Mike Parrish’s February 2010 Hossey Award Picks
I’m Mike and These Are My February Picks
(You can read even more about these songs on the site I created just for this contest.) My daughter Krystal is helping me with the show this month, too.
April Hall – Give Me One More Chance
I came across April Hall after sending out a MySpace Bulletin to inform interested bands that I was to be a guest DJ on HosstheBoss.com and my email box immediately filled up with singers and songwriters looking to get on the show. April was one of the first to respond and I am SO glad she did. This little lady hails from the Austin, Texas area and her voice is as smooth as silk. This is completely laid-back easy-going country music.
I haven’t had the opportunity to check out one of April’s shows but you can bet I’ll be taking advantage of that opportunity just as soon as it presents itself. She’s a great singer and songwriter who takes a lot of pride in her music which obviously comes from somewhere deep inside.
I’m very happy to be able to present April to anyone who hasn’t had the pleasure of hearing her yet. She’s gonna do great things and we’re all gonna get to watch it happen.
April says, “Those who hear me say I am a great mix of everything that brings me to who I am . I love to draw from a variety of styles often being compared to Patsy Cline, Trisha Yearwood, Sara Evans. Leanne Womack, Bonnie Raitt and Rhonda Vincent. But I always stay true to my own sense of style which is portrayed in the songs that I write.”
Here’s April’s website: www.aprilhallmusic.com/
Buddy Hodges & His Next of Kin Band – Hello I’m Johnny Cash
I met Buddy Hodges on MySpace a couple years back and, although we’ve never met we both swear we’re gonna catch each others show someday soon. Buddy is no slouch when it comes to entertainment so I couldn’t pass up the chance to bring him on HosstheBoss.com!
Other than being a gifted singer / songwriter Buddy Hodges and I share some common ground. As your looking through his MySpace pics you’ll come across a few older photos where you’ll see him wearing the uniform of a Texas Peace Officer. Now I’m sure there are other entertainers out there who were at one time police officers but Buddy is the first that I’ve had the pleasure of running into.
I chose his song, “Hello, I’m Johnny Cash” because it’s upbeat, it’s performed very well and is absolutely entertaining.
I’ve really enjoyed my online friendship with Buddy Hodges and look forward to finally meeting him in person one day. Here’s a traditional country artist doing a great job at keepin’ it country!
Buddy’s MySpace: www.myspace.com/buddyhodges
Buddy Vargas – You’re Killin’ Me
Discovering new music is what HosstheBoss.com is all about so I took it upon myself to find a couple bands I never heard before. That’s how I discovered Buddy Vargas. Buddy has a band called “La Calma” and they hail from New Braunfels, Texas. When I heard Buddy singing I could hear “Texas” all over the music and the vocals. Buddy has a really smooth voice and delivers an awesome country sound. This tune, “You’re Killin’ Me,” was recorded in Buddy’s home studio and I can certainly relate to that because that’s exactly how my first album was recorded. Hope you guys enjoy Buddy Vargas and La Calma as much as I have.
Check out Buddy’s MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/buddyvargas.
Cal Riley & Steel Country – East Texas Night
I don’t know this band but I do know Cal Riley’s mom, Sheryl. In fact, I attended elementary and part of junior high school with her in Liberty County. When she learned that I was going to be a Guest DJ on HosstheBoss.com she asked me to listen to one of her son’s tunes and I was really impressed. “East Texas Nights” was one of Sheryl’s favorites so I felt obliged to include the song in the show. Cal has a lot of talent and, at his young age, it looks as though he’ll have a very promising career in the music industry. His dad, Johnny, plays lead guitar with their band Steel Country and also manages the band. Looks like they’re staying busy too with bookings as far away as August listed on their show calendar.
Check out Cal’s website: www.calriley.pcriot.com
Jesse Bryant – Honky Tonkin’ In My Veins
Jesse Bryant was another one of the entertainers who answered my MySpace bulletin and I think it was his outlaw style that caught my eye, and ears.
Jesse’s latest tune is called “Honky Tonkin’ in My Veins” and this outlaw country style brings to mind some of the great bad boys of country music such as David Allan Coe, Hank Williams Jr., Merle Haggard and Johnny Cash who are admittedly a few of Bryant’s greatest influences.
This tune is a really upbeat ditty with awesome instrumentation by all the players.
Here’s Jesse’s website: www.jessebryant.com/
Matt Harlan – Over the Bridge
I first heard Matt Harlan’s CD “Tips & Compliments” in the Fall of 2009. My buddy Sammy Hundley had Matt’s CD in his car stereo and told me he’d recently done a couple solo acoustic shows and Matt sat in with him for a couple tunes. So when I was invited to be a guest DJ on HosstheBoss.com I knew this would be the perfect venue to introduce this melodic storyteller to a few new fans.
The entire CD is completely awesome and Matt paints a vivid picture with every single track. While I somehow keep missing Matt’s shows, even though we are apparently running in the same circles, I fully intend to make it a point to see him play his guitar and spin these tales.
“Over the Bridge” seems to me to be an escape from Hurricane Katrina and a trip back to Houston – if I’m wrong I’m sure Matt will set me straight soon 
). A great beat interwined with an awesome melody and completely original lyrics written and performed in a manner that could only be done so perfectly by Matt Harlan.
Here’s Matt’s Website: www.mattharlan.com
Mike Parrish – Black Gold
After realizing what a BIG JOB being a Guest DJ really is I also realized that I was short one band by the day before the show! I really didn’t intend to introduce one of my own tunes on this months show but, when some of the bands I had spoken to hadn’t gotten back to me with their music I thought this might be a really cool opportunity to introduce a brand new tune entitled “Black Gold.”
This song was written in the Summer of 2009 and we finally got around to recording it this past December. The song is really about beating the odds and not falling victim to a predetermined destiny based on circumstances. Many of my grandfathers, uncles, cousins, in-laws & friends worked in the oilfields of Southeast Texas, the Southern U.S. and Offshore but my dad was bound and determined that I wouldn’t follow suit and he stressed education. He’d rather have me hit the books than slide beneath an old car or hop on a tractor. I don’t know if he’d have been too happy knowing that I spent 20 years in law enforcement either. Nothing at all against those who work in the oilfields because I know firsthand that the people that make their living there are some of the hardest workers in the world and they pay their bills through one of the world’s most dangerous jobs. My dad passed away when I was 16 so, in a way, this tune is a tribute of sorts to him and all parents wanting a better life for their children.
Sammy Hundley – Never Letting Go
I simply can’t say enough about my lifelong friend and music partner Sammy Hundley. He’s the guy you hear laying down those cool guitars in songs like “Blue Jean Baby” and “Black Gold.” There was no way I could be a guest DJ on HosstheBoss.com and leave Sammy out of the mix. Sammy is a very gifted singer / songwriter and one of the best musicians I’ve ever had the pleasure of hearing. It goes without saying that my “Texas in the Man” album may have never come to fruition if it weren’t for Sammy’s efforts to help an old friend’s dream come true.
Sammy is the Hundley part of the Parrish-Hundley Duo and we have had a lot of fun playing all over the greater Houston area and also in Louisiana. We’re planning to stretch our legs a bit in the very near future during a short U.S. tour with, hopefully, a European tour to follow.
I chose this song because it won him the 2008 International Fame Games Radio Effigy Award for Best Acoustic Artist but mostly because the song, the performance, the acoustic guitar are all simply awesome. I usually urge him to do this song every time we play together. I hope you all enjoy this acoustic tune as much as I do.
Here’s Sammy’s MySpace Page: www.myspace.com/sammyhundley.
The Kat Moore Band – You’re The Reason
HosstheBoss.com listeners are no stranger to the awesome sounds of the Kat Moore Band. I first discovered Kat about a year ago on MySpace and we later became friends on FaceBook. Oddly enough, when Kat was a guest DJ on this show last month she was considering one of my tunes for that show. Since we were just coming out of the Song of the Year Finals I thanked her for considering me and told her that I was to be a guest DJ in February. Kat explained that she had a brand new release coming out in February and I asked her to allow me to introduce it on HosstheBoss.com, she wholeheartedly accepted the offer and therefore I’m honored to debut “You’re the Reason” by the Kat Moore Band. It’s really an awesome tune and I’m sure everyone will love this newest Kat Moore release. I plan to keep following this band because I know they’re destined for a lot of great things in the near future.
Here’s Kat’s website: www.thekatmooreband.com.
About Me:
I’m a U.S. Army veteran and I’ve been a police officer for about 20 years, in fact, at the moment, I am still a Texas Peace Officer working as a police chief in a small Texas city while continuing to pursue a career in music. I’ve worked as a patrolman, deputy sheriff, patrol sergeant, field training officer, assistant chief of police, district attorney investigator, undercover narcotics investigator, interim police chief on two occasions, police chief on three occasions and elected constable once.
My grandpa and my dad got me my first guitar for my 6th birthday and I’ve been writing songs and music since I was about 9. My younger sisters (twins – Marsha and Monica) would often sing during church services at very young ages which included original compositions and arrangements.
I released my first album in 2007, entitled “Texas in the Man,” with lifelong friend and music partner Sammy Hundley. Since the album’s release I’ve been awarded the 2007 International Fame Games Radio Effigy Award for Most Popular Artist and the 2008 International Fame Games Radio Effigy Award for Best Blues Rock Artist. I’ve been busy performing acoustic duo and full band shows under the moniker of PARRISH-HUNDLEY all over the greater Houston area in Texas with a few shows in north Louisiana. I’ve been fortunate to have made the European Country Music Association National Top 40 Charts a total of 24 times in 10 countries with the first 8 singles from “Texas in the Man” (a 15 track album) and have been notified that I’m eligible for 4 awards from the Texas Music Association in 2010. These awards are Entertainer of the Year, Record of the Year, Singer / Songwriter of the Year and Live Band of the Year.
I’ve completed the first 3 tracks for my next album which may actually turn out to be a Parrish-Hundley Project instead of a Mike Parrish solo album and I hope to release that record within the next few months. The first track, entitled “Back to You,” may actually be close to making the European Country Music Association National Top 40 Charts but only time will tell.
Most recently, Sammy and I have teamed up with Billy Sanford (keyboards) and Kenny Scarborough (guitar) while preparing the first tour of 2010. We have many prospects to fill the positions of bass guitar and drums and should be announcing those names soon. We’re looking forward to performing lots of shows all over the U.S. while hoping to piece together a European tour as well.
Krystal’s Bio:
From the age of three, I have been singing throughout the churches of Southeast Texas. I recall doing my first solo, singing “Away in a Manger.” Everyone said I did a great job for a three-year-old considering my hymnal was upside down and I couldn’t read (not to mention the fact that it was July).
I sang background vocals on two of my dad, Mike Parrish’s, songs. “End of Forever” is a pilot track that my dad (Mike Parrish) recorded at a beach cabin in Crystal Beach, Texas on my 18th birthday. Sammy Hundley and I performed the background vocals together on “End of Forever”. “Angel Fly” is also one of my dad’s tunes which was released on the “Texas in the Man” album. I accompanied Desiree’ Singleton, Sammy Hundley and my dad, Mike Parrish, on background vocals.
I have always enjoyed music and look forward to many years of performing traditional gospel and contemporary country music. I am also currently getting ready to record my own album in the near future.
I am now the founder and leader of “Save Their Hearts,” a non-profit organization dedicated to spreading awareness for Congenital Heart Disease/Defects as well as raising funds for research. I love spending all my time with my son, Kendryck, who is a CHD survivor.
Also, I enjoy writing. I am currently in the midst of writing a book, “Save His Heart,” to help other parents going through the trials of CHD.
