Vinx

Vinx De'Jon Parrette (born 15 December 1957), known professionally as Vinx, is a percussionist, singer, songwriter, and former athlete.

Biography

Early life and career

Vinx attended Kansas State University on a track scholarship. In 1977, he was severely burnt when a racist arson attack destroyed his house and the home of a neighbor. He overcame his injuries and three years later made the world’s second longest leap in the triple jump. This qualified Vinx for the 1980 Moscow Olympics. When President Jimmy Carter called for an Olympic boycott that year, Vinx’s athletic goals were put on hold.

A radio DJ in college, Vinx also performed with the Kansas State Jazz Band. In 1978, blues singer Taj Mahal invited Vinx to perform with him at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland. When Vinx’s Olympic dream was deferred, he turned his back on track, but after two years returned as an assistant coach for the women’s track team at the University of Texas at Austin. In Texas, Vinx rediscovered his Olympic ambitions and began working toward the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. After an injury at the trials took him out of the running for the ’84 Olympics, Vinx stayed in Los Angeles and began working as a fitness trainer for the rich and famous. His clients included Stevie Wonder, George Hamilton and Marisa Tomei.

Musical success

In 1987, Vinx landed his first recording session with saxophonist Ernie Watts on his Grammy awarded ''Musician'' project. Following singer Tom Jones’ recording of Vinx’s ballad "Touch My Heart," Vinx toured extensively with the likes of Rickie Lee Jones, The BusBoys, Teena Marie, Toni Childs and Robben Ford. His commercial agency work included appearances in both Sprite and Levi's 501 Blues ads.

In 1989, Vinx’s father, Leslie Jackson Parrette Sr. (Vinx’s greatest musical influence) was mugged and murdered during a family vacation in Detroit.

Vinx left the United States for Europe with his all-drum band. Vinx and the Barkin’ Feet played to capacity audiences at the Montreux Jazz Festival, performing after Miles Davis and before Wayne Shorter. Back in the states, keyboardist Herbie Hancock invited Vinx to perform on his Showtime Coast to Coast TV Special, where Vinx played with Bonnie Raitt, Bruce Hornsby, Lou Reed, B.B. King, Herbie Hancock, Kenny G and Woody Harrelson.

In 1990, Sting and Miles Copeland signed Vinx to Pangaea/I.R.S. Records. Following Vinx’s performance on Sting’s '' Soul Cages'' CD, Vinx recorded his first release (''Rooms in My Fatha's House'') for Pangaea. The album featured guest performances from Sheryl Crow, Sting, Herbie Hancock, Taj Mahal, Branford Marsalis, Roscoe Lee Browne and Mother’s Finest. Vinx toured for 13 months with Sting’s "Soul Cages" tour as the solo opening act and the percussionist/background vocalist. The tour ended with a Carnegie Hall taping of MTV Unplugged with Sting. Vinx’s "While The City Sleeps" was used in the opening dance sequence of the prime time TV show '' In Living Color''.

In 1992, Vinx moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico and released his 2nd CD titled ''I Love My Job''. The album featured Zap Mama, Patrice Rushen and Dan Kuramato. Vinx toured the world jazz festival circuit with great response and returned to the States for an appearance on the ''Arsenio Hall Show'' and ''The Tonight Show'' with old friend Branford Marsalis. Vinx’s song "There I Go Again" was chosen for the highest rated episode of the hit TV series ''Northern Exposure''. The network received so many calls about the song that it was chosen for an album release of Northern Exposure’s most requested music. In 1993, Vinx released his 3rd CD, ''The Storyteller'', which featured Stevie Wonder, George Howard, Cassandra Wilson and Omar. Vinx toured the world and recorded on Cassandra Wilson’s award-winning CD ''Blue Light Til Dawn''.

In 1994, Vinx moved to Boston and started the year with the Stewart Copeland and the Rhythmatists tour. The summer brought Vinx out for a three-month tour with the Spin Doctors, Cracker and the Gin Blossoms, an appearance on the Bertice Berry Show, and performances and CO-MC work for all three days of Woodstock’ 94. In 1994, 1995 and 1996, Vinx was invited by Miles Copeland to his 12th Century French castle for a writer’s retreat. Vinx co-wrote at the castle with such notables as Brenda Russell, Cher, Michelle Shocked, Jil Sobule and Patty Smyth. 1995 brought Vinx to Africa for a five-week tour of nine countries in West and Central Africa. Vinx and his drum trio were cultural attaches for the U.S. State Department. On his return, Vinx recorded on Stevie Wonder’s Conversation Peace CD.

In 1996, Vinx was inducted into the Kansas State University Athletic Hall of Fame. Vinx released his 4th CD titled Lips Stretched Out. Vinx-the-painter got a rep and held his first gallery showing of his paintings. Vinx headed to Atlanta for his performance at the 1996 Olympiad.

Vinx created an innovative Euro dance project called Jungle Funk which featured ex-Living Colour rhythm section musicians Will Calhoun and Doug Wimbish. 1997 - 1999 brought Vinx and Jungle Funk to over 150 shows throughout Europe and Australia with the release of Jungle Funk’s first limited edition disc; highlighting the early days of the band. Vinx returned to the U.S. for work with the Baltimore-based dance guru’s "The Basement Boys" and some recording on Crystal Waters’ track "Mama Told Me." In 1998, Jungle Funk got signed to the German label, ESC Records (Zebra/Warner Brothers in the U.S.) with a new release, recorded live in Austria. Vinx received a grant from AT&T to work with Washington D.C.’s famed Eastern High School Choir.

Later career

In 1999, Vinx traveled to Berlin to record an album with Traumton Records titled Big ‘n’ Round. Vinx relocated back to Los Angeles to co-write with Brenda Russell, Stewart Copeland, and Darius Rucker. Vinx established his own StankFish Recording Studio, Midnight Archer Publishing Co. and a film production company – Dreamsicle Arts & Entertainment. In 2000, Vinx’s recording studio was robbed with a loss of over $100,000 of recording equipment and masters.

In 2003, Will Downing recorded "Don’t Talk To Me Like That" – written by Vinx and Brenda Russell – on his Sensual Journey (Universal) release. Vinx lent his background vocals to the track, which was chosen as the single and charted on the Urban AC charts.

Vinx and Peermusic Publishing released a standards record, "The Mood I'm In", composed of Hoagy Carmichael ballads and other classic songs written by songwriters on the Peer roster. Vinx has added his eclectic twist to songs like "Stardust".

In 2006, Vinx joined the faculty of Berklee College of Music in Boston as a teacher during the Summer 5 week programs. In addition to teaching at Berklee, Vinx founded a critically acclaimed songwriting/creativity workshop series called Songwriter Soul Kitchen. Participants gather for an immersive weekend of exercises, writing, recording, collaborating, performing, food and laughs. Workshops happen 3-4 times per year in the US and abroad.

In October 2011, Vinx released his first live record Live from the Sharon Arts Center. His anthem to President Obama debuted on this album. In January 2013, Vinx will release an album of original love songs titled Love Never Comes Too Late through BFMDigital and Dreamsicle Arts & Entertainment.

Discography

As leader

* ''Rooms in My Fatha's House'' (PANGAEA/I.R.S., 1991)
* ''I Love My Job'' (PANGAEA/I.R.S., 1992)
* ''The Storyteller'' (PANGAEA/I.R.S., 1993)
* ''Lips' Stretched Out'' (H.O.E., 1996)
* ''Big 'n' Round'' (Traumton, 1999)
* ''The Mood I'm In'' (Peermusic, 2002)
* ''Through Colored Folks Eyes'' (Elephunk, 2004)
* ''Groove Heroes'' (LProduction, 2016)

With Jungle Funk
* ''Jungle Funk'' (ESC, 1998)
* ''Jungle Funk'' (World Park/Jahsoul, 1997)

As sideman

* Ernie Watts, ''Musician'' (Qwest, 1985)
* Jon Gibson, ''Body & Soul'' (Frontline, 1989)
* Sting, '' The Soul Cages'' (A&M, 1990)
* Cassandra Wilson, '' Blue Light 'til Dawn'' (Blue Note 1993)
* Stevie Wonder, ''Conversation Peace'' (Motown, 1995)
* Crystal Waters, ''Crystal Waters'' (Mercury, 1997)

See also

* Jungle Funk

References

External links

*

{{DEFAULTSORT:Parrette, Vinx De'Jon
Living people
1957 births
American percussionists