Gospel Music Legend Ron Kenoly Passes Away at 81
Renowned American gospel singer, worship leader, and pastor Ron Kenoly has died at the age of 81. According to Punch Newspapers, Kenoly passed away on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, leaving behind a legacy in gospel music.
Kenoly was celebrated for iconic worship songs such as “Majesty,” “Righteousness, Peace & Joy,” and “Jesus Is Alive,” which shaped modern congregational worship across the world. Born on December 6, 1944, in Coffeyville, Kansas, Kenoly rose to prominence in the 1980s and 1990s for leading large-scale live worship concerts that influenced churches globally, particularly in Africa.
Nigerian gospel minister Nathaniel Bassey paid tribute to Kenoly, describing him as a generational inspiration. “Dr Ron Kenoly crosses to yonder side. Thank you for inspiring generations of psalmists like me. I grew up on these songs, and today others are growing up on ours. Thank you, sir,” Bassey wrote on Instagram.
Kenoly’s music career began after serving in the United States Air Force, with his major breakthrough coming in 1992 when Lift Him Up became the fastest-selling worship album at the time. Another album, Welcome Home, produced by Tom Brooks, was critically acclaimed and topped Billboard’s Contemporary Christian Music charts.
The cause of death has not been officially disclosed by his family or representatives. Plans for memorial services and celebrations of his life are expected to be announced in the coming days. Kenoly leaves behind a lasting legacy as a pioneer of contemporary worship music and a devoted servant of the Christian faith.
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Author: Korkor Anumu
