Difference between revisions of "Kenneth Cope"

Latest revision as of 13:28, 22 April 2023

Kenneth Cope was born in Salt Lake City, the headquarters of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (sometimes erroneously nicknamed the Mormons). Kenneth was the third of six children. He grew up mostly in Houston, Texas, where he attended the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, one of the three nationally known fine art high schools for up and coming artistic talent.

"I decided a long time ago that I was going to devote my energy and my talents to making the name of Jesus Christ greater on the earth,” Kenneth says. “And that is what I am about. It propels every choice, every decision. I hope to create new ways for people to see Jesus Christ – to offer a new vantage point and open eyes; to show how He is in everything. I am passionate about Him, and I want that passion to flow out of everything I do."

As a composer, producer, performer, songwriter and singer, Kenneth has had an intense and profound impact on the Mountain West and national religious listeners. He began his singing/songwriting career by recording the 1986 Especially for Youth (EFY) theme song. Kenneth has gone on to compose more than 25 songs for the EFY Program. His first solo album, "Heaven—Don't Miss It For The World" (1988), was focused towards the youth and was followed by the best-selling and critically acclaimed concept album, "Greater Than Us All" (1989). Other albums include: "My Servant Joseph" (1993), "Women at the Well" (1995), "Stories From Eden’s Garden" (1998), "A Prayer Unto Thee" (1999), "Hear My Praise" (2002), (combining original works with some of the best-loved songs of other Christian artists), "Face to Face—the Kenneth Cope Collection" (2005), "All About You" (2008), and "Son of Man" (2018).

Recognizing Kenneth’s achievements, the Faith Centered Music Association (FCMA) has awarded him numerous PEARL Awards over the years including Male vocalist of the Year, Songwriter of the Year, and Album of the Year. His "Stories from Eden's Garden" garnered Kenneth an Indie nomination for Contemporary Christian Album of the Year from the Association for Independent Music.

Kenneth is a consummate performer whose talent extends beyond musical performance. He is an author, and a winning personality onstage, a speaker, commedian, and storyteller with an approachable demeanor. At one backyard performance for a friend (artist Liz Lemon Swindle) a large group of young children gathered starry-eyed around him. One child offered, "Wow, you're so good! You could be a professional!"

After a break from touring, Cope appeared at the Scera Theater in Orem, Utah, in 2017. He returned in August 2018 for a free musical fireside at the Scera Shell Outdoor Theater. In February 2020, he performed at the Kenneth Cope Benefit Concert in Gilbert, Arizona.

More at MormonMusic.org