NQC Board Announces addition of Ivan Parker to the Evening Concert Lineup

Louisville, KY - During the annual NQC Board Meeting held in Louisville, Kentucky, on Tuesday, February 20th, the NQC Board voted to invite Ivan Parker to perform on the Friday evening featured concerts. This is the first time in the history of the NQC that a soloist has been invited to perform on the main stage of the National Quartet Convention.

“It is fitting that on the 50th anniversary of the NQC that this sort of history can be made.” states NQC Executive Vice President, Clarke Beasley. “Ivan Parker has distinguished himself as one of the most popular artists in all of Southern Gospel Music and he is certainly worthy of the distinction of the being the first soloist to be featured on the NQC main stage.” Ivan was introduced to the world of gospel music as the lead singer for the Singing Americans in 1982. In 1983, he joined Gold City where he became one of the most popular vocalists in all of Gospel Music. In 1994, Ivan launched a solo career and also joined the Bill Gaither Trio and later began touring with the popular Gaither Homecoming Tour. Ivan was voted Favorite Lead Vocalist by the readers of The Singing News Magazine six times and Favorite Male Vocalist nine times. The Southern Gospel Music Association honored him with ’Soloist of the Year’ award in 1998, and The Singing News Fan Awards voted him ’Soloist of the Year’ in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2006. But one of his most cherished awards came in 1996 when he received the Distinguished Soloist award presented by the Department of Music Ministries of the Church of God.

In addition to Ivan’s performance, Friday night will prove to be quite special as the NQC is producing a segment which will commemorate the 50 year heritage of the National Quartet Convention. More details about this special presentation will be forthcoming in future weeks. Other talent additions to the evening concert lineup include the Freemans on Thursday evening and the Skyline Boys on Saturday evening. Complete schedule information is available at www.natqc.com and question about the NQC can be answered by the NQC office at 800-846-8499.