London Parris


Conley "London" Parris was an American southern gospel bass singer, famous for his associations with The Blackwood Brothers and hit songs such as "Heaven Came Down". He was inducted into the Southern Gospel Hall of Fame in 2004.

Biography and career

Conley Parris was born on 25 May 1931 in the United States. Named “London” by Lee Roy Abernathy of The Homeland Harmony Quartet, he started singing gospel music in The Rebels Quartet when he replaced bass singer Big Jim Waits.
Parris joined Christian music pioneers The Blackwood Brothers in the late 1960s during their post-Sumner era. With The Blackwood Brothers he released many albums and went to win two Grammy Awards for Best Gospel Performance with their album In Gospel Country in 1969 at the 12th Annual Grammy Awards and again in 1972 for L-O-V-E at the 15th Annual Grammy Awards, the 1970 Album of the Year award for Fill My Cup, Lord at the 2nd GMA Dove Awards, and many other awards.
In 1971 he started his own group, London Parris and The Apostles, which won the Dove Award for the Most Promising New Gospel Talent at the 4th GMA Dove Awards in 1972.
Parris and his wife Yvonne had two sons, Christopher and David, and one daughter, Kathy. He died on 7 September 1992.
Parris was a consummate performer with a large, booming bass voice and a dynamic personality that made him a crowd favorite. He was famous for his renditions of "At the Crossing" and "Little Boy Lost", but "Heaven Came Down" and "Everybody Ought to Know" are his signature songs.
In 2004, he was posthumously inducted into the Southern Gospel Hall of Fame, operated at Dollywood, in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, by the Southern Gospel Music Association.

Discography

;As London Parris
YearAlbumRecord label
1965God Called Me to SingSkylite / 6038

;As London Parris & the Goss Brothers
YearAlbumRecord label
1968Heaven Came DownZondervan / 728
1969Sounds of LondonZondervan / 747

;With The Blackwood Brothers Quartet
YearAlbumRecord label
1968Yours FaithfullyRCA Victor
1968In Gospel CountryRCA Victor
1968All Day SingingSkylite
1969The Heavenly Harmony of The Blackwood Brothers Quartet
1969Fill My Cup LordRCA Victor
1969Just A Closer Walk With TheeRCA Camden
1969O Come All Ye Faithful
1970Gospel Classics
1970My God And I
1970Oh Happy DayRCA Camden
1971Sheltered in the Arms of GodRCA Camden
1971Amazing GraceRCA Camden
1971Put Your Hand in the HandRCA Camden
1971The Blackwood Brothers Quartet Featuring London Parris
1971He’s Still The King Of Kings And Lord Of LordsRCA Victor
1972L-O-V-ERCA Victor

;As London Parris and the Apostles
YearAlbumRecord label
1970What A DayCAM 1206
1971The Eastern Gate
1973Because He LivesChime Records / LP 311
1973Featuring their Bass, London ParrisQCA / LP 312

;With Jackie Marshall
YearAlbumRecord label
1987Friends Working Together