Brian “Capa” Young, a local Christian hip hop artist, has written and recorded a song he’s dedicated to missing teen Erica Lynn Parsons.
Young, a Salisbury native, wrote the song this week after hearing continued talk of Parsons’ disappearance. Erica, 15, has been missing since November 2011, but was just reported missing by her brother, Jamie, in July. Her adoptive parents, Sandy and Casey Parsons, have said they believe Erica is with her biological grandmother, Irene Goodman, in Asheville.
Just this week, the couple’s attorney, Carlyle Sherrill, said the Parsonses now believe they were duped into believing Goodman was Erica’s paternal grandmother. He said the couple came to know Goodman through Erica’s biological mother, Carolyn Parsons.
Young, who now lives in Lexington, released the song online in the hopes that it would shed more light on Erica’s story.
The song was posted to Youtube on Wednesday and as of Friday night had more than 370 views. The video features pictures including the age-progression photo that shows what Erica might look like at 15. Other photos include ones Young took during the two candlelight vigils he attended.
The song, which is just under five minutes, begins with an instrumental as words are shown recounting the story of the teen’s disappearance.
“Let your voice be heard, spread it all across America. God give us clues and just help us find Erica,” Young sings.
Young has been in the music industry for 20 years and has opened for many hip hop artists, including Gucci Mane, Lil Boosie and Plies. After beginning in the music industry as a secular rap artist, Young is now performing as a Christian hip hop artist.
“I always try to find things that have a cause. It just caught my eye,” Young said of the Erica Parsons story.
He wrote, recorded and posted the song to Youtube in the same day.
Young said the words just came after reading and hearing about the story. He also attended both candlelight vigils — at the Parsons home and the Rowan County courthouse.
Young said he does hope Erica is alive, but said if she is not alive then he believes she’s in the hands of God.
Young said he was bothered by the story and the fact that Sandy and Casey Parsons didn’t report Erica missing. The couple have said they never felt Erica was missing.
Young has two children, a 10-year-old son and a daughter, 18. He said he couldn’t imagine not reporting them, if they were missing.
“My main goal is to spread it because if they see it that kind of gives people an idea of what’s going on and the song kind of speaks for itself,” he said.
Young hopes to have an opportunity to share the song with others at future events held in Erica’s honor.
Crystal Pope, a local woman who co-organized a candlelight vigil last month outside the Parsonses’ Miller Chapel Road home, is in the process of planning another vigil.
Pope said she in in the early stages of planning and has not determined a day and time.
For more information about Brian Young, visit www.soundclick.com/capa and to see his song, visit his Youtube page at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CiK1IrW8cL4
Contact reporter Shavonne Potts at 704-797-4253. Twitter: www.twitter.com/salpostpotts

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