Brandon Reese distributed the following press release today:

The Kingsmen announce the departure of tenor Harold Reed.

“I have been blessed to sing with one of my favorite Quartets for the past 4 1/2 years and now I feel it is time for me to start the next chapter in my singing career and join The Lafever Quartet,” says Harold. “Sometimes the Lord tells you it is just time and I will truly miss Ray and the rest of the guys but I am comfortable knowing we will remain in contact.”

“The Kingsmen will be celebrating 55 years of music ministry in 2012. Through those years we have had the most talented and enjoyable team members but more importantly good Christians work with our organization,” says Brandon Reese. “Harold is no exception. I know God is in control and has a plan for The Kingsmen. We are more committed than ever to spread the gospel in song all throughout 2012 and beyond.”

For consideration of the tenor position please send all info and demos to: ray@kingsmenquartet.com or brandon@kingsmenquartet.com

Nate’s Southern Gospel Ponderings just posted a glowing review of the Kingsmen’s latest project, Grace Says. He concludes:

The blend of this current lineup is one of the best in Southern Gospel, they are I believe not far away from being near the top of the Southern Gospel world, as they once were with that unmistakable sound that they developed… I can highly recommend this album to either current fans of the Kingsmen, or to fans of good quartet harmony and ardent lyrics sung in a powerful way. In other words, go buy this album!

Check out the whole review here.

The Kingsmen announced this morning that baritone vocalist Randy Crawford is back on the road; he has recovered enough from the heart infection that his doctors have cleared him to tour. He will have follow-up testing and may face surgery later in the year.

Pianist Cody McVey will be leaving to pursue a college music education at Lee College in Cleveland, Tennessee. Pianists interested in applying for the open position can contact kingsmenpianist@kingsmenquartet.com.

The Kingsmen’s brand-new album, Grace Says, releases digitally on our site tomorrow (here) and to retail on July 16. Two Southern Gospel websites featured the project today.

First, Southern Gospel Critique’s Brian Crout gave it a four-star review, pointing to the ballads and the classic convention-style songs as the project’s strongest moments.

Second, SouthernGospelBlog.com featured a mini-interview with Dianne Wilkinson, author of the project’s closing track, “Loving Shepherd Gracious God.” That interview is here.

Randy Crawford has been off the road for the last week or two, facing a staph infection in his heart and upcoming heart surgery. He offered the following statement as an update to Kingsmen fans:

Starting in May of this year I began noticing a considerable drop in my energy levels.  I mostly just sang and stayed in the bed each day while on the road.  Towards the end of our west coast tour I began running a high fever that would not go away.  Once I got back home from that tour it became worse, spiking at 103.3 and never getting below 101.5.  After a trip to the doctor and several tests it was determined that I had a staph infection in the mitral valve of my heart.When I was 10 I was diagnosed with mitral valve prolapse.  This is a condition that causes the valve of the heart to not close properly and allows some blood to flow backwards through the valve.  At that time it was determined that it was not severe enough to warrant treatment.

As the years have progressed it seems to have worsened.While investigating the infection in my system it was discovered that the valve not only had degraded further, it is going to require surgery to repair.

The surgery has not been scheduled as of this time, but doctors are thinking August.  It seems I must be completely finished with my treatment for the staph infection and feeling back to normal before they can attempt the valve repair procedure.As of now I am feeling almost 100 percent and have every intention on assuming my duties back with the Kingsmen as soon as the doctors will cut me loose! We all believe that God has this firmly in His grip and He will be glorified through this ordeal.  Caroline and I, as well as all our family, truly appreciate your prayers in this time.

Mike LeFevre’s son Jordan LeFevre has been filling in in the meantime.

This will not impact or delay the July 19 release date of the new Kingsmen album Grace Says...