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

gospel Gospel originally meant the Christian message (" the gospel"), but in the 2nd century it came to be used also for the books in which the message was set out. In this sense a gospel can be defined as a loose-knit, episodic narrative of the words a ...

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".

Early life and education

John P. Kee was born on June 4, 1962

Durham, North Carolina Durham ( ) is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the county seat of Durham County. Small portions of the city limits extend into Orange County and Wake County. With a population of 283,506 in the 2020 Census, Durham is the 4th- ...

. At an early age he began developing his musical talent both instrumentally and vocally. He attended the

North Carolina School of the Arts The University of North Carolina School of the Arts (UNCSA) is an arts school in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. It grants high school, undergraduate, and graduate degrees. Founded in 1963 as the North Carolina School of the Arts by then-Governo ...

Winston-Salem Winston-Salem is a city and the county seat of Forsyth County, North Carolina, United States. In the 2020 census, the population was 249,545, making it the second-largest municipality in the Piedmont Triad region, the 5th most populous city in ...

. 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 Donaldson Toussaint L'Ouverture Byrd II (December 9, 1932 – February 4, 2013) was an American jazz and rhythm & blues trumpeter and vocalist. A sideman for many other jazz musicians of his generation, Byrd was one of the few hard bop ...

and the Blackbyrds. Due to having a hard time adjusting in California, he moved to

Charlotte, North Carolina Charlotte ( ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Located in the Piedmont region, it is the county seat of Mecklenburg County. The population was 874,579 at the 2020 census, making Charlotte the 16th-most popu ...

(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.

Music career

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.John P Kee inducted into the Christian Music Hall of Fame

Personal life and ministry

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

Solo albums With choir

Videography

*"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

New Life City of Praise
– Official web site

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kee, John P 1962 births Living people American gospel singers Urban contemporary gospel musicians African-American musicians Musicians from Durham, North Carolina American Pentecostals Members of the Church of God in Christ Church of God in Christ pastors