Authority control databases: Artists
Authority control databases: Artists  |
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Ivan Parker | |
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| Birth name | Ivan Ray Parker |
| Born | December 21, 1957 Sanford, North Carolina United States |
| Genres | Christian, Southern gospel |
| Occupation(s) | Singer |
| Years active | 1982–present |
| Website | www.ivanparker.com |
Ivan Ray Parker (born December 21, 1957)[citation needed] is an American Southern Gospel singer.
Ivan Parker was raised in Sanford, North Carolina, where his father was a pastor in a Pentecostal church.[1] In 1982, Parker joined the Singing Americans, and in 1983 he became lead vocalist of the Dove Award-winning group the Gold City Quartet.[2] As a member of Gold City, he was named Favorite Lead Vocalist by Singing News from 1988 to 1993, and was named Favorite Male Vocalist from 1989 to 1995 and 1997. He was inducted into the Alabama Music Hall of Fame in 1993.
In January 1994, Parker began recording as a solo artist, and in 1995 he joined Bill and Gloria Gaither on the "Homecoming" tour. He continued touring with the Gaithers for 16 years.[3] Occasionally, he would sing with tenor Kirk Talley, and pianist/baritone Anthony Burger in a group they called simply The Trio. From 2001 to 2004 and 2006 to 2016, The Singing News named him Favorite Soloist. In 2007 and 2008, he was voted Male Vocalist of the Year in the Singing News Fan Awards.
Parker's 2008 compilation The Best of Ivan Parker: From the Homecoming Series reached #188 on the Billboard 200.[4] Parker described his 2019 release, Feels Like Home, as having "more of a vintage sound".[5]
Parker is married to Theresa, and they have two sons: Josh and Ryan.[6] Josh sometimes performs with his father on tour.[7]
In the summer of 2021, Parker was diagnosed with metastatic squamous cell carcinoma.[8]
| 1998–2006
(Under the Name "The Trio") |
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(Anthony Burger, Kirk Talley and Ivan Parker)