Fair concert a homecoming

By JIM TALBERT\Staff

This year’s gospel concert at the Tazewell County Fair offers one musician a chance to visit his mother while spreading the gospel.
Mark Meadows, pianist for the Squire Parsons Quartet is the son of Jeannette Wood of Tazewell. The Aug. 16 performance in Nuckolls Hall will be the group’s first performance at the fair.
During a phone interview, Meadows said the group views its music as a ministry and plays more in churches than on the concert circuit.  One of the things that accounts for Squire’s success in the gospel field and his longevity is that he has stayed true to his ministry.
The ministry is to the local church. Squire doesn’t travel the circuit. He felt his calling is to the local church and he has stayed true to that. In my opinion, that is why God has blessed him,’’ Meadows said.
The group plays four or five times a week, usually starting on Thursday night and ending with a couple of services on Sunday.  Meadows’s day job as assistant director of attendance in Cabell County sometimes limits his performances with Parsons but it allows him to follow his calling.
In colloquial terms his job is truant officer. “I feel like at this point in life that is what my calling is. It has enabled me to come in contact with a lot of people who need help,’’ he said.
Meadows taught elementary school before moving into the truancy position and taught piano lessons while he was in college. “That was to keep a car on the road,’’ he said.
While he makes a living in the education field, music has always been a part of Meadows’s life. “Growing up, he had to take a shower, brush his teeth and practice,’’ his mother said.
The daughter of a minister, Jeannette Wood learned piano early in life and continues to play. She also saw to it her children learned to play piano and Meadows and his sister also continue to play.
“Through being able to play I’ve been able to travel a good bit, met a lot of good people and watched God work in a lot of lives so I don’t regret a bit of it,’’ he said. In fact, Meadows wants to keep playing the piano as long as he can.
“I like the way he, (Squire), put it one time. He said by the time I get to glory it is all used up.’’ The trip to Tazewell County is one Meadows and the other members of the quartet are looking forward to.
“We just hope and pray it will be a blessing to folks,’’ he said. The show offers the audience a chance to hear southern gospel standards such as Sweet Beulah Land and selections songs from Parsons’ latest cd, “Having a good ole gospel time” which was recorded in Nashville about this time last year.