The Gaston Gazette
Squire Parsons, 72, was born in 1948 in Newton, W. Va., and was introduced to music by his grandfather, Will, and father, Squire, Sr., a choir director, who both taught him to sing using shaped noted.
In 1970 Parsons earned a B. S. degree in music from W.V.U. Technology Institute, taught school for several years, and served as music director at various churches. During this era he wrote his signature song, “Sweet Beulah Land,” which won The Singing News Fan Award for song of the year in 1981.
He joined the Kingsmen Quartet as a baritone it 1975 and stayed with them for four years before starting a solo career. Parsons was ordained as a minister at Trinity Baptist Church in Asheville in 1975 as well. He appeared with the Rev. Billy Graham in the Little Rock Crusade, has performed on the Gaither Homecoming Choir series, and currently lives in Leicester, with his wife Linda. He is a prolific songwriter having written dozens over the years and has received num