# London Parris

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**Conley** "**London**" **Parris** (May 25, 1931 – September 7, 1992) was an American [southern gospel](/source/Southern_gospel) [bass singer](/source/Bass_(voice_type)), famous for his associations with The Rebels quartet and [The Blackwood Brothers](/source/The_Blackwood_Brothers) and hit songs such as "Heaven Came Down". He was inducted into the [Southern Gospel Hall of Fame](/source/Southern_Gospel_Museum_and_Hall_of_Fame) in 2004.[1]

## Biography and career

Conley Parris was born on May 25, 1931, in the United States.[where?] Named “London” by [Lee Roy Abernathy](/source/Lee_Roy_Abernathy) of [The Homeland Harmony Quartet](/source/The_Homeland_Harmony_Quartet), he started singing [gospel music](/source/Gospel_music) in The Rebels Quartet when he replaced bass singer Big Jim Waits.[2]

Parris joined [Christian music](/source/Christian_music) pioneers The Blackwood Brothers in the late 1960s during their post-[Sumner](/source/J.D._Sumner) era.[3] With The Blackwood Brothers he released many albums and went on to win two [Grammy Awards](/source/Grammy_Award) for [Best Gospel Performance](/source/Grammy_Award_for_Best_Gospel/Contemporary_Christian_Music_Performance) with their album *In Gospel Country* in 1969 at the [12th Annual Grammy Awards](/source/12th_Annual_Grammy_Awards)[4][5] and again in 1972 for *L-O-V-E* at the [15th Annual Grammy Awards](/source/15th_Annual_Grammy_Awards),[6][7] the 1970 Album of the Year award for *Fill My Cup, Lord* at the [2nd GMA Dove Awards](/source/2nd_GMA_Dove_Awards), and many other awards.[8]

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](/source/4th_GMA_Dove_Awards) in 1972.[2][3]

Parris and his wife Yvonne had two sons, Christopher and David, and one daughter, Kathy.[3] He died on 7 September 1992.[3][where?]

Parris was a consummate performer with a large, booming bass voice and a dynamic personality that made him a crowd favorite.[2][3] He was famous for his renditions of "At the Crossing" and "[Little Boy Lost](/source/Little_Boy_Lost_(song))", but "Heaven Came Down" and "Everybody Ought to Know" are his signature songs.[2]

In 2004, he was posthumously inducted into the Southern Gospel Hall of Fame, operated at [Dollywood](/source/Dollywood), in [Pigeon Forge, Tennessee](/source/Pigeon_Forge,_Tennessee), by the [Southern Gospel Music Association](/source/Southern_Gospel_Music_Association).[1]

## Discography

**As London Parris[9]**

Year Album Record label 1965 God Called Me to Sing Skylite / 6038

**As London Parris & the Goss Brothers[10]**

Year Album Record label 1968 Heaven Came Down Zondervan / 728 1969 Sounds of London Zondervan / 747

**With The Blackwood Brothers Quartet**

Year Album Record label 1968 Yours Faithfully RCA Victor In Gospel Country All Day Singing Skylite 1969 The Heavenly Harmony of The Blackwood Brothers Quartet Fill My Cup Lord RCA Victor Just a Closer Walk with Thee RCA Camden O Come All Ye Faithful 1970 Gospel Classics My God and I Oh Happy Day RCA Camden 1971 Sheltered in the Arms of God Amazing Grace Put Your Hand in the Hand The Blackwood Brothers Quartet featuring London Parris He's Still the King of Kings and Lord of Lords RCA Victor 1972 L-O-V-E

**As London Parris and the Apostles[11]**

Year Album Record label 1970 What a Day CAM 1206 1971 The Eastern Gate 1973 Because He Lives Chime Records / LP 311 1973 Featuring their Bass, London Parris QCA / LP 312 1973 Why Me? QCA / LP 309

**With Jackie Marshall[12]**

Year Album Record label 1987 Friends Working Together

## See also

- [The Blackwood Brothers discography](/source/The_Blackwood_Brothers_discography)

## References

1. ["Hall of Fame 2004"](https://web.archive.org/web/20141017062034/http://sgma.org/category/sgma-hall-of-fame/2004/page/2/). [SGMA](/source/Southern_Gospel_Music_Association). Archived from [the original](http://sgma.org/category/sgma-hall-of-fame/2004/page/2/) on 2014-10-17.

1. ["Conley "London" Parris"](https://archive.today/20140621102607/http://sgma.org/conley-london-parris/). [SGMA](/source/Southern_Gospel_Music_Association). Archived from [the original](http://sgma.org/conley-london-parris/) on 2014-06-21.

1. ["Tribute"](https://web.archive.org/web/20180928061133/http://www.blackwoodbrothers.com/tribute.htm). blackwoodbrothers.com. Archived from [the original](http://www.blackwoodbrothers.com/tribute.htm) on 2018-09-28. Retrieved 2014-06-21.

1. Campbell, Mary (12 March 1970). ["Rock Group, Machine, Pop Song Top Grammy Winners"](https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=m_9ZAAAAIBAJ&sjid=-koNAAAAIBAJ&pg=4788,6324796&dq=grammy&hl=en). Waycross Journal-Herald.

1. ["1969 Grammy Award Winners"](http://www.grammy.com/nominees/search?artist=&title=&year=1969&genre=All). Grammy.com.

1. ["Roberta Flack tops Grammys"](https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=uMcuAAAAIBAJ&sjid=f6EFAAAAIBAJ&pg=2555,1324826&dq=grammy&hl=en). The Montreal Gazette. 5 March 1973.

1. ["1972 Grammy Award Winners"](http://www.grammy.com/nominees/search?artist=&title=&year=1972&genre=All). Grammy.com.

1. ["Awards"](http://www.blackwoodbrothers.com/awards.htm). blackwoodbrothers.com.

1. ["London Parris"](http://rateyourmusic.com/artist/london_parris_and_the_goss_brothers). [Rate Your Music](/source/Rate_Your_Music)

1. ["London Parris & the Goss Brothers"](http://rateyourmusic.com/artist/london_parris). [Rate Your Music](/source/Rate_Your_Music)

1. ["London Parris & the Apostles"](http://rateyourmusic.com/artist/london_parris_and_the_apostles). [Rate Your Music](/source/Rate_Your_Music)

1. ["London Parris & Jackie Marshall"](http://rateyourmusic.com/artist/london_parris_and_jackie_marshall). [Rate Your Music](/source/Rate_Your_Music)

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