I just recently took a trip to TN., and got to go to Dollywood. I made sure that I got to see The Kingdom Heirs while I was there. I could not believe how good they were. They are by far the best group in SGM right now. The concert was uplifting and funny. The band was amazing. Andy Stringfield (their new pianist), even sang a couple of songs. Billy Hodges was going sky high, and Jeff Chapman was shaking the foundations of the building.

What I want to know is….why aren’t they nominated for more awards? And why don’t they win more awards? Like I said before….right now they are the best group out there. They need to get more recognition than what they’ve been getting. Steve French has got the best group that he’s ever had. And let’s not forget Arthur Rice and his powerful lead vocals. They were flawless. And I don’t think they get enough recognition.

That’s my opinion…...what’s yours?

I think one of the reasons that they don’t receive more nominations for awards is that they’re not a ‘touring’ group and they only mainly spend their time at Dollywood.

They are, and always have been, a tremendous group. The crowd they sing to, largely, is not the typical SG crowd, and typically not as involved in being subscribers to Singing News, etc., so they often don’t get as much notice in the awards as some groups that have folks that follow them around from place to place and state to state.

Their new CD “True to the Call” is AWESOME! It has 11 songs total including Gerald Crabb, Ann Downing and Squire Parsons all contributing a song apiece to the project.  Diane Wilkinson wrote the rest including “The rocks between the hard place and you”, “Jesus made a believer out of me”, and “What we needed”. Every song could be released to radio.  Diane Wilkinson is an amazing songwriter and has something special with the “Kingdom Heirs”.  I’ve had my copy a month and it’s all I’ve listened to since! Buy it, play it and recommend it.

Oh I agree. True To The Call is an AMAZING album. One of the best they have ever done.

As far as them not getting recognition because they’re not a touring group…I can understand that. BUT….....They get so much radio play, their songs rank high on the charts, and I know that even though there’s a lot of people that come to Dollywood that have never heard of them; there’s a lot that come that do know who they are. Maybe they have an unfair advantage because they get to perform more than any other group out there. Oh well. Recognition or not…..I think they know how good they are, and that’s all that matters. KEEP IT UP KINGDOM HEIRS!!!!!

Love me some Kingdom Heirs!!

They are the best!!!!! Missed them @ Dollywood this year…

We enjoyed seeing them at NQC this year!

Change is in the air for The Kingdom Heirs.  Who do you think would be a good fit as their new tenor?

Jerry Martin or John Rulahpah

What about Eric Phillips

Steve Ladd would be good as well.

John Rulahpaugh has his own group - sorry.

sallyh - 08 November 2010 04:57 AM

John Rulahpaugh has his own group - sorry.

I know that but that doesn’t mean that he wouldn’t be interested in a job like that. I do know that a few years back he wanted a shot at it. But that was when he was leaving the Doves.

It would obviously be a great fit for John, with his business there, but I don’t believe he would leave Josh out in the cold like that.

Jay Parrack maybe ?