As they launch their 70th Anniversary year, The Kingsmen Quartet celebrate both legacy and renewal, following a strong 2025 that saw refreshed versions of classics like "I'm Saved," "It Made News In Heaven When I Got Saved," "Wish You Were Here," and "Go and Tell Somebody" reconnect longtime fans while introducing a new generation to their signature sound. Now they turn to new music with "When Sunday Morning Dawned," written by Lee Black and Kenna Turner West, a Resurrection anthem that moves from somber reflection to triumphant joy, featuring a powerful lead from baritone Alan Kendall and a soaring bridge spotlighting Cole Watson, Harold Reed, and Brady Jones.
Streaming in Dolby Atmos on major platforms, the single underscores the group's commitment to innovation while proclaiming the timeless Easter message of a risen Savior. With roots dating back to 1956 in the mountains of North Carolina, a legacy that includes landmark live recordings, historic performances at the White House and the Grand Ole Opry, Gospel Music Hall of Fame inductions, and countless awards, The Kingsmen remain one of Southern Gospel's most enduring and influential quartets.
Q: As you begin your 70th anniversary year, how do you balance honoring the group's long history while still creating music that feels fresh and relevant for today's listeners?
We're very fortunate that men like Eldridge Fox and Jim Hamill began conditioning Kingsmen fans towards new material more than 50 years ago. Even as they advanced in years, they clearly were never afraid to push the envelope, musically. Foxy and Hamill produced their records for years, and were part of selecting even some of the most progressive material for the time, like "Wish You Were Here", "The Judgement", "Stand Up", and more. So honestly, our core fans fully expect us to keep moving forward. And we honor them in return by keeping as many of their favorites alive as possible. It really is a win-win situation with our followers!
Q: Baritone Alan Kendall mentioned that "When Sunday Morning Dawned" immediately connected with him personally - what was it about the song's message or structure that made it feel like the right choice for this season?
Several years ago when I was singing with the Melody Boys Quartet out of Little Rock, Arkansas, I connected with an old classic called "The Robe of Calvary," which was sung by one of their former lead singers and one of my singing heroes, Jonathan Sawrie. I ended up singing the song myself for quite a few years. When I heard "Sunday Morning," I felt like I was finally able to connect to an original power ballad about Calvary and the Resurrection, and Kenna Turner West (one of the writers) even said she had hoped I would be the one to sing it. I was certainly flattered. I love Kenna and I love the song.
Q: Songwriters Lee Black and Kenna Turner West are known for crafting emotionally powerful gospel narratives. How did their writing shape the emotional arc of this new single, especially the movement from despair to victory?
Kenna and Lee have penned so many massive Kingsmen hits. Kenna in particular with "Victory Shout," Lee with "Battle Cry." Then a few years ago, they both teamed up with Devin McGlamery in writing "What the Blood Does," which has also been another feature of mine that has stuck with me through these years. They are both not only outstanding writers, but they are each great singers in their own right. I kind of feel like that gives them a connection to the manner in which the vocals can be delivered.
Q: The bridge features strong harmony moments led by Cole Watson, alongside tenor Harold Reed and bass Brady Jones. How did the vocal arrangement evolve in the studio to capture that sense of resurrection joy?
In keeping with what we were just talking about with Kenna and Lee, the demo was pretty similar to the finished product. Roger Talley, our producer, has so much experience and history in our music, that he just understood how to lift it to another level to give it that Kingsmen sound. Personally, I knew that the song had a lot of lower pitched vocals on the verses, with higher vocals on the chorus, so it only made sense to me that I sing the first half of the song, and that Cole take the song up a notch from the second chorus forward.
Q: You revisited beloved classics throughout 2025 before releasing this new song. How have longtime favorites like "Wish You Were Here" influenced the way you approach recording new material today?
Well, back to the Kingsmen of years past...they chose the quality of the song first. We don't rest on our laurels and we realize that songs like "Wish You Were Here" or "Glory Road" or "Old Ship of Zion" are each "once-in-a-lifetime" hits. Also, I love quartet music as much as anyone, especially quartet music of the past, but I am also aware that a good quartet song isn't limited to just barbershop harmonies or the proverbial three chords and a cloud of dust, as Ray Dean Reese calls it. Any type of solid, Biblical gospel song/lyric which can be enhanced by the power of four vocals singing in harmony, with the foundation of that deep bass vocal to supplement it, is going to be a good quartet song. The Oak Ridge Boys proved that in country music, and I've always felt that the Kingsmen have proven that in gospel music.
Q: With "When Sunday Morning Dawned" available in Dolby Atmos on platforms like Apple Music, Amazon Music, and TIDAL, how important is audio innovation in helping Southern Gospel reach newer generations?
Audience-wise, Southern Gospel music probably has a wider range of ages than any field, so we try to cover as many mediums as possible to connect with everybody. It takes all of us to make it work!
"When Sunday Morning Dawned" is streaming in Dolby Atmos spatial audio on Apple Music, Amazon Music and TIDAL. Listen to it HERE.
