Kendall King Gives Powerful Musical Testimony With New CD, For A Reason

Washington, D.C. - Kendall King is what many would call a “quiet storm”. Her unassuming persona disguises an abundance of musical gifts and talents. But most of all, her calm spirit hides an undeniable and unquenchable anointing. Kendall King is a vocalist, musician, songwriter, arranger, producer and choir director extraordinaire. Known as one of the top local gospel artists and producers in the Washington, D.C. area, King is now set to expand her ministry world-wide with the new release of her CD called For A Reason.

Hailing from Camden, New Jersey, from a long line of ministers and pastors, King has been singing since the tender age of five. She received her formal musical training at the Settlement Music School in Philadelphia, PA and continued her musical education at Howard University in Washington, D.C. A former member of the renowned Howard Gospel Choir, she’s been on stage with gospel music greats like LaShun Pace, Beverly Crawford, James Bignon, John P. Kee and the late O’landa Draper. In addition, she’s had opportunities to sing at some of the most prestigious venues including The Kennedy Center, The Lincoln Theatre, and The Cotton Club.

She’s grateful for the many opportunities she’s had to stand on stage with the legends of gospel music, but she’s ready to forge her own path with her own sound. Kendall describes her music ministry as a blending of various genres. “I was influenced musically by so many people,” King says. “Although artists like Twinkie Clark, Thomas Whitfield and John P. Kee had a strong influence on my ministry, my style is very contemporary with a jazzy feel, fused with traditional gospel and rhythm & blues,” says Kendall.

All of those musical inspirations are reflected in her new project, For A Reason. The full- time graphic designer and minister of music at three churches delivers her debut CD, a self-produced masterpiece. Not only does the thirteen-track compact disc contain superb gospel music, but it’s a testament of faith and the result of perseverance and God’s faithfulness. The CD holds a special place in her heart because of all she had to endure in order to finish it.

King says, “It took 7 years to complete the project. There were so many different situations that came up while working on the project. First, I was having problems with my throat and found out I had a goiter on my thyroid which the doctors told me needed surgery. After overcoming that – just before going into final production – my hard drive crashed and I lost all of my music which I had to re-record. Shortly after that, my father and several other family members passed away. There was one thing on top of another. I knew then the enemy was fighting me; it was so obvious,” Kendall shares.

They say good things are worth the wait and, for Kendall, the tests just made her even more determined to do what God had commissioned her to do. “Although it was a struggle to complete it, I knew this was what God had envisioned and what He had given to me. He told me to do it so I pressed my way on,” she says. She even changed the title of the project. “God told me to rename the project For A Reason because through the loss and disappointment, I came to understand that everything happens for a reason; there’s a purpose for it all. Just because you don’t see it at the time doesn’t mean there’s not a purpose.”

Perhaps it’s the passion she feels about the project and her newfound outlook on life that makes the title cut For A Reason one of the strongest on the CD. It’s a catchy, soulful song with lyrics based on Ecclesiastes 1:11. The principal songwriter on the project, Kendall flaunts her obvious gifts on tracks like the radio-ready Glory, and the reflective ballad, I Surrender.

The lead single, My Soul Doth Magnify, a personal favorite of King’s, is already receiving airplay on the 2006 Stellar Award-winning Heaven 1580AM in Washington, D.C. and Baltimore’s WEAA 88.9FM. Listeners will love the jazzy, Ella-influenced At All Times and the spicy, funky How Excellent; both songs are definitely tracks to give Him praise to. Rain, a tune with a driving, hypnotic rhythm, finds King pleading for God to shower her with His blessings. Deftly merging R&B and gospel, she also commands attention with the urban, guitar-strummed Say So, a track about giving God the praise He’s due, and the traditional, churchy Saved, a reminder to every Christian about the deliverance found in Christ. King brings her own special touch to the song’s arrangement and breathes new life in the familiar church tune.

Continuing to pull themes straight from Scripture, Kendall also provides two sweet interludes, All My Love 1 & 2. Each one of the smooth arrangements of the song could easily fit into any urban format; slick production and tight melodies and harmonies make these worthy of the repeat button. The artist also captivates the listener with the laid-back grooves of Be The One. This entire CD is one solid musical feast and can’t help but leave the listener wanting more.