The Kings

Lore & Background

The Kings were formed in Oakville, Ontario, in the late 1970s. The original lineup included David Diamond (bass, lead vocals), Mister Zero (guitar), Sonny Keyes (keyboards and vocals), and John Picard (drums). They were originally known as WhistleKing. In early 1980, they recorded their first album The Kings Are Here with producer Bob Ezrin.

The double-A side single "This Beat Goes On/Switchin' To Glide" spent 23 weeks on the U.S. charts, peaking at #43 on the Billboard Hot 100. The band toured with The Beach Boys and Eric Clapton, and appeared on Dick Clark's American Bandstand. Their 1981 follow-up Amazon Beach sold poorly, and they were dropped by Elektra Records. They released the EP R.S.V.P and live album Party Live '85 on their own Dizzy label.

In the 1990s, they released Unstoppable and later reissued The Kings Are Here...and More on CD. The band continues to play live shows across southern Ontario and released a documentary on YouTube in November 2017.

Reader's Guide

Their biggest hit is the 1980 double-A side single "This Beat Goes On/Switchin' To Glide". The original lineup consisted of David Diamond, Mister Zero, Sonny Keyes, and Max Styles. They have released albums including The Kings Are Here (1980), Amazon Beach (1981), Unstoppable (1993), and Because of You (2003). The band has undergone several lineup changes over the decades, with Diamond and Zero remaining consistent members.