A religious calling turned John P. Kee (born: John Prince Kee) from a seedy lifestyle to a career as a top-ranked gospel performer, producer, and pastor of the New Life Fellowship Church in Charlotte, NC. In a 1996 interview he explained, "God delivered me in Charlotte's inner city from a life that mirrors the ills that we still face today." The 15th of 16 children, Kee showed musical talent at a very early age. After studying at a special school for musically gifted children, the North Carolina School of the Arts in Winston-Salem, he formed his first choir at 13.