Ron Kenoly: A life dedicated to worship and faith

Ron Kenoly, an American gospel singer and worship leader whose music is widely used in Christian churches, has died at the age of 81. His death on February 3, 2026, was announced by his longtime music director, Bruno Miranda, in a statement shared on Kenoly’s official social media accounts. No cause of death was disclosed.

Kenoly spent more than five decades working in church music and worship leadership. His songs were adopted by congregations in the United States and across Africa, Latin America, Asia, and other regions, where they became part of regular church services.

He was born Ronald Kenoly on December 6, 1944, in Coffeyville, Kansas, and grew up in a Christian household as one of six sons. After completing high school, he enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1965. During his service, he performed with a band on base and met Tavita, who later became his wife. They married while serving in the Air Force and had three sons.

After leaving the military, Kenoly moved with his family to Los Angeles to pursue a career in secular music. He recorded and performed as an R&B singer, working with record labels and performing with bands. During this period, his focus on music affected his family life and his involvement in church. In later years, he described this time as one in which his priorities were misaligned. In the late 1970s, he recommitted to his Christian faith and shifted his focus toward ministry.

He later pursued formal education in music and theology. Kenoly earned an associate degree in music from Alameda College in 1982 and a bachelor’s degree in biblical studies in 1983. He also completed a Master of Divinity and a doctorate in sacred music.

By the mid-1980s, Kenoly had entered full-time church ministry and became Minister of Music at Jubilee Christian Centre in San Jose, California. His work there drew wider attention, and his recordings with Integrity Music’s Hosanna! series were distributed to churches internationally.

He released albums including Lift Him Up (1992) which sold 500,000 copies, God Is Able, Sing Out With One Voice, and Welcome Home, which were used by worship teams in many churches. Songs such as ‘Ancient of Days,’ ‘Use Me’, ‘Jesus Is Alive’, and ‘My God Is Able’ became commonly performed in congregational settings.

Kenoly described worship as service rather than performance, a view that shaped his approach to music and ministry. Over his career, he released more than 20 albums, wrote books on worship leadership, and led church services and conferences in more than 100 countries. His music was widely adopted by churches across Africa, where it became part of established worship practices.

Following news of his death, tributes came from gospel artists, pastors, and worship leaders in different countries. Nigerian worship leaders cited his music as influential in their development. Church leaders and musicians in Kenya, South Africa, and Ghana also acknowledged the role his work played in shaping contemporary church worship.

Bruno Miranda, who worked with Kenoly for many years, said he served consistently and remained committed to his faith throughout his life. Bishop Wale Oke, a prominent Nigerian pastor, offered prayers for Kenoly’s family, noting, “We thank God for his life and the enduring influence on the Church.”
Kenoly is survived by his children and extended family. His marriage to Tavita lasted several decades, and in 2014, he married Diana. He frequently spoke about family and described worship as a lifelong commitment rather than a profession.

Ron Kenoly’s music continues to be used in church services worldwide. His songs remain part of regular congregational worship, reflecting the role they played in shaping church music practices over several decades.