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. Through the years, there have been a number of men who have been a part of Common Bond. Whether they stayed for a short while, or for many years... in our hearts, they will always be a part of our shared Common Bond.
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.
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."
Jason Morris
Tenor
Jason came to CBQ in January of 2022. Prior to that, Jason was the tenor with the West Virginia Couriers, a group started in 1978 by Jason's father, Michael Morris. Jason had the pleasure of singing on stage with his father for over 30 years!
In the past few years, Jason has had many health 'scares', including advanced diabetes, concerns with his heart and blood pressure, an amputation of his lower leg and earlier this year Jason had a couple of strokes. While it seems almost impossible, he's like the energizer bunny and just keeps going. God has been gracious to Jason and has allowed him to continue to sing about the Lord through it all!
Scott Arbogast
Bass
As the newest member of Common Bond Quartet, Scott brings a rich background of faith, music, and service to the group. After initially joining the quartet for several performances in early 2026, Scott quickly found a home among the members of Common Bond and now proudly serves as the group’s full-time bass vocalist.
Growing up as a preacher’s kid in West Virginia, Scott developed a love for music and ministry at an early age. He has spent much of his life singing in church, including serving as a worship leader. His musical talents extend beyond singing, with a particular fondness for playing the trumpet. “I’ve been involved in music and ministry most of my life, but I think people probably appreciated my trumpet playing more than my singing growing up,” Scott jokes.
Although Common Bond marks Scott’s first experience singing professionally, his passion for sharing the Gospel through music makes him a natural fit for the group. “I can’t express how thankful I am to Rick, Karen, and the guys for welcoming me into the Common Bond family. They’ve been incredibly patient, encouraging, and willing to show me the ropes. It’s a blessing to have the opportunity to serve Christ alongside them.”
Beyond music, Scott has enjoyed a diverse career as a nurse, business owner, and general contractor. He is also a proud veteran of the United States Navy, having served from 1988 to 1996 as a Hospital Corpsman assigned to the United States Marine Corps.
Now retired and living in sunny Central Florida with his wife, Andrea—who proudly claims the title of his biggest fan—Scott enjoys the opportunity to travel, share his faith, and bring the powerful sound of Southern Gospel bass singing to audiences across the country.
For Scott, being part of Common Bond Quartet is more than an opportunity to make music. It’s another chapter in a lifetime of faith, fellowship, and service to the Lord.
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 nine 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.