“…a diverse, dynamic, and utterly smooth a cappella sound.”
Capture Photography Festival
“The blend of their unique vocal timbres is so rich and so smooth that, at times, it sounds more like a full choir than a mere four men.”
EFP Performing Arts
With harmonies so rich they often sound like a full choir, Kings Return has quickly become one of the most exciting vocal groups in contemporary a cappella. This Dallas-based quartet blends R&B, gospel, jazz, and classical traditions into a sound that is both smooth and deeply expressive.
Comprised of tenor Vaughn Faison, bass Gabe Kunda, tenor JE McKissic, and baritone Jamall Williams, the group first gained widespread attention through viral stairwell performances and later earned a GRAMMY nomination for their arrangement of the Bee Gees’ “How Deep Is Your Love.”
Following their sold-out Duke Arts appearance in 2024, Kings Return returns for a special MLK holiday weekend performance, celebrating community, harmony, and the enduring power of song.
Artist Website | Facebook | Instagram
Baldwin Auditorium
1336 Campus Drive
Durham, NC 27705
Visit our Baldwin Auditorium FAQ page for more information.
Venue DetailsApproximately 1 hour and 35 minutes, with no intermission
Limited late seating available
Tickets available starting at $35. Student tickets always $10.
Tenor 1
Vaughn Faison is a vocalist, songwriter, top-liner, and producer originally
from New York. Recently, he has relocated from Fredonia, New York to Dallas, Texas.
Vaughn covers a wide range of genres including R&B, pop, soul, and folk. He also has a master’s degree in Jazz Voice. To top off his impressive vocal abilities, Vaughn plays guitar and piano.
Tenor 2
J.E. McKissic is a soul-stirring singer from Dallas, Texas. The son of a preacher and a school teacher, he learned to sing as a child in his father’s church, where he still sings to this day! His bright soaring sound has carved a unique musical journey crossing the genres of gospel, jazz, classical and contemporary music. In addition to performing, J.E. is a vocal coach, a choir director, and a worship leader. He has sung all over the U.S.A., and also traveled to Brazil, Germany, Canada. J.E. lives in Arlington, Texas with his wife Rachel and their 6 children.
Baritone
Jamall Williams is a native of Dallas, TX, is the baritone in Kings Return. Outside of the group he lends his vocal talents to artists such as Tamela Mann, Marvin Sapp and Jabari Johnson to name a few. His dog, Carlisle, has him trained well and keeps him busy running around in his free time.
Bass
Gabe Kunda is a voice actor, vocalist, and vocal arranger from Dallas, TX. His love for music began in church and in school, where he began growing his musical knowledge. Kunda is a voice actor by trade and can be heard in Call of Duty Warzone (Jackal), Valorant (KAY/O), Apex Legends (Newcastle), Ranking of Kings Anime (Desha), and My Hero Academia (Rock Lock). He also has voiced Trailers and Promos for Shows/Movies such as “Doctor Strange In The Multiverse of Madness” (Marvel), TBS, The Bad Guys (Universal Pictures), The Batman (Warner Bros.), Encanto (Disney), Westside Story (20th Century) and many more. In his downtime Gabe loves taking trips with his wife, playing video games, watching anime, and photography.
This event is part of We the People: A Duke & Durham Initiative
Pick-4 Packages Available Now! Save 20% when you book four or more shows.
Single Tickets Available Tuesday, June 23 at 11 AM.
Please note: For online Pick-4 orders, seats are automatically chosen based on best availability. To choose specific seats or price levels, please call the Box Office at 919-684-4444.
Tier 1: $47
Tier 2: $35
Students*: $10 (Log in through Shibboleth to access Duke-exclusive discounts)
Duke Employees: 25% Off (Log in through Shibboleth to access Duke-exclusive discounts)
*All high school and college students are eligible for student tickets with valid ID shown at event.
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