John P. Kee
{{short description|American gospel singer and pastor (born 1962)}}
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{{BLP sources|date=March 2022}}
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{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2019}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = John P. Kee
| image =
| caption = John P. Kee
| background = solo_singer
| birth_name = John Prince Kee
| alias = "The Prince of Gospel Music"
| birth_place = Durham, North Carolina, US
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1962|6|4}}
| origin = Durham, North Carolina, US
| genre = Gospel, praise and worship
| occupations = Singer, songwriter, pastor
| years_active = 1986-present
| label = Tyscot (1987–1993)
Verity (1994–present)
| associated_acts = The New Life Community Choir
The Victory in Praise Music and Arts Seminar Mass Choir
Vanessa Bell Armstrong
Fred Hammond
Montrell Darrett
Men Of Standard
Hezekiah Walker
Donald Lawrence
LeJuene Thompson
Isaac Carree
| website = [http://www.johnpkee.com www.johnpkee.com]
| current_members =
| past_members =
}}
John Prince Kee (born June 4, 1962) is an American gospel singer and pastor.
Kee has been active for more than 35 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".{{Cite web | url=https://northcarolinamusichalloffame.org/inductee-item/john-p-kee/ | title=John P. Kee }}
In 2024, Kee fell seriously ill from an undisclosed illness that rendered him unavailable for a short period. {{Cite web |last=Boyd |first=Libra |date=2024-01-30 |title=Pastor John P. Kee takes break from pastoral duties after falling 'seriously ill' |url=https://gospelmusicfever.com/2024/01/pastor-john-p-kee-takes-break-from-pastoral-duties-after-falling-seriously-ill.html |access-date=2024-08-09 |website=Gospel Music Fever |language=en-US}}
Early life and education
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.{{Cite web | url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/john-p-kee-mn0000230963/biography | title=John P. Kee Biography, Songs, & Albums | website=AllMusic }}
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.{{cite web|url=http://hallmuseum.com/induction.htm |title=Welcome to the Christian Music Hall of Fame and Museum. |access-date=February 19, 2008 |publisher=Christian Music Hall of Fame |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090819062030/http://hallmuseum.com/induction.htm |archive-date=August 19, 2009 }}John P Kee inducted into the Christian Music Hall of Fame
In 2025, Kee received the BMI Trailblazer of Gospel Music Award. [https://www.blackchurchtok.com/post/2025-bmi-trailblazers-of-gospel-music-awards-honors-john-p-kee "2025 BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Music Awards Honors John P. Kee"]. BlackChurchTok.com. Retrieved April 15, 2025.
Discography
Solo albums
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| rowspan="2" style="width:10em;"| Title
! rowspan="2" style="width:16em;"| Details ! scope="col" colspan="4"| Peak chart positions |
|---|
| style="font-size:smaller;"
! style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| US ! style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| US ! style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| US ! style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| US |
| scope="row"|Yes Lord
| | — | — | — | — |
| scope="row"| Just Me This Time
|
| — | 12 | — | — |
| scope="row"|Colorblind
|
| — | 4 | — | — |
| scope="row"| The Color of Music
|
| — | 3 | 37 | 56 |
| scope="row"| The Legacy Project
|
| 123 | 2 | — | — |
| scope="row"| Level Next
|
| — | 4 | — | — |
| scope="row"| I Made It Out
|
| | | | |
| colspan="9" style="font-size:90%"| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart |
With choir
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| rowspan="2" style="width:10em;"| Title
! rowspan="2" style="width:16em;"| Details ! scope="col" colspan="3"| Peak chart positions |
|---|
| style="font-size:smaller;"
! style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| US ! style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| US ! style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| US |
| scope="row"|Brethren in Unity (The New Life Community Choir) |
| — | — | — |
| scope="row"|Wait on Him (The New Life Community Choir) |
| — | — | — |
| scope="row"| There is Hope (John P. Kee & Friends) |
| — | 11 | — |
| scope="row"|Wash Me (New Life Community Choir) |
| — | 2 | — |
| scope="row"| Never Shall Forget (Victory in Praise Choir) |
| — | — | — |
| scope="row"| We Walk By Faith (feat. New Life Community Choir) |
| — | — | — |
| scope="row"|Lily in the Valley (Victory in Praise Choir) |
| — | — | — |
| scope="row"| Show Up! (The New Life Community Choir) |
| 147 | — | — |
| scope="row"| Stand (Victory in Praise Choir) |
| — | — | — |
| scope="row"| A Special Christmas Gift (feat. New Life Community Choir) |
| — | — | — |
| scope="row"|Strength (The New Life Community Choir) |
| 107 | 2 | — |
| scope="row"|Any Day (Victory in Praise Choir) |
| — | — | — |
| scope="row"| Not Guilty: The Experience (feat. New Life Community Choir) |
| — | — | — |
| scope="row"| Mighty in the Spirit (Victory in Praise Choir) |
| — | — | — |
| scope="row"| Blessed By Association (feat. New Life Community Choir) |
| — | — | — |
| scope="row"| Live at the Fellowship (Victory in Praise Choir) |
| — | 24 | — |
| scope="row"|The Reunion (The New Life Community Choir) |
| — | 10 | 27 |
| scope="row"| Nothing But Worship (The New Life Community Choir) |
| — | 3 | — |
| scope="row"|Live in Miami (feat. Victory in Praise Choir) |
| — | — | — |
| scope="row"| Life and Favor (feat. New Life Community Choir) |
| 32 | — | — |
| scope="row"| Life and Favor: Deluxe Edition (Includes John P. Kee's Book "Life and Favor: The Manual") |
| — | — | — |
| colspan="6" style="font-size:90%"| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart |
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)
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Black church}}
{{Authority control}}
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Category:American gospel singers
Category:Urban contemporary gospel musicians
Category:African-American musicians
Category:Musicians from Durham, North Carolina
Category:American Pentecostals
Category:Members of the Church of God in Christ