Worship leader and singer-songwriter, Dr Ron Kenoly, has died aged 81. Known best for songs such as ‘Ancient of days’ and ‘Jesus is alive’, Noel Robinson pays tribute to a man who led by example and united God’s people in worship wherever he went
I first met Dr Ron Kenoly at a live BBC radio broadcast in Birmingham in the mid-1990s where I was serving as musical director (MD). I knew his name, of course, but I hadn’t really followed his music closely. At the time, I was also on a personal journey, searching for identity within the UK Christian music community.
That meeting with Ron marked a turning point for me. One of the first things he said was: “I’m a worship leader, not an artist.” It stopped me in my tracks. It was the first time I had ever heard a Black man use that language so clearly and unapologetically. It shifted something in me.
That night was electric. More than 1,000 people lifted their voices together. It genuinely felt like heaven came down. What followed were seasons of mentoring and unforgettable experiences as I travelled with Ron across Europe as his MD. Night after night, I witnessed people of every race worshipping together. That vision deeply shaped my own ministry, showing me that worship was never meant to be confined to boxes or limited by cultural norms shaped by the industry.
Builder of bridges
Ron was a bridge builder. Everywhere he stood, he brought unity - not only among people on earth, but as someone who created a bridge between heaven and earth, allowing the kingdom of God and the knowledge of Jesus to invade the space.
His rich baritone voice was as powerful as it was beautiful. It echoed through stadiums and concert halls with excellence and authority, carrying the full expression of every song straight to the hearts of people. Through his voice and leadership, he gave language to the worship of millions across the world.
In every context, he demonstrated consistency - always inviting people into a deeper experience of God’s presence
What impacted me deeply was the personal interest he took in me. He encouraged me to lead worship and consistently emphasised that worship leading was not a career choice, but a spiritual calling.
Ron Kenoly was a gatherer - someone who brought the nations together to worship. He was fearless in his delivery, confident in his calling, and utterly secure in the God he served. As I travelled with him, I saw how his uncompromising and challenging teaching on worship brought people alive in the Spirit, always rooted firmly in the word of God.
He also had an extraordinary gift for remembering names. Even with choirs of up to 60 voices, he would ask everyone’s name during soundchecks and then address each person individually during the concert. It was a small detail, but it spoke volumes about who he was.
The voice of a generation
Ron was a global phenomenon in worship - carrying the heart of a generation, and as we now see, generations to come.
I will never forget asking him if he would sing on my 2004 album Garment of Praise. To my surprise and deep gratitude, he said yes. He travelled to the UK to sing on the track ‘Your mercy endureth’. His generosity touched me profoundly. Dr Kenoly’s albums were the most incredible musical and spiritual experiences to me. I was deeply impacted by them and continue to use them as a benchmark for my own songwriting. I remember sharing an arrangement of ‘Lord I lift your name on high’ with him, and then hearing it on his album. We laughed as he said he loved it so much he had to use it.
Over the years, there have been songs that have shaped culture - but there have also been people whose lives have defined it. Their influence transcends cultural, ethnic, social, national and global boundaries. Dr. Kenoly was one of those people.
Producer and arranger Tom Brooks carried the sound of a generation musically, introducing world-class musicianship into worship. But Ron carried the heart and the spirit of a generation with incredible tenacity - travelling the world with the sound of heaven, always gathering a global tribe of worshippers to sing prayers, praise and intercession over nations and continents.
Ron Kenoly was a gatherer - someone who brought the nations together to worship
Across the global worship community, Ron Kenoly is recognised as a father, an apostle of worship, an icon, pastor and teacher - one of the great influencers of his generation. His legacy lives on through the songs that changed lives and continue to shape generations. His story is the testimony of a worshipper whose deepest desire was always to please the Father - the lover of his soul, the lifter of his head, his healer, provider and deliverer.
Over the years, I encountered Dr Kenoly many times, ministering on the same platforms. In every context, he demonstrated consistency - always inviting people into a deeper, more tangible experience of God’s presence. The example he leaves us is that of a life fully committed and devoted to the ministry Jesus entrusted to him.
The earth has not just lost a voice, but a heavenly trumpet - one who boldly announced and revealed Yeshua to the nations. Dr Ron Kenoly is now safely in the arms of his saviour. May he rest in peace.
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