Tag: music

Squire Parsons, Gentle Voice of “Sweet Beulah Land,” Dies at 76

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JEFF TURNER

Squire Parsons, whose rich baritone became synonymous with heartfelt gospel music, died Monday after suffering a heart attack.

Parsons leaves a legacy reaching far beyond the Southern Gospel stage. Born in Newton, West Virginia, in 1948, Parsons was steeped in music and faith from childhood. His father, a choir director and deacon, taught him the fundamentals of singing using shape notes-a tradition that would shape Parsons’ musical journey and ministry.

Courtesy YouTube: Trinity Baptist Church, Ashville, NC

After earning a degree in music from West Virginia Institute of Technology, Parsons served as a high school teacher and church music director before joining the renowned Kingsmen Quartet in 1975 as their baritone singer. The Kingsmen Monday night posted to facebook, “A true gentleman larger than life, Squire Parsons was loved by the Kingsmen and literal millions. Join us as we extend our heartfelt prayers and condolences to the Parsons Family during this time of loss.”

Though singing was a passion for Parsons, it was his songwriting-and especially his signature anthem, “Sweet Beulah Land”-that cemented his place in gospel history. Inspired by memories of his father leading congregational singing, Parsons penned the song in a moment of spiritual reflection, and it quickly became a beloved classic, sung at countless church services and special occasions across the nation.

Courtesy YouTube

Parsons’ catalog includes hundreds of songs such as “Master of the Sea,” “He Came to Me,” and “I Call It Home.” His music, marked by tenderness and spiritual conviction, has won him numerous accolades, including Singing News Fan Awards for Favorite Baritone and Songwriter, as well as the respect of peers and fans alike.

Despite health challenges that led to his retirement from touring in 2019, Parsons continued to write and minister, often accompanied on stage by his son, Sam. He remained dedicated to projects close to his heart, such as setting the Psalms to music, further enriching the gospel repertoire.

The first time I met Squaire in person was at a concert in Nederland, Texas. I don’t remember the year, but It was probably around 1988. I was recently out of college, had no money and looked kind of scrappy. After I interviewed him for KDLF radio, a station that is no longer on the air, we talked about his past as a band director, Gospel music, and about Gospel radio. He gave me one of his latest CDs and encouraged me to continue in Gospel music.

Parsons once said he wanted to be remembered as “just an old sinner saved by grace who loved to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ through music”. His songs, especially “Sweet Beulah Land,” continue to offer comfort and hope, ensuring that his gentle voice and message continue for generations.

Squire Parsons was 76.

Gospel Singer and ‘Hee Haw’ Star Lulu Roman Dies at 78

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AMY TURNER

Lulu Roman, the beloved comedian, actress, and acclaimed gospel singer whose unmistakable presence lit up the long-running country music variety show Hee Haw, has died at the age of 78. Roman passed away on April 23, 2025, in Bellingham, Washington, where she had relocated seven months prior to be near her son, Damon Roman.

Born Bertha Louise Hable on May 6, 1946, Roman’s life story was one of resilience, reinvention, and grace. Raised in the Buckner Orphans Home in Texas after being born with a thyroid dysfunction in a Dallas maternity home, Roman faced daunting obstacles early in life. Yet she emerged as a vibrant performer, first captivating audiences as “Lulu Roman, the World’s Biggest Go-Go Dancer” in Dallas nightclubs.

Her life took a pivotal turn when country star Buck Owens took notice of her natural comedic talent. In 1969, he recommended her for a role on CBS’s new country comedy program Hee Haw, where Roman quickly became a fan favorite. Her sharp wit and down-home humor enlivened recurring skits such as the All-Jug Band, the Culhanes of Kornfield Kounty, and Lulu’s Truck Stop. Roman would remain with Hee Haw from its premiere episode through its final syndicated broadcast in 1993, cementing her status as a staple of American television.

Beyond her work in comedy, Roman’s life was marked by personal trials and spiritual renewal. In the early 1970s, she battled drug addiction, resulting in a temporary absence from the show. It was during this difficult chapter that she experienced a profound Christian conversion, which would reshape both her personal and professional path. Roman redirected her career toward gospel music, ultimately releasing more than a dozen albums. Her emotive, untrained voice found a place in the heart of Gospel music lovers. She went on to earn a Dove Award in 1985 and an induction into the Country Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 1999.

Roman’s collaborations read like a who’s who of country and gospel music royalty. She recorded alongside Dolly Parton, T. Graham Brown, and George Jones, and her 2013 album At Last featured duets with several of these luminaries. She continued to perform and record well into her later years, also lending her talents to Compassion International, a humanitarian child-development organization.

Lulu Roman was 78.

Texas Gospel Canada Top 30 – April 2025

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DAVID INGRAM

Welcome to the Texas Gospel Canada Top 30 Songs of April 2025! This list is meticulously compiled based on the actual number of plays each song received in the previous month (March.) The Texas Gospel Top 30 is proudly submitted to top Southern Gospel publications including The Singing News and SGNScoops.

1 Bigger On The Inside – Legacy Five – StowTown/Provident-Sony
2 My Name’s Already There Inspirations Horizon/Crossroads
3 I Remember Lost – Poet Voices – StowTown/Provident-Sony
4 God Won’t – Nelons (featuring Autumn Nelon Streetman) – Daywind/New Day
5 The Hour I First Believed – PromisedLand Quartet – StowTown/Provident-Sony
6 That’s What Faith Looks Like – Karen Peck & New River – Daywind/New Day
7 God Has Heard Your Cry – Taylors – StowTown/Provident-Sony
8 If Not For Christ – Whisnants – Independent
9 I’d Rather Hear Preachin’ – Greater Vision – Daywind/New Day
10 Can He, Could He, Would He – Mark Trammell Quartet – Crimson Road
11 I Just Stopped By On My Way Home – Kingsmen – Horizon/Crossroads
12 Life Giving Us Life – Peach Goldman – StowTown/Provident-Sony
13 We Still Believe – Hyssongs – ARS/New Day
14 God Has A Way Of Workin’ It Out – Chronicle – ARS/New Day
15 Everyday Saints – Steve Ladd – Big Picture Records/New Day
16 None But Jesus – Erwins – StowTown/Provident-Sony
17 Sunshine On A Cloudy Day – Jeff & Sheri Easter – Gaither Music/Capitol Christian
18 Golgotha’s Call – Bibletones – Independent
19 More Than You Know – Tim Livingston – Diamond Mill Music
20 There’s A River – High Road – New Day Records/New Day
21 Come On Let’s Go To That Land – Tribute Quartet – Daywind/New Day
22 What Are You Waiting For – Tim Menzies (with The Isaacs) – ARS/New Day
23 Jesus Walked In – Joseph Habedank – Daywind/New Day
24 Rock Bottom – 11th Hour – Sonlite/Crossroads
25 Grateful For The Gospel – Brian Free & Assurance – Daywind/New Day
26 Nothing the blood can’t cover – The Chitans – Crossroads
27 The Good, Bad And The Ugly – Justified Quartet – Big Picture Records/New Day
28 Big Ole Stone (Victory) – Triumphant Quartet – StowTown/Provident-Sony
29 By Grace- Lore Family – Horizon/Crossroads
30 Things We Cannot Change – LeFevre Quartet – New Day Records/New Day