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KEN COPELAND

“PLEDGE OF LOVE”

(R. Reed)

Imperial 5432

No. 12    May 6, 1957

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The Mints were a local nightclub pleasure for the folks of Gainesville, Texas.   Late in 1956 Joe M. Leonard,

Jr., manager of radio KGAF and owner of the indie Lin label, approached Ken Copeland (b. 1937-) and his

group about cutting some tunes.   Early the following year, “Busy Body Rock” was released (as by the Four

Mints), but there was not much of a stir beyond the Gainesville area.  “Pledge of Love,” however, was

another story.   Here was the type of song that was so innately appealing–given the time zone of it’s

creation-that almost any performer could have had a hit with it.   When interest in the disk exceeded the

ability of the lads at Lin to supply the stores with the quantity needed, a quick arrangement was made with

Lew Chubb’s Imperial label for national distribution.   Speed was of the essence, for MITCHELL TOROK,

Johnny Janis, accordionist Dick Contino, and a host of others were competing with nearly identical cover

versions.

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The initial pressings of “Pledge of Love” credited the disk’s artist as “The Mints.”   As time progressed and

the disk rose in popularity, Copeland, the group’s lead singer, was given sole billing. Despite the competing

covers–each which cut deeply into the potential sales of the Mints original–the Copeland-crooned “Pledge”

managed to reach the number 12 position.   But in all the uproar, Ken never established himself with the

pop public as the singer of “Pledge of Love.”   Consequently, only three additional 45s by Copeland–

“Teenage,”  “Someone to Love Me,” and “Fanny Brown”–were issued before Copeland and his Mints

returned to their  local-level celebrity status.

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Only years later, after Kenny had evolved into a “tel­evangelist,” would he freely admit that all of this earthy

success had left him sick, broke, overweight, and depressed.  “Motorcycles, airplanes, and rock music

were my life,”  he wrote in a biographical sketch for the members of the Kenneth Copeland Ministries.  Five

years after “Pledge of Love,” Ken made his personal commitment to the teachings of Christ.  In 1968, after

attending Oral Roberts University, he and his wife Glo­ria formed their ministries in Fort Worth, Texas.

 Copelands’ bio reports that he touches millions with his weekly and daily TV programs, TV specials,

month­ly magazine, teaching tapes, gospel recordings, and conventions.