19th January, 2006

JOE MONTAGUE

Southern Gospel music lost a friend and talented musician and vocalist on 7th January when Canada's Warren Parker was struck and killed by a truck outside the Church of the Nazarene in Goose Creek, North Carolina, in the Southern United States.

Parker, orginally from Ontario Canada, his wife Shannan, from Ohio in the midwest United States, and Angie White from Newfoundland on Canada's east coast formed a dynamic trio that hit their stride with the release of their Live In Havana album in 2005.

It was reported that the 34-year-old Parker was struck while guiding his tour bus into the church parking lot late at night while Shannan was asleep on the bus.

A LOSS TO THE MUSIC WORLD: Warren Parker (middle) performing with his wife Shannan (left) and Angie White in Canada last August. PICTURE: Joe Montague,   "It's a big void," Shannan Parker said after the death of her husband. "It's a big hole, and it's going to take a long time (to heal). But I know with God's help He'll get me through. He promised."

"It's a big void," Shannan told a local television station. "It's a big hole, and it's going to take a long time (to heal). But I know with God's help He'll get me through. He promised."

When I last corresponded with Warren in the fall, the group was excited about the possible addition of two male vocalists. They had earlier stunned Canada's Christian music community when they received the Canadian Gospel Music Association award for "Album of the Year", an accomplishment made more significant by the fact that Southern Gospel music is one of the less popular genres in Canada. In the studio recording their most recent project Leaving Familiar, 'P3' - as they were affectionately known by fans - were excited about the new pop/country direction the CD was taking.

I first met the Parker Trio in late August last year following a performance in Toronto, Canada. With the sun setting behind us we sat on the embankment beside the venue they had just played, we talked about the Parker Trio's popularity in the United States, their evolving music and last year's recording of their live album in the town of Havana, Illinois.

Asked what has been the secret of the Parker Trio's success over the nine years of their career, Warren Parker said breaking into the US market was a key factor.

"The Lord has opened so many doors for us," he said. "In the second and third years of our ministry we began touring extensively in the United States. In the years since 75 per cent of our bookings have been in the United States."

Parker added that the logistics, demand and sheer size of the American market made moving south of the 49th parallel a no-brainer. He also gave credit to God.

"God expects you to work at anything He gives to you. To make it successful you just have to believe in what you do and work hard at it. We did that and we have seen great things happen."

The group's hard work - which saw them performing as many as 260 times a year during recent years and producing six CDs - had delivered them several music awards, a contract with Nashville-based Journey Records and made them a popular choice for churches, festivals and conventions.

In June 2004 - just one week after White joined the group - the Parker Trio began to lay plans for a live worship video and, after hooking up with Major Productions, the group shot a concept video in Indiana. White said that the experience of Chris Major - owner of Major Productions - had proved attractive.

"We just sat down and talked to him and God had got hold of his heart," she recalled. "He said, 'I've told so many kids how not to live and told them the wrong way to live, I need to give back to God. I need to let God use my talents to try and win them back.' He did all of the camera work, all of the production and all of the editing."

Out of that came the Live in Havana album.

Asked about the Havana experience, White said: "We got the police, fire department and mayor involved. We shut the town down. It wasn't hard to do because it is a small town. They brought out all their Christmas lights, fire trucks and horse carriages. It was just a really interesting thing to watch being put together."

Laughing, she added, "At that point I decided I wanted to be an actor instead of a singer."

Warren, who was also involved with the post-production and engineering of the project, said that he got excited about the project because he had "a lot more say in it".

"It was the biggest undertaking in my life. I didn't realize how big it was until we had it all done. It was a lot of fun and I am glad I was a part of it. We have had great feedback from them (the fans). We get emails frequently saying how much they are blessed by it. I would say it (Live in Havana) is our best-seller right now. People like a live album. They have come to a concert and they enjoy the live atmosphere. They want to walk away and relive that again and they can. A studio project may only have 10 songs on it but this live project has 19 songs on it. It has a lot of stuff packed onto a DVD or CD."

The group had spent a lot of time in prayer seeking direction for their music and wanted to ensure they were flexible enough to continue meeting the needs of people who still do not know Christ.

"We have prayed that God would allow us to reach a large range of ages not just the youth or the older generation but from the very young to the very wise," said Shannan Parker.

"Music does change and it changes through time so we have just prayed that God would birth within us the ability to adapt to that change not because we don't want to be who we are because we love praise and worship. We can appreciate so many different styles as long the Gospel message is there it doesn't really matter the style that is attached to it. We also want to be able to hear the lyrics.

"We started out very Southern Gospel, progressed a little to (include) new country and now we are between new country, contemporary and praise and worship. Really when it comes to the next album we are just going to say 'Lord, You know our heart. You know what we enjoy and what is going to bless the people so we will figure it out once it is done'."

Asked about the challenges in changing their style, Shannon said: "You hope people will understand and they do. You just have to pass that wall of fear and to do what God has called you to do. If He has called you to do something He wants you to do it to bless people."

In the nine years that the Parker Trio has performing, they have seen a plethora of new genres spring up in the Christian music industry.

Shannan said that while it wasn't hard to establish a fan base despite the growing diversity of Christian music, "it is hard to get the industry to work together and realise the style is not the issue - it is whether you are out to win souls for Jesus Christ".

"We have to have Christian entertainment. We are a form of Christian entertainment but we need to leave those prejudices behind. One is not better than the other. We are all doing this for the same reason and we need to realize that. We need the body to work together not fight against each other."

All three of the band's members were careful to underline their firm belief that God would only continue to bless their ministry if they spend quality time with Him.

"A lot of times I escape by going back to my bunk, pulling the curtains and opening my Bible," said White. "That's my time daily with the Lord and I have to remember to do that."

Shannan Parker added:"I just try to read books that lead me into a deeper relationship (with God) along with Scripture. I try to remember Paul's words 'I die daily'. You never reach the point where you say, 'I've made it', until you reach the feet of Jesus."

The music world will miss and grieve for Warren Parker. But we know that God has welcomed him with open arms.