$8.99
Sold by music on Tradebit
The world's largest download marketplace
3,251,083 satisfied buyers
The world's largest download marketplace
3,251,083 satisfied buyers
MP3 Parker James - Simply Parker
10 MP3 Songs
URBAN/R&B: R&B Pop Crossover, COUNTRY: Traditional Country
Details:
When Parker James was born, instead of hearing, "It''s a boy." It was, "It''s a musician", because he has a natural born musical talent. This is partly due to the long line of talented musicians on both sides of his family.
The rest of his natural talent comes from his absolute love of the art.
Parker was born Robert James Richardson on November 8, 1974 in the cotton industry town of Cottonport, LA known for it''s down-home, laid-back cotton transport industry. However, while Parker was raised and schooled here and had close family ties with his father, Edward Parker Richardson, Jr. and mother Ura Mae Moses, he knew in his heart that his destiny would make him something more than a cotton farmer.
His family knew this too. Parker comes from a long line of musically talented relatives. His paternal grandfather and grandmother played vaudeville and Broadway with Tex Ridder, the singing cowboy, and movie star, Ann Miller. Two maternal uncles and sisters'' Angela and Lee Ann played music together. His great grandfather, John Moses, (on his
Mothers side) could play anything by ear which is probably where Parker gets his talent from.
They held rehearsals at Parker''s house and Parker always loved to sit and listen to them. Since he was too young, his uncles would come home from the nightclubs and tell him stories about their gigs. These stories made Parker feel that soul and rhythm and blues was "real" music. It told of real emotions and expression. He also felt that there was no better life than to be a performer of this music and at age five he decided it was what he wanted to do with his life.
After much urging, he received his first musical instrument, a set of toy drums. He would get in his room for hours playing his drums and recording on his tiny tape recorder his imitations of his favorite singers. These tapes proved to be more than just a child''s fantasy because his family and many others realized that Parker had natural talent, rhythm and pitch. Especially helpful to Parker between the ages of 10 to 15 was his brother who helped him
with learning guitar and harmonizing. Parker remembers well playing and singing with him around campfires with friends
and around the house. He will always cherish these memories.
As he got older, he received many albums of famous soul and rhythm and blues'' singers such as the Roller Coasters, G G Shinn, Saturday Night Downtown, and the Boogie Kings. He would listen to them over and over but what made this different is that they were Eight Tracks and the only place he could listen to them was in his father''s company truck since it was the only place they had an Eight Track player. "It was like being in another world," says Parker; "just me and the music. I was a part of them." Parker knew then that without a doubt music was in his blood and he would not be happy unless he was a musician.
His need to be a part of the musical world started Parker down the performing path at age sixteen when he was a roady for his brother Edward 3rd''s band, "Creole Country." They were country, rhythm and blues, and Southern country rock. One night, his brother surprised him by asking him to sing on stage. He was ready! So ready that he had the words to T Graham Brown''s song, "Come as You Were" in his wallet waiting for the chance. He surprised both himself and his brother at how well he did. From then on, he was part of the band. He provided the rhythm and blues of the country, rock band and they backed up several greats as Percy Sledge, Clarence Carter, and Ace Cannon.
One night while not performing, The Boogie Kings were in town to perform. They needed someone to run lights so the club owner knew that Parker was capable of this and available and asked him to help out. Eagerly, Parker said yes since he idolized The Boogie Kings. It was a chance to hear them live for the first time and when he did, it was more magnificent than he expected. The combination of the horns, repertoire, and soul made Parker feel that this was the "real stuff" and that he had never really heard music before. He was now on a mission to become a part of such a great band.
The Boogie Kings performed in town again and Parker assisted with their stage set up. He managed to work up the nerve to talk to Ned Theall, the leader about listening to a demo tape and was surprised he said yes. Not expecting him to say yes, Parker was unprepared so he hurriedly made one and sent to him. A couple of weeks later Ned called and let him down easy by saying basically "keep trying."
Then Labor Day weekend, The Boogie Kings were in Lafayette to perform. Parker got there early, before the band actually, and met them backstage. After talking with them some, they realized Parker was determined and they offered him a chance to come up on stage during the last set to sing a couple of songs. This time Parker was ready! No one expected much out of this eighteen year old but when he got up there and sang "Harlem Shuffle" and "When a Man Loves a Woman", everyone including The Boogie Kings were shocked at how powerful and professional he sounded. It was the beginning of his dream come true; he was made a member of The Boogie Kings.
Parker''s musical career took off. He still plays with The Boogie Kings occasionally, but has embarked on a solo career. He married in 1997 to Melissa Bordelon who fully supports his musical career so much so that when Parker thought of quitting and settling down since the traveling was keeping him from his young bride, she realized before Parker that he could not be happy unless he was performing. Therefore, it was she that encouraged him to return to what he did best and loved the most, music.
Now, Parker has signed with independent record label, Ralph Records of New Orleans. He has recorded his first solo album, "Simply Parker" that is available in stores and on the web for download at https://www.tradebit.com. It would have been the music worlds loss if Parker would not have returned because no other rhythm and blues artist music has as much character as Parker''s.
Some of his many influences he gives credit to for his sound are G G Shinn, Jerry Lacroix, Bert Miller, and Dwayne Yates. Parker says, "I love G G''s control and soulful ness, Dwayne and Jerry''s pain and emotion in their voices, and Bert''s clean, crisp power." These are the sounds that became embedded in Parker all those years of listening to them in his father''s truck. Even he did not realize this until he got on stage and let all the natural emotions and feelings come out.
When asked how he describes his sound, he sums it up in one word, "class." "Soul and rhythm and blues is emotion, he says. "It is not a color, it is a feel, an emotion and when done right, it brings out various real emotions in people." Parker says he tries to sing with as much class for the women and soul for the men so that his music brings out the sensuality of both. In doing so, they can feel their soul too. This sound comes out strong in "Simply Parker."
Perhaps it''s the fact that he was born a musician, had many great musical influences in his life, or that he has a natural music talent born of his love of music. One way or another, listening to Parker''s music makes anyone come back for more. His music is like therapy for the soul.
File Data