The King’s Singers bring lush vocal harmonies to Jackson – KHOL 89.1 FM

When Piers Connor Kennedy joined The King’s Singers in 2025, he joined a rich history of classically trained British vocalists. He began singing somewhat by accident, having grown up a jazz pianist and grew to obsess over composition. His deep bass vocal register helped him pay the bills as a performer and eventually landed himself a role in the revolving, yet continuous, lineup of The King’s Singers.

Back in 1968, a group of choral students wanted to continue their musical passions after graduating from King’s College London. The group gained popularity in the late ‘70s with frequent stops on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson where they featured a mix of classical arrangements, popular ‘60s folk tunes and spiritual choral pieces depending on the occasion.

They named their style “close harmony.”

“Over the years, the group has remained exactly the same lineup. You’ve got two countertenors singing falsetto, one high tenor, two baritones and the bass. We’ve had 31 members now,” member Connor Kennedy said during a recent interview with KHOL.

Their shows aim to take the audience on a musical journey, starting with renditions of Beach Boys and The Beatles (including a cheeky cover of “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da”), moving onto modern folk, pop and techno and returning to their more traditional classical roots.

“You get a kind of history lesson through like a little kaleidoscopic pop and jazz story,” Kennedy said.

And while dressed in formal suits, Kennedy said they address the audience with some direct, casual attention.

“We’ll talk to the audience, have a bit of a joke,” he said..

The King’s Singers operate like a football team, with each member playing an important and distinct role. The vocalists have to train, perform and rest like any other athlete hitting the pitch. They’ve performed concerts in Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and South Korea as they continue to impress with their imaginative mashups and stellar musicianship.

Listen to the interview here.

read the full story