Ron Kenoly: American gospel icon and pioneer of modern praise music dies aged 81
Renowned American gospel singer, worship leader and pastor Ron Kenoly has died at the age of 81.
His death was confirmed on Tuesday (3 February) triggering an outpouring of tributes from Christian music communities and worship leaders across the world. Kenoly was globally celebrated for his powerful live worship recordings and his influential role in shaping contemporary praise and worship music.
His music resonated far beyond the United States, reaching churches across Africa, Europe, Asia and the Americas, where his songs became an integral part of modern worship services. He gained widespread acclaim with the release of Lift Him Up With Ron Kenoly in 1992, an album that helped redefine praise music.
Songs such as “Ancient of Days,” “Jesus Is Alive,” and “We’re Going Up” went on to become enduring worship classics sung in churches around the world. Over the course of his career, Kenoly released more than 20 albums, including God Is Able, Sing Out With One Voice and Welcome Home.
His energetic, choir-backed performances and congregational worship style broke new ground, blending gospel, praise and contemporary Christian music in a way that influenced generations of worship leaders. Beyond music, Kenoly was also a respected pastor and worship leader, serving prominently at Jubilee Christian Center in San Jose, California.
He was a regular feature at international worship conferences, seminars and church events, where he mentored worship teams and led large-scale praise gatherings. The cause of death has not been officially disclosed by his family or representatives.