Meet the Group

Ken King

baritone

As early as he can remember, Ken has always had a passion for music. "I can remember standing on the front porch of our farmhouse at four years old with a little Buck Owens guitar bellowing Cathedrals songs at the top of my lungs; and getting my first drum set as a Christmas present at age five." 

Growing up in LaGrange, Kentucky, Ken was active with music while in school. He was cast for the lead role in "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" at ten years old by his music teacher Donna Drake Hampton. Ms. Hampton was one of those teachers who'd had a major impact on his life. He began singing in churches with his family at twelve, and loved attending church singing with his dad. After graduating high school, his life took a sharp turn with his enlistment in the US Army where he faithfully served his country for the next twenty-one years. Upon his retirement Ken came home to Lawrenceburg, KY where he currently resides with his lovely wife Michelle.

Ken returned to music, singing baritone and lead for the Living Testimony Trio based out of Akron, OH. God called him closer to home, and he served for ten years singing tenor and playing drums for the Ol’Elkhorn Pickers Club based in Frankfort, KY. In January of 2026, God called upon Ken to step into a new season. After a phone conversation with Rick Melton, Ken came on board with Common Bond Quartet as their baritone. "There is no greater blessing than to be able to take the Gospel to the highways and hedges, and to have the opportunity to serve with Common Bond is, by far, one of the best experiences of my life and I'm truly humbled and honored to be a part of it."

Rick Melton

Lead

Growing up in Middletown, Ohio, Rick loved music from the time he was small. However, he never sang before an audience until he was twenty years old and was asked to sing for his sister’s wedding. As a result of that performance, he was approached to join a trio at his home church—forming his first Southern Gospel Quartet.

Rick attended Anderson University where he joined a trio and began touring on weekends. After college, his job and family obligations moved him to Mt. Sterling, Kentucky and Rick stopped touring, but devoted his time learning to play guitar and writing songs. While living in Mt. Sterling, Rick began singing with a trio in his home church. The trio eventually (with a few additions and subtractions) morphed into the One Bond Quartet and the men sang together for several years. In 2009, through a series of God-ordained events, Rick and Kevin Willis (the worship pastor at his church) who’d been singing together at the church in Mt. Sterling, joined with Mike and Bryan who had been singing in a different quartet at their home church in neighboring Winchester, KY.  When these four men came together, they started what is now known as Common Bond Quartet.

Rick and his wife (Karen) met at Anderson University and currently reside in Raceland, KY. Rick and Karen have two sons, two daughters and eight grandchildren.

Karen Tate Melton

Alto / Piano / Bookings

Originally from Albany, Oregon, Karen started taking piano lessons when she was 7 years old. She and her sister often played piano & organ for Sunday services throughout their high school years; and Karen also accompanied several school choirs during Jr. High and High School. Karen attended Anderson University (Anderson, IN) where she graduated with a degree in Marriage & Family Relations, and Religious Studies.  After college, Karen served in a variety of clerical, administrative and marketing positions—spending almost 10 years as the office administrator at a large church.   While her children were young, she also taught private piano lessons from her home. 

For years, Karen has played the piano for services at church, sung in and even directed various choirs, cantatas, worship teams and children’s musicals. Feeling most at home sitting at the piano, of late, you will occasionally see her on stage with a microphone in her hand! Karen’s alto/tenor voice adds a bit of variety to Common Bond’s signature sound.

Karen and her husband (Rick) met at Anderson University and currently reside in Raceland, KY. Rick and Karen have two sons, two daughters and eight grandchildren.

In addition to singing and playing in the group, Karen also coordinates the group's bookings and publicity.

A little history...

While the Common Bond Quartet has always recognized that they would not be the group they are today without the help and support of their families and so many others who have been instrumental in their development as individuals and musicians. Immediately prior to their coming together in 2009, original members Kevin Willis and Rick Melton had been a part of the group ‘One Bond’—which had been both a trio and quartet formed at the First Church of God in Mt. Sterling, KY. Bryan Stevenson and Mike Bradshaw had formerly been members of the quartet: ‘Commissioned’ that was a quartet formed in the First Church of God of neighboring Winchester, KY. In the fall of 2008, both quartets found themselves in a position of being short two members (due to changes in jobs or family responsibilities of their respective members) and each group was considering disbanding entirely. However, several of the members felt that God had not released them from the call to minister through music.

In early 2009, the four men met together to discuss merging; and in a very short period of time they each received a conviction and assurance that God had, for years been preparing each of them, individually, to the ministry to which He was now calling them. After much prayer, and through some unusual events which could only have been attributed to God’s handiwork, the men came to know that the Lord had brought them together to sing together, minister to others and ultimately bring glory to Him through their partnership. And so, Common Bond Quartet was created.
 

Where are they now?

Kevin Willis (tenor) departed in 2017 but was called to come back in early 2024. A couple of years prior, Kevin had been diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's Disease.  Kevin sang with us for about a year but needed to come off the road again in 2025, due to the advance of his Alzheimer's.  He continues to live with his wife in Mt. Sterling, KY.

Lee McCarren (tenor) joined the group in 2018 and sang for several years. As an asthmatic, Lee became quite sick with Covid which made it difficult to maintain our rigorous travel schedule. Additionally, Lee sings occasionally with regional groups in the Cincinnati area and makes his home in Blanchester, OH.

Bryan Stevenson (bass) resigned from the group in late 2018. Bryan retired from working at Toyota and he and his wife now reside in Sebring, FL.  Bryan drops in now and then each year for our Florida tour--so you might still see him occasionally performing with the group.

Rick Towe (bass) joined CBQ in early 2019 and sang with the group until the fall of 2025; at which time he left the group to embark on a solo ministry. Rick and his wife live in Point Pleasant, WV.

In the Spring of 2019, Mike Bradshaw (baritone) resigned due to health concerns, and a desire to spend more time with his family. Mike has had ongoing health concerns but still spends time with those grandbabies!!! He resides in Mt. Sterling, KY

Bill Petrea (baritone) joined the group in May of 2019. Unfortunately, again, due to health concerns, Bill was unable to continue to travel with the group. He currently sings with a local male quartet that travels mostly in the tri-state area (OH, KY, WV0.

Probably the most difficult position to keep filled has been the baritone position.  For many years, Bob Melford was our official 'back-up' baritone. However, in 2021, Bob came on with CBQ on a full-time basis. He continued to travel with us until 2024 when Bob's wife became ill and Bob felt he needed to resign and stay home and care for his wife. Bob continues to support the quartet by managing many aspects of our social media, and he occasionally helps us out at baritone, or on the piano when we are close to (his) home in the Cincinnati area.

Jason Morris (tenor) became available in 2021 just when our travel schedule really took take off! Unfortunately, at the end of 2023, for personal reasons Jason came off the road.  While we were saddened by his departure, we were then able to offer the position to original group member, Kevin Willis. Just as Kevin's Alzheimer's worsened, Jason became available to re-join Common Bond--oftentimes singing alongside Kevin to offer support and encouragement. They became ‘tag-team tenors’ which made up for the times when Kevin's voice was weak, or his words escaped him.

Phil Parks (baritone) started traveling with CBQ in 2024. He continued with us until early 2026 when he had major back surgery that made travel extremely difficult. Additionally, he works unpredictable hours as a driver for Uber Black which made our schedule challenging.

Scott Burnside (bass) joined Common Bond in late 2025

Ken King (baritone) joined the group in early 2026

Scott Arbogast (bass) became our official ‘back-up bass’ on our Florida tour in 2026. While he and his wife are originally from West Virginia, they currently reside in Florida. You'll see him on some of our longer trips up north, … and certainly when we are down south!