David L. Parmley (born February 1, 1959) is a bluegrass vocalist, guitarist, and award-winning bandleader. He is best known for being a co-founder of both the Bluegrass Cardinals and Continental Divide.

Biography

Parmley was born in

White House, Tennessee White House is a city in Robertson and Sumner counties in the United States state of Tennessee. The population was listed as 12,982 in the 2020 census. It is approximately twenty-two miles north of downtown Nashville. History Settlers The area ...

, but grew up in

Los Angeles, California Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...

. His father Don Parmley was an esteemed bluegrass banjoist.

Bluegrass Cardinals

In 1974, Parmley began playing bluegrass professionally at age 17, singing lead vocals and playing guitar with his father Don and mandolinist Randy Graham in the Bluegrass Cardinals. In 1991, Parmley left the Bluegrass Cardinals and moved to Nashville to pursue a solo career in country music.

Continental Divide

In 1994, Parmley formed David Parmley, Scott Vestal and Continental Divide with

Scott Vestal Scott Vestal is an American banjoist, songwriter and luthier, known for his innovative approach to playing and designing the banjo. Biography Early years The older of two children, Scott Vestal was raised in Duncan, Oklahoma in a musical fami ...

(banjo),

Rickie Simpkins Rickie Hal Simpkins is an American fiddler and mandolinist in the bluegrass tradition. He is best known for his solo albums and his work with the Lonesome River Band and the Seldom Scene. Biography Early years Simpkins was raised in Christ ...

(fiddle), Jimmy Bowen (mandolin), Mike Anglin (bass), and

Randy Kohrs Randy Alan Kohrs is an American multi-instrumentalist best known for his resonator guitar prowess, but he plays 13 musical instruments. He is a Grammy-winning producer and recording engineer. Biography Early years Kohrs was born in Osceola, Iowa ...

(resonator guitar). In 1995, they released David Parmley, Scott Vestal & Continental Divide album (Pinecastle). Also in 1995, Continental Divide won the IBMA award for Emerging Artist of the Year. 1996, Continental Divide released the ''On the Divide'' album for

Pinecastle Records Pinecastle Records is a record label based in Piedmont, South Carolina specializing in supporting and developing bluegrass music artists. History Tom Riggs started the Pinecastle Records in 1989 as an outlet for bluegrass pioneer Bill Harrell who ...

. Personnel included Parmley, Anglin, Vestal, Bowen,

Aubrey Haynie Aubrey E. Haynie (born March 27, 1974) is an American bluegrass musician who plays the fiddle and mandolin. In his career, he has recorded three studio albums for the Sugar Hill Records label, all three of which contained mostly songs that he w ...

(mandolin, fiddle), and Larry Atamanuik (percussion). In 1998, Vestal departed the band. The band name was changed to Continental Divide, and then David Parmley and Continental Divide. In 2001, Continental Divide released ''What We Leave Behind'' and in 2002, they released ''Pathway of Time'' with Parmley, Anglin, Ben Greene (banjo), Danny Barnes (mandolin, vocals), and Steve Day (fiddle, vocals). Giest artists included

Jim Hurst James Edward “Jim” Hurst is an American bluegrass and country guitarist. He is known primarily as an instrumentalist but has also been credited for vocals with numerous other artists as well as his solo career. Hurst has performed with mus ...

(guitar) and Glen Duncan (fiddle). The ''Long Time Coming'' album was released in 2005. The lineup included Randy Graham (mandolin), Dale Perry (banjo), Barry Berrier (bass), and Steve Day (fiddle). In 2007, they released “Church House Hymns” album, and in 2008, the ''3 Silver Dollars'' album with the title track composed by Tom T. and Dixie Hall. The band included Parmley, Perry (banjo, vocals), Ron Spears (mandolin, vocals),

Ron Stewart Ronald George Stewart (July 11, 1932 – March 17, 2012) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player in the National Hockey League (NHL) from 1952 to 1973, as well as a coach. He spent the first half of his career with the Toronto Maple Leafs, ...

(fiddle), and Kyle Perkins (bass).

Rhonda Vincent Rhonda Lea Vincent (born July 13, 1962) is an American Bluegrass music, bluegrass singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. Vincent's music career began when she was a child in her family's band The Sally Mountain Show, and it has spanne ...

provided harmony vocals on "Meadow On The Mountain." In 2008, Parmley took a hiatus from performing because of health problems, but in 2010, he returned to performing with Continental Divide, releasing the album ''There'll Always Be A Rocking Chair.'' Only Parmley and Anglin remained from the original lineup. Burchett Jr. (banjo), Danny Barnes (mandolin), Steve Day (fiddle), and Glen Duncan (fiddle). Then in 2012, Parmley retired from music, driving and maintaining tour buses for music artists, such as

Rascal Flatts Rascal Flatts is an American Country music, country music band formed in 1999 in Nashville, Tennessee. The band consists of Gary LeVox (lead vocals), Jay DeMarcus (bass guitar, background vocals), and Joe Don Rooney (lead guitar, background voc ...

Cardinal Tradition

Parmley resumed performing and touring in 2015 with his new band Cardinal Tradition. Besides David on guitar, the band includes Ron Spears, (mandolin), Steve Day (fiddle), Dale Perry (banjo), and John Marquess (bass).

Other projects

In 1989, Parmley released his first solo project ''I Know a Good Thing'' on Sugar Hill Records and in 1993, he released ''Southern Heritage'' on

Rebel Records Rebel Records is an independent American record label based in Charlottesville, Virginia that specializes in bluegrass and old time music. The label was founded in Mount Rainier, Maryland in 1959 by Dick Freeland, Bill Carroll and Sonny Compto ...

. After Don and David Parmley left the Bluegrass Cardinals in 1991, they recorded the album ''Parmley and McCoury: Families of Tradition'' with

Del McCoury Delano Floyd McCoury (born February 1, 1939) is an American bluegrass musician. As leader of the Del McCoury Band, he plays guitar and sings lead vocals along with his two sons, Ronnie McCoury and Rob McCoury, who play mandolin and banjo resp ...

(and his sons Ron and Robbie). In 2002, Parmley,

Larry Stephenson Larry Lee Stephenson is an American singer-songwriter. He sings, plays mandolin, and writes songs in the Bluegrass music, bluegrass tradition. Biography Early years Stephenson learned how to play the mandolin as a young boy. At age 13, he rec ...

Missy Raines Missy Raines (born April 6, 1962) is an American bassist, singer, teacher, and songwriter. She has won 10 International Bluegrass Music Awards for Bass Player of the Year. Missy Raines was the first woman to win IBMA Bass Player of the Year aw ...

, Jason Carter, and Charlie Cushman formed a part-time band called White House (all members of this band from White House, Tennessee).

Awards

Parmley won the

International Bluegrass Music Association The International Bluegrass Music Association, or IBMA, is a trade association to promote bluegrass music. Formed in 1985, IBMA established its first headquarters in Owensboro, Kentucky. In 1988 they announced plans to create the International ...

Recorded Event of the Year award in 1991 and 1995.

Discography

Solo recordings

* 1989: ''I Know A Good Thing'' ( Sugar Hill) * 1993: ''Southern Heritage'' (

Rebel A rebel is a participant in a rebellion. Rebel or rebels may also refer to: People * Rebel (given name) * Rebel (surname) * Patriot (American Revolution), during the American Revolution * American Southerners, as a form of self-identification; ...

)

The Bluegrass Cardinals

* 1976: ''The Bluegrass Cardinals'' (Sierra Briar) * 1977: ''Welcome to Virginia'' ( Rounder) * 1978: ''Livin' in the Good Old Days'' ( CMH) * 1979: ''Cardinal Soul'' (CMH) * 1980: ''Sunday Mornin' Singin (CMH) * 1980: Live' & On Stage! With Special Guests'' (CMH) * 1981: ''Where Rainbows Touch Down'' (CMH) * 1981: ''On Stage in Nashville'' (BGC) * 1983: ''Cardinal Class'' (Sugar Hill) * 1984: ''Home is Where the Heart Is'' (Sugar Hill) * 1986: ''The Shining Path'' (Sugar Hill) * 1990: ''New and Old Favorites'' (BGC)

Parmley and McCoury

* 1991: ''Parmley & McCoury: Families of Tradition'' (BGC)

David Parmley, Scott Vestal, and Continental Divide

* 1995: ''David Parmley, Scott Vestal and Continental Divide'' (Pinecastle) * 1996: ''On the Divide'' ( Pinecastle) * 1998: ''Feel Good Day'' (Pinecastle)

White House

* 2003: ''White House'' (Pinecastle)

David Parmley and Continental Divide

* 2000: ''There'll Always Be A Rocking Chair'' (Pinecastle) * 2002: ''Pathway of Time'' (Pinecastle) * 2005: ''Long Time Coming'' (CMH) * 2008: ''Church House Hymns (Volume I)'' (Pinecastle) * 2010: ''3 Silver Dollars'' (Pinecastle) * 2012: ''Church House Hymns (Volume II)'' (Pinecastle)

David Parmley and the Cardinal Tradition

* 2016: ''David Parmley and the Cardinal Tradition'' (self-released)

As composer

* 2015: Flatt Lonesome - ''Runaway Train'' ( Mountain Home) - track 5, "Don't Come Running" (co-written with Don Parmley)

As producer

* 1996: New Vintage - ''Sands of Time'' (Pinecastle)

Also appears on

* 1978: Fred Geiger - ''Fred Geiger'' ( Ridge Runner) * 1982:

Jerry Douglas Gerald Calvin Douglas (born May 28, 1956) is an American Dobro and lap steel guitar player and record producer. He is widely regarded as "perhaps the finest Dobro player in contemporary acoustic music, and certainly the most celebrated and prol ...

- ''Fluxedo'' (Rounder) * 1982:

Claire Lynch Claire Lynch (born February 20, 1954) is an American bluegrass musician, singer, songwriter, and producer. She is a three-time winner of the International Bluegrass Music Association's Female Vocalist of the Year honors. She is considered one of ...

- ''Breakin' It'' (Ambush) * 1982:

- ''Sweet Sunny South'' (Outlet) * 1988: Larry Stephenson - ''Everytime I Sing a Love Song'' ( Webco) * 1991:

- ''New Dreams and Sunshine'' (Rebel) * 2000:

Béla Fleck Béla Anton Leoš Fleck (born July 10, 1958) is an American banjo player. An acclaimed virtuoso, he is an innovative and technically proficient pioneer and ambassador of the banjo, playing music from bluegrass, jazz, classical, rock and various ...

- ''

Natural Bridge A natural arch, natural bridge, or (less commonly) rock arch is a natural landform where an arch has formed with an opening underneath. Natural arches commonly form where inland cliffs, coastal cliffs, fins or stacks are subject to erosion fro ...

'' (Rounder) * 2003: Larry Stephenson Band - ''Clinch Mountain Mystery'' (Pinecastle)

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Parmley, David 1959 births Living people American acoustic guitarists American male guitarists American bluegrass musicians American bluegrass guitarists American country singer-songwriters American country guitarists 20th-century American singer-songwriters 20th-century American musicians 21st-century American musicians 20th-century American guitarists Country musicians from Tennessee 20th-century American male musicians 21st-century American male musicians American male singer-songwriters Singer-songwriters from Tennessee