When the Parker Trio began singing on their little indian reservation in upstate New York in the 1920′s, surely they didn’t realize they were birthing a musical legacy that would stretch into the 21st century. Four generations later, Parker Jonathan is carrying on this musical family heritage taking it from the little west Georgia community of Bremen to the four corners of the United States and beyond.
Parker Jonathan is of native american descent, a member of the Seneca tribe born and raised on the Tonawanda Indian reservation near Buffalo, New York. Being born into a musical family meant piano lessons, joining the school band, and singing in church with his brothers and sister. Along the way his parents introduced him to southern gospel music, and he quickly grew to love the four-part harmony of the quartets that would appear in the Buffalo area. His family gospel singing group would travel throughout New York state, Pennsylvania, and southern Ontario, Canada until 1989, when he was offered the baritone vocal position with one of America’s premiere gospel quartets, the Kingsmen. Parker loaded his car with everything he owned and moved to Asheville, North Carolina, home base of the Kingsmen, and began a 13-year career that would take him across America singing in churches, concert halls, fairs, and festivals. His appearances with the Kingsmen would take him into venues as prestigious as the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee, The Grand Ole Opry, Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee and the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. Additionally, he has appeared on several Gaither Homecoming video’s, was twice named Favorite Baritone Singer of the Year, and as a member of the Kingsmen was inducted into the 2000 Gospel Music Hall of Fame.
In 1998, Parker married Carrollton, Georgia native Paula Moore and they began their life together in Asheville, North Carolina where Parker continued singing with the Kingsmen. After several more years of being on the road, Parker felt it was time to be at home and settled into a more routine existence while he and Paula became more active in their home church. In 2007 they moved to Bremen, Georgia to be closer to Paula’s family, and that’s where today’s version of The Jonathans musical ministry continues.
Paula and her twin sister sang together locally for many years in the early 1990′s as “Double Vision”, a country/gospel duo performing at many civic and church functions throughout west Georgia. “When she and I were dating I didn’t even know she sang until I saw her on television one day,” says Parker. “I was in a restaurant in Pennsylvania and the television was tuned to a talent show on CMT hosted by country music icon Charlie Daniels. I really wasn’t paying attention to it until I heard these girls singing. When I looked up I thought the girls looked familiar! I actually had to get out of my seat and move closer to the TV to make sure it was Paula. Needless to say, she had some explaining to do!” Parker said. In the summer of 2008 Parker and Paula sang one song together at a reunion concert of Parker’s family in upstate New York. Through the encouragement of Parker’s father, and after much prayer, he and Paula yielded themselves to the musical ministry the Lord was preparing for them.
Eric Dunson completes the vocal line-up of The Jonathans. A 2009 graduate of Trinity Baptist College in Jacksonville, Florida, he too comes from a traveling musical family. His earliest childhood memories are ones filled with his family gospel group singing at various church homecomings and revivals. While a student at Trinity Baptist College, Eric was the tenor singer for Higher Calling, the musical outreach group that ministered on weekends throughout the southeast. At 22 years old, Eric’s desire is to use his God-given talent to further the gospel.
Jacob Pitts handles the keyboard duties for the group. He is a completely self-taught musician who also handles background vocal duties for the trio. Jake is married to Kristi and they have a 3-year old daughter named Rori.
Parker, Paula and Jacob are members of Northpoint Baptist Church in Carrollton, Georgia. Eric is active at Liberty Baptist Church in Bowdon, Georgia. Together they embark on a musical journey that is more than just great harmonies and wonderful songs. The message in the songs are what drive this team to sacrifice time from home in spreading the good news of Jesus Christ. Parker says, “Our focus isn’t on whether we sing on the largest concert stages or in the biggest churches in the country. Our priority is that someone is encouraged and blessed, and ultimately that someone might come to personally know this Savior we sing about.”
So you see, The Jonathans of today are more than just a continuation of a musical legacy that began over 75 years ago. They’re ambassadors of the Kingdom of God, discharged with a duty to reach out to all people, telling them of the Good News of Jesus Christ.
