Ruben King

Ruben King's extensive musical journey, marked by his roles as a musician, producer, label owner, and pastor in the New Testament Church of God, is deeply rooted in his family and the influential Birmingham gospel scene.

His earliest influences were his Jamaican parents; his father, a guitarist, taught guitar lessons from their Newtown home, fostering musicians across the city and buying Ruben his first guitar at age four. His mother, a pianist, ensured he received piano lessons, though he found classical music tedious. Playing drums in the Boys Brigade Street marching band in the 70s also sharpened his rhythm.

His musical development “mushroomed” in 1979 when his family moved to the larger George Street New Testament Church of God, a church with a full band. Around 1980–81, Ruben was asked to join the renowned Majestic Singers. Though his guitar skills were initially lacking, he attended the Birmingham Guitar School, where his teacher, Neil, helped him with sight-reading and, critically, with deciphering complex American gospel chord progressions from artists like Stephen and Sam Thompson. This intensive learning defined his unique sound.

Ruben experienced the strict musical environment at home where only gospel was permitted; his father famously scratched the secular B-side off a Jackie Edwards single. As a Majestic Singer, he experienced intense touring across England, often returning in the early hours of Sunday only to be back for Sunday school. He highly praises the group’s manager, Brother Justin Lewis, for expertly handling bookings and tours, including the 1982 USA tour where Ruben, as a 16-year-old, witnessed the shocking black and white racial divide in the American Church of God, which greatly “angered” him.

Despite his touring success, Ruben rarely played regularly at his local church due to the high caliber of musicianship, only beginning to play bass regularly when Sam Thompson became a pastor. He also played for other notable groups, including The Imperials, Reflections, and the Handsworth Mass Choir, which won the BBC Gospel Choir of the Year in the 80s, leading to TV appearances and a tour in Germany.

At 24, Ruben became the youngest member of the pastor’s council at George Street, broadening his ministry. His label, Kingship Limited, was “accidentally” formed in 2001 while he and his musician wife, Sonia, were writing songs during her recovery from an operation. The first CD gained airplay on UCB Gospel and BBC radio. The fearless example of gospel seller Enid Rosevear greatly inspired Ruben to “be who I am” in his ministry. Kingship, now 20 years old, has produced a wide variety of artists and serves as a point of liberation for Ruben, allowing him to focus on projects free from church frustrations.