Brooks Parker

Hello everyone! It’s that time again when we sit down with a local artist and find out those need to know questions. This month, we got an amazing opportunity to interview up and coming local musician, Brooks Parker. 

So Brooks, how did you get your start in music?

 I began playing piano at age 4. Most of my musicmaking during my childhood took place in church and the typical school talent shows. As I got older, I started playing background music for hours at parties and other events, which birthed my interest in improvisational playing and songwriting. Although throughout high school I was writing, playing, and singing, I would say that my move to Nashville, Tennessee in 2005 was the real beginning of my music “career.”

 That’s great! So who got you interested in this? Who are your biggest influences?

 My biggest influences?……Being a piano man who likes to play and sing his own songs, I have obviously been heavily influenced and affected by the work of Billy Joel, Elton John, and even Phil Vassar (who is known in Nashville as “the piano man in a guitar town.”) In more recent years, through my close friendship and time spent with Amy Grant and Vince Gill, my songwriting and interpretation has been greatly impacted by their work and example. They are two of the most brilliant songwriters in the world and I am lucky to have them as mentors. 

 I bet that has been an amazing experience. What’s been your most memorable so far?

 I have been fortunate to have had lots of amazing experiences making music both in West Virginia and in Tennessee. From singing the national anthem at Pittsburgh Pirates baseball games, to playing piano and singing on tour with Amy Grant, to singing background vocals in concert with Michael W. Smith, I have been blessed with many opportunities to do what I love with many incredible musicians. My most memorable experience, however, was one that is far less glamorous than those. The Bridge Ministry is a mission group in Nashville that gathers the city’s homeless (sometimes over 1,000 people) for a meal and worship time ever single Tuesday night, rain or shine, under a bridge in downtown Nashville. Amy Grant was asked to lead that worship time once last fall, and she took me with her to play keyboards and sing. Seeing the way that our music was helping God to move into the hearts of these people, and watching them come forward to commit their lives to Christ was one of the most moving and unforgettable experiences of my life. I have seen my music move people in many settings, but in that most unlikely place I saw and felt my music be moved by those people. It was a sensation that I had never experienced before, but from that day on will strive to create with every note I play or sing. 

 So what does the future hold for Brooks Parker?

 The future for me?…..Currently, two of my best friends and I are developing a trio. We are writing, and singing our songs with full harmonies – which is my favorite thing to do. We are involved with a production and publishing company in Nashville and in the process of cutting our first EP. We hope to start work on our album mid-summer and begin touring in the fall. In the meantime, I stay busy writing both country and contemporary Christian music, singing background vocals and playing keyboards for other artists, and spend a good deal of time doing music for my church. These are things that I will always do, regardless of what happens with my solo career.

 If you got to decide, what would your dream gig be?

 My dream gig is to be part of a country group, involved both in the writing and in the performing. I also would love to be a part of the production process as well. 

 Any music for sale?

 Music for sale?…..nothing at the moment. updates to come.

 We’d like to thank Brooks for taking the time to sit down with us and give us all a glimpse into his world. Be sure to check out Brooks on Myspace and encourage this local artist on his way to the top!

 We will definately keep everyone updated with one of our favorite artists, and have links to any albums or EPs in the near future. For now though, check out these tracks and videos!