Ron Kenoly (December 6, 1944 – February 3, 2026) was an American Christian worship leader, singer and songwriter
Ron Kenoly
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Ron Kenoly (December 6, 1944 – February 3, 2026) was an American Christian worship leader, singer and songwriter.
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Ron Kenoly
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| Born | December 6, 1944
Coffeyville, Kansas, U.S.
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| Died | February 3, 2026 (aged 81) |
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| Years active | 1968–2026 |
| Labels | Integrity Music |
Kenoly held several degrees including a music degree from Alameda College in Alameda, California, a Master of Divinity degree from Faith Bible College in Independence, Missouri, and a Doctorate of Ministry degree in sacred music from Friends International Christian University in Merced, California.[1] His music career began after he left the United States Air Force.[1] He was originally in a group called The Mellow Fellows, but situations with his family caused him to leave. His musical career breakthrough came in 1992 when Lift Him Up became the fastest selling worship album to that point.[1] Welcome Home produced by Tom Brooks was also critically acclaimed, becoming Billboard‘s Top contemporary worship music album[citation needed] and winning a Gospel Music Association Dove Award for “Praise and Worship Album” in 1997.[2] He was signed to Integrity Music. Kenoly himself only played music on one of his recordings.
Early life and career
After graduating from high school in Coffeyville, Kenoly moved to Hollywood, Los Angeles. He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1965 to 1968. During his Air Force career, Kenoly was a member of the Mellow Fellows, a top 40 cover band which toured military bases. After leaving the Air Force, he returned to Los Angeles to continue his music career. He sang demos of Jimmy Webb songs including “Up, Up and Away,” for the Audio Arts label. The label also released Kenoly’s first single, “The Glory of Your Love (Mine Eyes Have Seen).” He later signed with A&M Records. The label’s executives gave Kenoly the stage name Ron Keith, and he recorded the R&B tracks “I Betcha I’ll Get Ya,” “Soul Vaccination,” and 1975’s “Can’t Live Without You.”
Kenoly and Candy Rae were the first act signed to George Semper’s Inner City label. Semper remarked, “The two of them came and sang the song at my house, and I knew straight away I wanted to sign them.” Their single “Lovely Weekend”, recorded in 1972 at Clark Brown Audio studio in Crenshaw, Los Angeles sold nearly 200,000 copies. Kenoly later stopped recording secular music and for four years attempted to get a gospel record deal. In 1983, he released his first Christian album, You Ought to Listen to This. In early 1985, Ron attended Marin Bible College in Marin County CA. The college featured several well-know musicians including James Trumbo from the Van Morrison Band, Donna Jean Godcheaux from The Grateful Dead, David McKay from Michael Nesmith’s band and Pat Craig of the Tazmanian Devils, all who had left secular music to follow Christ.. He eventually began to lead praise and worship for other pastors including Jack Hayford and Lester Sumrall catching the attention of evangelist Mario Murillo, who introduced him to Pastor Dick Bernal, the founder of Jubilee Christian Center in San Jose, California.
Kenoly began working as a full-time minister in 1985 as JCC’s worship leader mainly leading worship services. In 1987, he was ordained and installed as a music pastor. In 1993, he was named Jubilee Christian Center’s Ambassador of Music. He began consulting churches across the U.S. about developing their music departments. In 1996, Kenoly received his Doctorate in Ministry of Sacred Music degree. In 1999, he moved to central Florida and continued to travel, speak, sing, teach, and record until his death. He wrote books, one of which he co-authored with Pastor Dick Bernal.[citation needed]
Ron Kenoly was revered around the world especially in Africa particularly Nigeria. Shodipo believes it was his ministry that helped kick-start the renaissance of gospel music in English language during the late nineties and at the turn of the century. Torino and Jide also agree that he influenced modern gospel artists like Sammy Okposo,Cobham and Sinach to mention but a few.
Personal life and death
Kenoly died on February 3, 2026, at the age of 81.
Discography
- 1991: Jesus Is Alive
- 1992: Lift Him Up
- 1994: God Is Able
- 1995: Sing Out with One Voice
- 1996: Welcome Home
- 1997: High Places: The Best of Ron Kenoly
- 1998: Majesty
- 1999: We Offer Praises
- 2001: Dwell in the House
- 2003: Solo Para Ti
- 2005: Lift Him Up: The Best of Ron Kenoly
- 2010: Christmas with Ron Kenoly
- 2013: Set Apart Is Your Name Yahuwah Vol.1
- 2015: Set Apart Is Your Name Yahuwah Vol.2
Songs
Songs written or co-written by Kenoly:
- Jesus Is Alive (1991)
- “Jesus Is Alive”
- “Keeper of My Heart” with Kelly Husted
- Lift Him Up with Ron Kenoly (1992)
- “Hallowed Be Your Name” with Louis Smith
- “We’re Going Up to the High Places”
- God Is Able (1994)
- “Our God Is Able (Rap)”
- “Use Me” with Dewitt Jones
- “Jesus Is Alive”
- Sing Out with One Voice (1995)
- “Joyfully, Joyfully”
- “Give to the Lord”
- “Welcome Rap”
- “We Dedicate This Time”
- Welcome Home (1996)
- “Go Ahead”
- “Heal Their Land”
- “I Testify Today” with Louis Smith
- “Welcome Home”
- “I Love To Love You Lord” with Louis Smith
- “Lord I Magnify” with Tavita Kenoly (wife)
- Majesty (1998)
- “Hallelujah to the King of Kings” with Renetha Muldrew
- “The King of Kings Is Coming” with Bob Ayala
- “Return To Righteousness America” with Don Moen and Tom Brooks
- “In Righteousness You Reign”
- “Hallelujah Reprise/Hallelujah Chorus (Hallelujah to the King of Kings)” with music by George Frideric Handel and feauturing Renetha Muldrew
- We Offer Praises (1999)
- “We Offer Praises”
- “It Is Good”
- “Joshua Generation”
- “Plane Crash Testimony” (spoken word)
- “Broken Leg Testimony” (spoken word)
- “I Still Have Joy”
- Dwell in the House (2001)
- “Praise Him”
- “All The Way”
Filmograph
- 2010 – The Bill Collector
References
- Powell, Mark Allan (2002). Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music (First printing ed.). Peabody, Massachusetts: Hendrickson Publishers. pp. 484–485. ISBN 1-56563-679-1.
- “Dove Award Recipients for 1997 Archived 2006-10-20 at the Wayback Machine“. Published by the Gospel Music Association. Retrieved 2007-02-05.
- Pinsky, Mark I. (24 September 2005). “Making a Joyful Noise”. Orlando Sentinel.
- Klett, Lisa MarieAnn (3 February 2026). “Ron Kenoly, influential worship leader who shaped modern praise music, dies at 81”. The Christian Post. Retrieved 3 February 2026.
- “Ron Kenoly Passes Away Today – Global Impact”. GhanaMedia.net. Retrieved 3 February 2026.
External links
- Ron Kenoly Artist Profile at New Release Tuesday
- Ron Kenoly: The Ex-R&B singer now enjoying US CCM success
- Ron Kenoly at IMDb
- Ron Kenoly discography at Discogs
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