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Biography
Infobox musical artist | name = Squire Parsons| image =|100px| caption =| image_size =| background = solo_singer| birth_name = Squire Enos Parsons, Jr.| alias =| birth_date = birth date and age|1948|4|4| death_date =| origin = Newton, West Virginia , United States|U.S. | instrument = Vocals Piano | genre = Southern gospel | occupation = Singer-songwriter , Pianist | years_active = 1974 - Present| label =| associated_acts = Bill Gaither (Gospel singer)|Bill Gaither The Kingsmen Quartet | website = http://www.squireparsons.com/ SquireParsons.com| notable_instruments = Squire Enos Parsons, Jr. (born April 4, 1948), is a Southern Gospel singing|singer and songwriter . He was born in Newton, West Virginia|Newton , West Virginia , to Squire and Maysel Parsons,cite web |url= http://music.yahoo.com/ar-29113520-bio--Squire-Parsons |title=Squire Parsons: Biography |last=Carpenter |first=Bill |publisher= Yahoo Music Guide |accessdate=2007-05-05 and was introduced to music by his father, who was a choir director and deacon at Newton Baptist Church. Squire's father taught him to sing using shaped notes .cite web|url= http://www.squireparsons.com/biography_squire.asp|title = Biography|publisher= www.squireparsons.com|accessdate=2007-05-05
Musical career
In 1970, Parsons earned a Bachelor of Science in music from West Virginia University Institute of Technology in Montgomery, West Virginia|Montgomery , where he was trained on the piano and bassoon . Following graduation, he accepted a teaching position at Hannan High School in Mason County, West Virginia|Mason county , West Virginia, and served as music directors of various churches. http://sogospelnews.com/index/features/comments/5330/ “Bassonist Turns Baritone”. Southern Gospel News. Retrieved May 5, 2007
During this period he wrote " Sweet Beulah Land ," his signature song.
He joined the Kingsmen Quartet as a baritone in 1975 and toured with them for four years before embarking on a solo career.Bil Carpenter. http://music.yahoo.com/ar-29113520-bio--Squire-Parsons “Squire Parsons: Biography” Yahoo Music Guide. Retrieved May 5, 2007.
In 1979, Squire Parsons was ordained as a minister at Trinity Baptist Church in Asheville, North Carolina|Asheveille , North Carolina . http://www.squireparsons.com/biography_squire.asp “Biography” www.squireparsons.com. Retrieved May 5, 2007 He has written more than eight hundred Southern Gospel songs, with nearly five hundred being published and recorded.
Among his most popular compositions are "The Master of the Sea," "Walk On", "He Came to Me," "I Call it Home," "I Sing Because," "I'm Not Giving Up" and "Sweet Beulah Land".
He appeared in the Little Rock, Arkansas|Little Rock Revival meeting|Crusade with Billy Graham and performed with the Gaither Homecoming|Gaither Homecoming Choir .
He currently performs as the lead singer of The Squire Parsons Trio, and lives in Leicester, North Carolina|Leicester , North Carolina, with his wife Linda. http://www.squireparsons.com/biography_squire.asp Biography wwww.squireparsons.com. Retrieved May 9, 2007
His songs have been recorded by Brian Free , Gaither Vocal Band , Gold City , Ivan Parker , Kingdom Heirs , the Blackwood Brothers , The Cathedrals , The Florida Boys , The Greenes , The Hoppers , The Kingsmen Quartet|The Kingsmen , The McKameys , The Statesmen Quartet|Statesmen , The Sugar Creek Quartet, among others.Squire Parsons. The Songs of the Millennial Collection . Leicester, North Carolina: Beulah Music Company, 2001. p. 2
Awards
Parsons was nominated for a Dove Award in 1999 for contributing to tribute album to Dottie Rambo .
He has won the Singing News Fan Awards| Singing News Fan Award for Singing News Fan Awards for Favorite Male Singer|favorite male singer in 1988. He won a Singing News Fan Award for Singing News Fan Awards for Favorite Songwriter|Favorite Songwriter in 1986, 1992, 1993, 1994, and 1995. He won the Singing News Fan Award for Singing News Fan Awards for Favorite Baritone|Favorite Baritone in 1986 and 1987.
"Sweet Beulah Land" won the Singing News Fan Awards for Singing News Fan Awards for Song of the Year|song of the year in 1981.
He has also been awarded an honorary doctorate from his alma mater . He makes public appearances at churches across the country, both large and small.
Selected discography
Sweet Beulah Land (Dawn, 1979) http://www.sghistory.com/index.php? n=S.Squire_Parsons Southern Gospel history
Persondata | NAME =Parsons, Squire | ALTERNATIVE NAMES = | SHORT DESCRIPTION = | DATE OF BIRTH =April 4, 1948 | PLACE OF BIRTH = | DATE OF DEATH = | PLACE OF DEATH = DEFAULTSORT:Parsons, Squire Category:Living people Category:1948 births Category:People from Roane County, West Virginia Category:People from Asheville, North Carolina Category:Baptists from the United States Category:Southern Gospel performers Category:American baritones Category:American performers of Christian music Category:American singer-songwriters Category:American male singers Category:West Virginia University Institute of Technology alumni
