Daniel Mount? asked a question concerning what would happen if the Kingdom Heirs quit their day jobs at Dollywood and hit the road for? a full-time gospel music gig.? He also wonders if this would make them the next “Supergroup” in the Southern Gospel music industry.
I thought this over last night and wondered why they would ever willingly leave the setup they have now.? All of the Kingdom Heirs live in close proximity to Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, TN.? They work 5 days a week or less, performing usually three, 45-minute shows per day.? They have an influx of over 2 million people per year (Dollywood attendees, most probably don’t go to the Kingdom Heirs show).? Unlike the Triumphant Quartet in the Miracle Theatre, the Kingdom Heirs have plenty of entertainment around them in the theme park to keep bringing new people to the park, which means new opportunities for a larger fan-base.? To be honest, a lot of people visit their show to escape from the heat inside of the theme park.? You can grab a soda or snack and go relax in an air-conditioned theatre and be treated to a Southern Gospel concert while you recharge for more fun in Dollywood.? In fact, a lot of people that attend the Kingdom Heirs show would probably never go to hear them in a church or concert hall outside of Dollywood.
If you’ve never been to Dollywood, then you’ve never seen the line of people that wait for the KH’s show.? Not just during the holidays or summer, but every show that I’ve ever went to see, there has been a long line of people waiting for the doors to open.? I’ve been to Dollywood a countless number of times.? I live about 2 hours away and I used to be there on a weekly basis.? That was before I had a wife, kid, house, normal job, etc., so I had plenty of free time to kill.
I said all of the above to make this statement.? The Kingdom Heirs are as close to a “supergroup” as you can get in Southern Gospel music.? They probably perform to more people over the course of one year than Gold City, Brian Free & Assurance, and the Kingsmen combined.? What more do they need to be deemed a “supergroup”??
They’ve had three #1 songs: “I Love To Call His Name”, “Forever Changed”, &? “I Know I’m Going There”.? ?
They have one of the best lead singers in Southern Gospel music, Arthur Rice.? Jeff Chapman is also one of the top bass singers in Southern Gospel music.?
Every? album from the Kingdom Heirs is of the highest quality, both vocally and musically.? ? They simply do not produce sub-par material.?
Their band has won “Band Of The Year” several times from the Singing News Fan Awards.? Of course, that was when they had a piano/keyboard player.? They are currently still seeking someone to fill that position (Roy Webb…….would you interested?).
So what else do they lack to deemed a supergroup?
I think willingly leaving Dollywood to pursue a traveling quartet gig would be a huge career misstep for the Kingdom Heirs.? Not only would they be ostracizing their current fan-base in East TN, they would basically cutoff the entire flow? of @ 1.5 million? non-Christian and non-Southern Gospel fans that attend Dollywood annually.? Granted this would give more Southern Gospel fans that can’t make the trek to Eastern TN the opportunity to catch the Kingdom Heirs in concert, but how many new fans are being reached in our little world of Southern Gospel?
My conclusion, hitting the road? would do more to hurt the Kingdom Heirs’? status in Southern Gospel music than it would to help it.
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