By By LANA TIMBS
Local Christian musician Ross King showcases years of hard work and God-given talents in the release of his newest album, ‘This Hope Will Guide Me’.
King shares his inspiration for the new album. “I think that the journey of grief and understanding of my father’s death in light of my beliefs inspired this album,” says King. “I feel like this journey was necessary for the grief process, and I wrote songs about it.”
A College Station native, Ross King is the son of the late Art King and active community member LylaBeth King. His father, Art, was a respected realtor, auctioneer, civic leader and deacon at his church in the community. After unexpectedly losing his father May 6, 2012, because of a fishing trip accident, King encountered a tough battle with grief and despair. The grieving process brought him closer to God and was a catalyst for the album that was released August 13.
“Sometimes you say something because you want to believe it, whether or not you truly believe it. When I want to believe something that I know deep down is true, I have to sing, sing, and sing again. This helps me to rediscover the truth,” says King. While trying to make sense of his father’s sudden death, King says he had to overcome doubt and rediscover the truth of God’s promises. He says he uses the cross as a symbol of strength, drawing from the same power that Jesus used to beat the cross.
Not only has King been a full-time working musician since 1995, he wears many other hats: husband to Staci; and father to four children, Sam (10), Jude (7), Naomi (4) and Sunny (7 months).
King leads services at different churches as a worship pastor. He has led worship at Community Church, where he and his family are active members, as well as Central Baptist, Grace Bible Church, and Grand Parkway Baptist Church in Sugarland. The experience that he obtained from college ministry catapulted him into this career path. Highly involved with the Breakaway Ministries at Texas A&M University, he led worship and music for five years after graduating with a degree in political science in 1995. Breakaway attracts assemblies that sometimes number in excess of 7,000 people. King was involved with Breakaway Ministries from 1995 to 2000.
King is a singer who also plays the guitar, piano and drums. His musical talents have taken him outside of Texas to music city in Tennessee. Aside from writing and recording his own music, King works for the Nashville publisher Simpleville Company. Simpleville is also the producer for the popular Christian group Mercy Me. Working with Simpleville, King writes music for other artists to produce, flying to Nashville about six times a year to write with other songwriters.
Currently King is on the “Guy, Guitar and Gospel” tour with Jimmy Needham. This tour of concerts will take place nationwide in states including California, Nevada, Arizona, Alabama and Georgia.
For more information about King’s music or to contact him for concerts or leading worship, visit rosskingmusic.com.
WHEN I WANT TO BELIEVE SOMETHING THAT I KNOW DEEP DOWN IS TRUE, I HAVE TO SING, SING, AND SING AGAIN.
