Biography
Love songs, Ballads, Boogie and Blues. Mel blends the great traditional classic sounds of timeless favorites with a variety of his original songs for your enjoyment. The independent singer/songwriter entertains audiences with soft and stable to dynamic and sizzling sounds of satisfaction. If you like, Andy Williams, Ray Price Collin Raye, Jimmy Reed, Marty Robbins and Ray Charles, Chuck Willis, Isley Brothers or Elvis…you are sure to be pleased by Mel Parker, as he will remind you of many great artists with his songs. Mel’s natural talent is an integral part of his being and he is humbled and grateful for his gift. The versatile crooner makes the most of his vocal abilities on a wide range of genres from Pop, Rock, and Blues to Traditional Country and Standard Classics.
Mel was featured by one of the sponsor’s of the Grand Ole Opry in their 2007 Humana Active Outlook Magazine article “Turn Your Radio On the Grand Ole Opry is Playing”. The article opened with the lyrics Mel wrote for a song that will be on his next CD Ballads, Boogie & Blues… called the “Ole Music Circle”
“It’s that same music circle, where they sang… where they stood. Hear their songs… hear their voices as they echo though the years, like footsteps walking across the stages of our mind. Keep’er down to earth boys; its Grand Ole Opry Time”
Then, Now…Forever was Mel’s first CD in 1988, with his rendition of the cover song “Danny Boy” receiving an Honorable Mention-Top 10 % in The 1988 Music City Song Festival in two categories Musical/Theater Standards and Country.
Cutworm Special 18 Song Mega CD # 2 in 2004
(1) “Loveland VA, USA” was recommended and considered by the Virginia General Assembly for the State Song of Virginia. (2) “Lovebird” was a finalist in The Film & Music Report Contest. (3.) “Horny Blues” was in the finals for the International Blues Completion Artistlaunch.com/ Bluecompo10. The CD also had a remake of Mel’s first national release in 1979, “Valdosta Woman”, as well as “Let’s Go See Willie” a tribute to life’s resilience. The proceeds from all single digital downloads of “Let’s Go See Willie” will be donated to The Fibromuscular Dysplasia Society of America.
Everybody Knows-CD # 3 in 2006.
Music has allowed Mel to appear with some great music legends of our time such as Ernest Tubb, John Anderson and Don Reno and to sing for “The Chaser’s” and “The Duke’s” during the 60’s on the Virginia College Circuit and in local bars and honky tonks. Mel now performs concerts at fairs, festivals, clubs, high school and college reunions, and coporate functions. He backed by the digitally recorded tracks of nationally acclaimed musicians Dale Thompson, Buddy Charlton, K.E. Fitzgerald, Linwood Campbell, Gary Green, Robbie Wells & Jeff & Sue Duffield. Mel also performs with house bands and can furnish a professional band if necessary.
A very heartfelt debt of gratitude and special thanks to Dale Thompson, (littlebabeproductions.com), a lifetime music buddy and friend for providing musical instrumentation on all of Mel’s recordings. Stay tuned for Ballads, Boogie & Blues.
Visit and Listen at melparker.com, sonicbids.com/melparker, cdbaby.com/melparker
For Bookings Contact: melparker@melparker.com
Instrumentation
Mel performs live to his own studio tracks, featuring nationally acclaimed musicians as Dale Thompson & Joel Key on Guitars and strings (Steel,Electric, Acoustic, Bass, Fiddle), Gary Green & Mel Parker (harmonica), Linwood Campbell, Jeff Duffield ,Danny Hale and Stan Smith on Piano, Buddy Charlton (Steel Guitar), K.E. Fitzgerald-(Sax)Robbie Wells- (Fiddle), Jerry Yoder on drums, Background Singers inclue Sue and Jeff Duffield, Rachel Quagliariello, Mark Chevalier, Richard Hawkins,Marvin Johnson, Janet Rose Moore,Ashley Poole and Mel Parker.
Discography
Mel has produced three CD's today and the fourth is in production. 1988-Then, Now...Forever, 2004- Cutworm Special 18 Song Mega CD, 2006-Everybody Knows, 2009- Ballads, Boogie & Blues
Hear songs at melparker.com or Cdbaby.com/melparker and myspace.com/melparkercutworm
sonicbids.com/melparker
Valdosta Woman received considerable nationwide airplay released in 1979. videos of "Four Yellow Wheels" and "Rain" have been made and are being edited as of October 2009.
Links
| http://melparker.com |