John P. Kee
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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".
In 2024, Kee fell seriously ill from an undisclosed illness that rendered him unavailable for a short period. Recently, in 2026, Kee disclosed that he had suffered from and underwent surgeries related to necrotizing fasciitis. The infection developed while he was being treated for prostate cancer.
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, where he was taught music theory by Bill Ashworth, the father of Grammy Award-winning music producer, Charlie Peacock. 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.
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.
In 2025, Kee received the BMI Trailblazer of Gospel Music Award.
Discography
Solo albums
| Title | Details | Peak chart positions | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | US Gospel | US Heat | US R&B/HH | ||
| Yes Lord | Released: 1987 Label: Tyscot Format: LP, Cassette, Digital | — | — | — | — |
| Just Me This Time | Released: August 30, 1990 Label: Tyscot Format: CD, LP, Cassette, Digital | — | 12 | — | — |
| Colorblind | Released: April 26, 1994 Label: Verity Format: CD, Cassette, Digital | — | 4 | — | — |
| The Color of Music | Released: August 10, 2004 Label: Verity Format: CD, Digital | — | 3 | 37 | 56 |
| The Legacy Project | Released: January 18, 2011 Label: Verity Format: CD, Digital | 123 | 2 | — | — |
| Level Next | Released: September 25, 2015 Label: Kee, Motown Gospel Format: CD, Digital | — | 4 | — | — |
| I Made It Out | Releasing: September 13, 2019 Label: eOne Entertainment Format: CD, Digital | ||||
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart |
With choir
| Title | Details | Peak chart positions | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | US Gospel | US Heat | ||
| Brethren in Unity (The New Life Community Choir) | Released: 1984 Label: Lipsong Music/Audio Concepts Format: LP, Cassette, Digital | — | — | — |
| Wait on Him (The New Life Community Choir) | Released: 1989 Label: Jive Format: CD, LP, Cassette, Digital | — | — | — |
| There is Hope (John P. Kee & Friends) | Released: 1990 Label: Format: CD, LP, Cassette, Digital | — | 11 | — |
| Wash Me (New Life Community Choir) | Released: May 7, 1991 Label: Jive Format: CD, LP, Cassette, Digital | — | 2 | — |
| Never Shall Forget (Victory in Praise Choir) | Released: 1991 Label: Jive Format: CD, Cassette, Digital | — | — | — |
| We Walk By Faith (feat. New Life Community Choir) | Released: 1992 Label: Verity Format: CD, Cassette, Digital | — | — | — |
| Lily in the Valley (Victory in Praise Choir) | Released: 1993 Label: Format: CD, Digital | — | — | — |
| Show Up! (The New Life Community Choir) | Released: January 24, 1995 Label: Jive Format: CD, Cassette, Digital | 147 | — | — |
| Stand (Victory in Praise Choir) | Released: February 27, 1996 Label: Jive Format: CD, Digital | — | — | — |
| A Special Christmas Gift (feat. New Life Community Choir) | Released: September 13, 1996 Label: Jive Format: CD, Digital | — | — | — |
| Strength (The New Life Community Choir) | Released: October 28, 1997 Label: Verity Format: CD, VHS, DVD, Cassette, Digital | 107 | 2 | — |
| Any Day (Victory in Praise Choir) | Released: October 13, 1998 Label: Verity Format: CD, Cassette, Digital | — | — | — |
| Not Guilty: The Experience (feat. New Life Community Choir) | Released: October 13, 2000 Label: Verity Format: CD, Cassette, VHS, DVD | — | — | — |
| Mighty in the Spirit (Victory in Praise Choir) | Released: October 5, 2001 Label: Verity Format: CD, Cassette, Digital | — | — | — |
| Blessed By Association (feat. New Life Community Choir) | Released: November 12, 2002 Label: Verity Format: CD, Digital | — | — | — |
| Live at the Fellowship (Victory in Praise Choir) | Released: May 3, 2005 Label: Verity Format: CD | — | 24 | — |
| The Reunion (The New Life Community Choir) | Released: December 6, 2005 Label: Verity Format: LP, Digital | — | 10 | 27 |
| Nothing But Worship (The New Life Community Choir) | Released: September 4, 2007 Label: Verity Format: CD, Digital | — | 3 | — |
| Live in Miami (feat. Victory in Praise Choir) | Released: September 2, 2008 Label: Verity Format: CD, Digital | — | — | — |
| Life and Favor (feat. New Life Community Choir) | Released: August 28, 2012 Label: Kee Music Group Format: CD, Digital, Stream | 32 | — | — |
| Life and Favor: Deluxe Edition (Includes John P. Kee's Book "Life and Favor: The Manual") | Released: 2013 Label: Kee Music Group Format: CD/Book | — | — | — |
| "—" 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)