John P. Kee is known as the “Prince of Gospel Music”, and not just because his middle name is legally “Prince”. Kee takes his own approach to traditional and contemporary urban gospel music. Since the 1980’s, his recordings often include pastorial witnessing over his songs in the tradition of the “black ‘country’ church”. Hailing from “Durham, North Carolina just outside the county line”, Kee founded the New Life Community Choir to be representative of the new school contemporary gospel sound that resists the restrictions of religious music; instead, Kee leads the arrangement of uniquely hip-hop and funk influenced instrumentation and vocalists that make a joyful noise, separating his music from other genres of praise music.

In his youth, Kee and his brother left the east coast and set sights for the music industry in California, even earning album credits with the 80’s r&b groups, Cameo and Soltandome. However, Kee would leave the mainstream music industry to return to North Carolina, moving to “Queen City” Charlotte, only to continue a habit he picked up in college: Kee was abusing cocaine. However, after watching a friend die in a drug deal gone bad, Kee rededicated himself to the church during a local revival meeting. Today he is the pastor of the New Life Community Church where the choir, including later solo artist Vanessa Bell Armstrong, that he formed is a group of other mostly reformed addicts who discovered a life of faith in Christ and a place to use their talents for worship. Critically acclaimed songs from the group include “Clap Your Hands”, “Jesus is Real”, and “It Will Be Alright”, which was the Stellar song of the year in 1989.

Though a wiz on the piano, Kee’s vocals are his keenest instrument: he has used his vocal octave range to practice jazz-like improvisations and ‘skatting’ on his recordings, reminiscent of Mariah Carey or Anita Baker, evoking an emotional feeling from his music. His gospel reign during the 1980’s was characterized by breaking established boundaries set on contemporary gospel music; he ultimately led the way for performers like Kirk Franklin and the Family in the 1990’s to push the envelope as well.

Dr. Kee received a doctorate in sacred music in June 2009. He is also the recipient of two Billboard awards for the “We Walk By Faith” LP, and an NAACP Image Award for Best Gospel Artist. Kee was born the 15th of 16 children, and Kee continues the familial tradition as the parent of nine children with wife Felice Sampson. Their son recently performed as the drummer for Diddy’s “Last Train to Paris” tour. Most recently in August 2015, Kee released his first studio album entitled Level Next with Motown Gospel, also home to urban contemporary greats like Tasha Cobbs, Vashawn Mitchell and Smokie Norful.