Gospel recording artist Ivan Parker entertained members and guests at Republican Baptist Church last Friday night. The national singing star drew a crowd of about 200.

Ron Conley, who sings in the church choir and who spearheaded the effort to get Parker here, said the concert had been booked since last October.

“I’d been following him for some time,” he said. “The first time I heard him was on the Gaither Homecoming Videos and I was wild about him. I attended some concerts and eventually talked to him. I found out he was for real. He’s very humble and down-to-earth.”

Conley said he had people call from Athens and all around, “anything within a two hours drive,” but the attendance was hurt by the appearance of another big-time gospel group in the area.

Parker, who hails from Broadway, N.C., made his singing debut at age 2 in his pastor father’s church in Sanford and has been singing ever since. The youngest of seven children, he credits his mother and father with where he is today.

“They always made sure we were in church,” he said.

Parker first burst onto the Southern Gospel Music scene in 1982. Today, he is recognized as one of Southern Gospel Music’s leading male vocalists. He traveled with the popular Gold City Quartet for 11 years and helped lead the group to national notoriety achieving 19 Top Ten hits, including the 1993 Southern Gospel Song of the Year Dove Award from the Gospel Music Association.

In 1994, he went solo and has continued to enjoy prominence and success. With more than a dozen solo recordings to his credit, in 2008, Parker enjoyed his first Number One hit, “I Choose.”

For the past 10 years, he has been regularly featured on the Bill Gaither Homecoming Video and Concert Series. In May, 2008, the Gaither Gospel Series released “The Best of Ivan Parker Collection” in DVD and CD, which peaked on Billboard Magazines Sales Chart at number two.

Inducted into the Alabama Music Hall of Fame in 1993, he has received more than 20 Soloist and Male Vocalist of the Year Awards from a variety of leading fan and trade publications.

He was honored recently by the Christian Music Hall of Fame and Museum with the 2009 Visionary Award nomination for Southern Gospel Male Vocalist of the Year. Visionary Awards will be presented on Nov. 14 in Dallas, Texas.

Parker combined humor with his messages in song Friday night, but he also added some good old-fashioned preaching.

“If you came to be bored tonight, you’re in the wrong place,” he said. “When God’s kids get together, great things happen.”

He included songs such as, “Love is Like a River” and “Hit the Ground Running,” but also his spin on some old-time favorites such as, “Amazing Grace.”

He also talked about his experience with the Gaither Homecoming Videos.

“It’s such a great inspiration to be able to share the stage with these legends,” he said. “It’s incredible to talk to them. My favorite, perhaps, is Jake Hess. We got to be good friends. He loved to aggravate me.”

Parker sang one of Hess’ songs, “Wait Till You See My New Home.”

“I travel 100,000 miles a year on my bus,” he said. “I consider the greatest things, first, when Jesus came into my heart and then when I said, ‘Lord, let me sing for you.”

Wanda and Bob Bates of Waynesboro, Ga. said during an intermission that they attend Parker’s concerts anytime he is within driving distance and have known him since he was with the Gold City Quartet.

“The way you see him, that’s the way he is,” said Mrs. Bates. “He lives what he sings and preaches.”
Parker closed on a patriotic note with the Lee Greenwood hit, “God Bless the USA.”

“We want to recognize our military and our veterans,’ he said. “We still live in the greatest country in the world, and I’d like to say, “Mr. President, we are still a Christian nation.’”

Parker will appear at the Gatlinburg Gathering at the Gatlinburg Convention Center Sept. 4-6, along with many other gospel singing artists. For tickets, call 1-888-128-6858 or go to www.abrahamproductions.net. To learn more about Parker, go to www.ivanparker.com.

Cutlines:

Ivan Parker signs autographs and converses with fans. Here he talks with Evie McIntosh of Langley.

Ivan Parker delivers his message in song at Republican Baptist Church Friday night.