Meet the Kings of A Cappella
Kings Return
“When we come together to do this vulnerable thing called a cappella, it strengthens our bonds. It makes us tighter as a unit and as human beings.” – Gabe Kunda, bass
Kings Return is a dynamic and soothing a cappella quartet that seamlessly blends genres and styles. Composed of tenor Vaughn Faison, bass Gabe Kunda, tenor JE McKissic, and baritone Jamall Williams, the Dallas-based group was drawn to a cappella’s inherent flexibility. Their brand of R&B is interwoven with spontaneous moments of jazz, soulful bursts of gospel, and bright touches of pop—all built on a solid, classical foundation.
The group’s name embodies their intentions as artists: “Kings” for their charismatic power and ability to move forward with confidence; and “Return” for their goal of giving back to the communities that have supported them along the way.
“We don’t use any instruments, and it can feel very vulnerable to perform on stage alone, especially as Black men — with all the stigma that entails,” says Kunda. “When we come together to do this vulnerable thing called a cappella, it strengthens our bonds. It makes us tighter as a unit and as human beings. We want to be examples for other men like us.”
Kings Return got its start in 2016, when Gabe Kunda asked some friends to join in his graduation recital performance. Their vocals captivated the crowd, leading to some local gigs. But the group got their first taste of fame three years later when their soul-stirring rendition of “God Bless America,” went viral. The video was shot in the ensemble’s classic rehearsal spot, a stairwell at Cornerstone Baptist Church in Arlington, Texas, which became an early staple of the group’s identity.
“That stairwell had such excellent reverb … it’s a huge part of our success: We joke that it’s the fifth member of the group,” – Jamall Williams, baritone
The group’s popularity expanded as more of its videos went viral online, including a cappella renditions of “Ubi Caritas” and “Ave Maria.”
The quartet released their first album Merry Little Christmas in 2021, followed up a year later by ROVE. Their cover of the Bee Gees’ “How Deep is Your Love” on the album earned them a Grammy nomination for Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella. In 2023, they released We 4 Kings, their first full-length holiday album.
This year, the ensemble is celebrating the holiday season on tour with Grammy-winning mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato in collaborative program, KINGS ReJOYCE!.
The partnership was born from an impromptu comment left by Joyce DiDonato after discovering Kings Return’s a cappella arrangement of “Ave Maria” on YouTube. They replied almost immediately: “Thank you! We’re huge fans!”
“We completely lost our minds because she’s such a legend in the vocal music space, and getting her attention was truly an honor.” – Kings Return
On a whim, Joyce wrote back, “We should do something together!” Happily, Kings Return said “YES”.
The artists, united by a love of singing, a desire to share joy, and an attitude of saying “yes” present a program which blends their love for both sacred and secular music.
This special holiday concert arrives in Hill Auditorium Saturday, December 14. Celebrate the unique way music can bring us home for the holidays with traditional favorites like “Ave Maria” and “Carol of The Bells’ in addition to contemporary classics like “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” and more.
