How much do you remember of late gospel legend, Ron Kenoly, who died at 81? Here are 13 key things we know

American Christian worship leader, singer, and songwriter, renowned for being a worship leader whose ministry shaped generations across the globe, Ron Kenoly has died aged 81.

On Tuesday, February 3, Bruno Miranda – Music Director and Kenoly’s close associate – announced the legendary singer and songwriter’s death in a tragic social media post.

In the update, Miranda paid a heartfelt tribute to the Gospel legend, who was the pioneer of modern praise music, writing.

“For over 20 years, I had the honor of walking alongside him in ministry around the world, not just as his music director, but as a son, a student, and a witness to a life marked by faithfulness,” Miranda wrote.

He said Kenoly was never an artiste, nor an entertainer but was a worship leader who took all the time necessary to explain what that truly meant.

Miranda said a worship leader’s calling was not to perform songs, but to lead people into true worship in the presence of a King, the King of Kings, Jesus Christ.

“Today we grieve deeply but not without hope. The worship he lived is now the worship he beholds,” the statement added.

Notably, Kenoly’s cause of death has not been revealed yet.

Here are key facts about Ron Kenoly:

1. Early Life: Born on December 6, 1944, Kenoly was born in Coffeyville, Kansas in Southeast Kansas and grew up there.

2. Family: Kenoly met and married his first wife Tavita while he was in the Air Force and had three sons during their 42-year marriage namely Samuel, Ronald, and Tony. His cousin is actor Don Cheadle. Kenoly and Diana, a United Nations Ambassador, married on November 24, 2014.

3. Edutcation: After graduating from high school in Coffeyville, Kenoly moved to Hollywood, Los Angeles.

4. Public Service: 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.

5. After leaving the Air Force, he returned to Los Angeles to continue his music career and sang demos of Jimmy Webb songs including “Up, Up and Away,” for the Audio Arts label.

6. During his career, Ron was nominated for nine GMA Dove Awards and won Praise & Worship Album of the Year for Welcome Home in 1997.

7. He 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.

8. His music career began after he left the United States Air Force and was originally in a group called The Mellow Fellows, but situations with his family caused him to leave and his musical career breakthrough came in 1992 when Lift Him Up became the fastest selling worship album to that point.

9. Welcome Home produced by Tom Brooks was also critically acclaimed, becoming Billboard’s Top contemporary worship music album and winning a Gospel Music Association Dove Award for “Praise and Worship Album” in 1997.

10. He was signed to Integrity Music and Kenoly himself only played music on one of his recordings. Kenoly began working as a full-time minister in 1985 as JCC’s worship leader mainly leading worship services.

11. In 1987, he was ordained and installed as a music pastor. In 1993, he was named Jubilee Christian Center’s Ambassador of Music.

12. 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.

13. 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.

Kenoly died on February 3, 2026, at the age of 81.

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