Quick Facts
Biography
John P. Kee (born John Prince Kee on June 4, 1962) is an American gospel singer and pastor.
Early life
John P. Kee was born the 15th of 16 children in Durham, North Carolina. At an early age he began to develop his musical talent both instrumentally and vocally. He attended the North Carolina School of the Arts in Winston-Salem and at 14, he and his brothers Wayne and Al moved to California where 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 and Donald Byrd and the Blackbyrds. After having a hard time adjusting in California, he left and 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.
Ministry
Kee says that it was during a trip to Michigan with his choir that he received a calling from God to be a preacher. Kee was in his mid-twenties when he became an ordained minister. In 1995, while ministering in Ohio, he 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.
Musical 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 includes Kee's own children.
In 1990, Kee founded the Victory in Praise Music and Arts Seminar Mass Choir, or "V.I.P." in order to fellowship with various ministries, songwriters, musicians and choir directors from all over the country.
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. In 2007, Kee was inducted into the Christian Music Hall of Fame.
Kee is also known as "The Prince of Gospel Music".
Personal life
In December 1995, Kee married Felice Sampson, and they are the parents of nine children. His son, Christopher Kee, was recently selected to join Sean P. Diddy Combs' live band as a drummer for his upcoming tour for the "Last Train to Paris".
Kee's Personal Discography
| Title | Details | Peak chart positions | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | US Gospel | US Heat | US R&B/HH | |||||
| Yes Lord |
| — | — | — | — | |||
| Just Me This Time |
| — | 12 | — | — | |||
| Colorblind |
| — | 4 | — | — | |||
| The Color of Music |
| — | 3 | 37 | 56 | |||
| The Legacy Project |
| 123 | 2 | — | — | |||
| Level Next |
| — | 4 | — | — | |||
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart | ||||||||
Kee's Choir Discography
| Title | Details | Peak chart positions | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | US Gospel | US Heat | |||
| Wait on Him (The New Life Community Choir) |
| — | — | — | |
| There is Hope ( John P. Kee & Friends) |
| — | 11 | — | |
| Wash Me (New Life Community Choir) |
| — | 2 | — | |
| Never Shall Forget (Victory in Praise Choir) |
| — | — | — | |
| We Walk By Faith (feat. New Life Community Choir) |
| — | — | — | |
| Lily in the Valley (Victory in Praise Choir) |
| — | — | — | |
| Show Up! (The New Life Community Choir) |
| — | — | — | |
| Stand (Victory in Praise Choir) |
| — | — | — | |
| A Special Christmas Gift (feat. New Life Community Choir) |
| — | — | — | |
| Strength (The New Life Community Choir) |
| 107 | 2 | — | |
| Not Guilty: The Experience (feat. New Life Community Choir) |
| — | — | — | |
| Any Day (Victory in Praise Choir) |
| — | — | — | |
| Mighty in the Spirit (Victory in Praise Choir) |
| — | — | — | |
| Blessed By Association (feat. New Life Community Choir) |
| — | — | — | |
| Live at the Fellowship (Victory in Praise Choir) |
| — | 24 | — | |
| The Reunion (The New Life Community Choir) |
| — | 10 | 27 | |
| Nothing But Worship (The New Life Community Choir) |
| — | 3 | — | |
| Live In Miami (feat. Victory in Praise Choir) |
| — | — | — | |
| Life and Favor (feat. New Life Community Choir) |
| 32 | — | — | |
| Life and Favor: Deluxe Edition (Includes John P. Kee's Book "Life and Favor: The Manual") |
| — | — | — | |
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart | |||||
Videography
- We Walk By Faith - 1994 (VHS)
- Show Up - 1995 (VHS)
- Strength - 1998 (VHS)
- Not Guilty: The Experience - 2001 (VHS/DVD)
- Absolutely Live - 2003 (DVD)