* 2004 *Spirit Of Christmas*
* 2003 *Going On With The Song*
* 2003 *Sing It Again*
* 2002 *Anchored* (video)
* 2002 *City Of Light* (video)
* 2002 *Together In Song* (video)
* 2002 *Gonna Keep Telling*
* 2002 *N' Tune* (band)
* 2001 *Classic Collection* Double CD
* 2001 *Shadows Of The Past*
* 2001 *Journey Home* (video)
* 2001 *Live In The Smokies* (video)
* 2000 *Impressions* (band)
* 2000 *City Of Light*
* 1999 *Talley Ho, Ho, Ho!* (with Kirk Talley)
* 1999 *A Christmas Celebration* (Christmas)
* 1999 *The Journey Home*
* 1998 *Reflections*
* 1998 *Anchored Live*
* 1997 *Anchored*
* 1997 *My Father Is Rich*
* 1997 *Christian Family*
* 1996 *Feelin' At Home*
* 1995 *Forever Gold*
* 1994 *Song Of Praise*
* 1993 *Timeless*
* 1992 *Telling The World*
* 1992 *Extraordinary*
* 1991 *Good Christian Men Rejoice* (Christmas)
* 1990 *Live At Dollywwod*
* 1989 *From The Heart*
* 1988 *Live In Concert* (video)
* 1988 *Classics*
* 1988 *Steppin' On The Bright Side*
* 1987 *Pure Gold*
* 1987 *Favorites*
* 1986 *Heirlooms*
* 1986 *The Good Times*
* 1985 *Southern Live*
* 1984 *Special Edition*
* 1983 *Just Arrived*
* 1982 *The Kingdom Heirs* (Later Changed To *Vol. 5*)
* 1981 *10th Anniversary Edition*
* 1979 *I'll Gain More Than I'm Missing*
* 1978 *Seed Sower*
* 1976 *Heaven On The Horizon*
* 1976 *Old Fashioned Gospel*
* 1975 *Especially For You*
* 1973 *All Aboard*
* 1972 *That Day Is Almost Here*

## Current members

The current group consists of Arthur Rice (lead), Jerry A Martin (tenor), Jeff Chapman (bass), Andy Stringfield (baritone/pianist), Dennis Murphy (drums), and Kreis French (Owner) (bass guitar).

Tenor
* Jim Bluford (1971-1974]
* Johnny Trott (1974-1975)
* Mark Nipper (1975)
* Buddy Mulkey (1975-1982)
* Wayne Mitchell (1983–87)
* Rick Strickland (1987–92)
* David Walker (1992–1994)
* David Sutton (1994–2002)
* Jodi Hosterman (2002–05)
* Billy Hodges (2005–2010)
* **Jerry A Martin** (2011-today)

Lead
* Gene McKinney (1971-1982)
* David McGill (1982–89)
* Clayton Inman (1989–94)
* Steve Lacey (1994–95)
* **Arthur Rice (1995-today)**

Baritone
* Mike Shuemaker (1971-1975)
* Tommy Rowe (1975-1982)
* Wayne Mitchell (1982)
* Steve French (1983-2014)
* Andy Stringfield (2014-2015, 2016-present)
* **Brian Alvey (2015-2016)**

Bass

* Raymond Parker (1971)
* Duane Wyrick (1974-1982)
* Jeff Crisp (1982)
* Eric Hawkins (1982–85)
* Jody Medford (1986–87)
* Bob Caldwell (1987–91)
* Eric Bennett (1991–2002)
* **Jeff Chapman (2002-today)**

Alto vocal
* Patty Wilson (1971)

Piano/Keyboards
* Gary Bilyeu (1971-1982)
* Randall Hunley (1982–1992)
* Jamie Graves (1992–99)
* Jeff Stice (1999–2002)
* Adam Harman (2002–2007)
* Joseph Cox (2007)
* Lucas Case (2007)
* Joshua Pope (2007)
* Andy Stringfield (2007-today)

Drums
* Jim Ford (1971-1982)
* George Beeler (1982-1983)
* Rich Wilson (1984–88)
* Stephen Arant (1988–90)
* Dennis Murphy (1990-today)

Bass guitar
* Gary Arnold (1971)
* Steve Gouge (1971-1982)
* Kreis French (1982-today)

Lead guitar
* Larry Hutson (1974–1983)

Steel guitar
* Dale McPhearson (1978-1979)
* Ron Ward (1979-1983)

Rhythm guitar
Tom Bailey (1971-1972)

Manager
* Bill Hutson (1975-1983)

## Members

### Line-ups

1. ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 1.18 1.19 1.20 1.21 1.22 1.23 1.24 http://www.originalkingdomheirs.com
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 http://www.sghistory.com
3. ↑ Template:Cite web
4. ↑ Template:Cite web
5. ↑ Template:Cite web
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Template:Cite web
7. ↑ Template:Cite web