Music has always been an integral part of who Alonia Parks is. A native of Atlanta, GA, she was born and raised in the Baptist church; Greater Bethany Baptist Church, to be exact, under the leadership of Rev. William Price King and Rev. Dr. Curtis L. Lester. She was a permanent fixture in the “choir stand” until she accepted her call into the ministry. In her later adult years, she served on the Praise and Worship teams at New Birth Urban and International Ministries under the leadership of Pastor Marvin Hill, Jr. and at Love Life Christian Fellowship Church under the leadership of Rev. Dr. Grace C. Washington.

 

In school, Alonia was always a standout in the chorus, talent shows, and pageants. Her musical mentors were Greta Glenn (Harper Elementary School), Dianne Mayfield (Bass High School), Dr. Roland Allison and Carolyn Brailsford (Spelman College).

 

When Alonia’s parents, Alonzo and Velma Parks, discovered their youngest child was vocally gifted, they enrolled her in the Callanwolde Fine Arts Center where she passed the audition to sing with the Young Singers of Callanwolde. The director, Stephen Ortlip, inquired of Mr. and Mrs. Parks, “Where did such a little girl get such a big voice?”

 

As Alonia got older, she continued to sing at weddings, family reunions, birthday celebrations, homegoing celebrations, and other grand affairs. Over the past 35 years, she has built a stellar career that has rightfully established her as “Dr. Alonia: The Prolific Voice”. As such, she has excelled in public relations and business in a number of capacities to include journalist, public speaker, educator, minister/pastor, and certified life coach. She is excited to combine her storytelling abilities with her gift of song and is willing to go wherever the music takes her.