b. 8 September 1934, Crossville, Tennessee, USA. Parsons was a friend of country singer Bobby Bare. Prior to entering the US Army, Bare agreed to help Parsons, who was just leaving the service, make a record. Due to a mix-up at Fraternity Records, for which Bare recorded, the 1959 single titled ‘The All American Boy’, co-written by Parsons and Bare (using the name Orville Lunsford), was credited to Parsons, although it was Bare singing on the record. It rose to number 2 in the US pop charts as the real Bill Parsons stood on the sidelines watching. As Bare had not yet gained any attention within country music, the deception was continued for one other single, which did not chart. Bare then reverted to his true name and, beginning in 1962, launched a very successful country career. As for the real Bill Parsons, he retired from the music business after recording two unsuccessful singles for Starday Records in 1960.