December 2, 2024

Beauty Arts

The Arts Authority

Davenport musician fulfills a dream at 22

Davenport musician fulfills a dream at 22

CJ Parker is pretty much dwelling the aspiration — he operates at musical work opportunities he loves and he will complete on Friday evening to rejoice the release of his to start with album.

Spotlighted on MTV Tunes News as a “Rising Star Thanks For Acquire Off,” the welcoming, multi-talented Parker is a 22-calendar year-previous multi-instrumentalist from Davenport. MTV Music Information about a calendar year ago named him a “rising star” and “a identify you should possibly begin remembering.”

CJ Parker, suitable, is a 2019 graduate of Davenport Central Superior School.

“Blending the genres of R&B, funk, soul, gospel, and even jazz, this kid has one thing to display the entire world,” the MTV piece said.

He grew up in church, singing and taking part in at a incredibly youthful age the place he honed his piano and vocal competencies, developing his soul seem. He provides a number of genres, mixing kinds comparable to Prince, Earth Wind & Fireplace, and Justin Timberlake, and has traveled the country carrying out the two solo and with his band.

His father is a pastor, and when CJ was expanding up, he was also choir director at Mount Sinai Christian Fellowship in Davenport. Parker was deeply affected musically by equally mothers and fathers – his mom beloved Broadway and his dad played every little thing from Prince and Michael Jackson, to classical. CJ sang in the church’s grownup choir as a kid.

His father (Corey) is senior pastor of Lifestyle Church in East Moline, and CJ is a member of that praise and worship workforce.

Parker functions as an InTune Mentor at Popular Chord, a paraprofessional educator at Davenport’s Eisenhower Elementary Faculty, a brass instructor at Davenport Central Substantial School., and a personal tuba instructor.

The cover of Parker’s debut disc.

He is kicking off his 2023 with the launch of his debut album, “The I Album,” on March 31st. His show is 8 p.m. Friday at the Redstone Place (upstairs at Typical Chord, 2nd and Major streets, Davenport).

Tickets are $10 in advance / $12 working day of present, obtainable Here. The opening act is The Textures.

“I’m so energized for this album,” Parker reported Monday. “This album was finished just about a few weeks in the past, with songs spanning pretty much 4 many years now. A person detail I can credit history to the producers and close friends associated is that we didn’t rush the procedure at all. We took our time, and in depth just about every move.

“It’s SO enjoyable to finally come to feel like. WOW. It is performed! It is finished,” Parker mentioned, noting it was recorded at Eastside Studios in East Moline.

Parker in effectiveness.

“Wes Julien experienced all the things to do with the generation component. This album is a enormous mixture of funk, soul, R&B, with some rock influences as well,” he reported. “I consider it’ll be a diverse audio for the music industry.”

Parker serves as the guide mentor of the InTune Mentorship Program, which is an academic application by Widespread Chord, aiming to offer interactive musical ordeals to the youthful era.

“It genuinely warms my heart to be equipped to introduce little ones to new forms of learning, especially in the songs feeling,” he stated. “I make guaranteed to appear up with pleasurable interactive items that the kids will love, whilst however building positive the intention is even now audio education and learning.”

Parker this spring also will be tunes directing his initially group theater demonstrate, the traditional “Hello, Dolly!” at Moline’s Black Box Theatre, starring Shelley Cooper in the title purpose. Performances are scheduled June 1-10, 2023.

“I was actually recommended by Tracy Singleton to immediate the perform, which turned into meeting Lora and doing the initial couple rounds of auditions. I am so psyched for this clearly show,” Parker claimed of Lora Adams, co-founder and co-proprietor of the theater at 1623 5th Ave., Moline.

“It’s heading to be tremendous neat stepping into the part as musical director for this display! I have constantly been a admirer of Broadway musicals,” he said. “They’ve been a substantial section of my lifestyle escalating up, as my mom was and continue to is a Broadway fanatic.

“I just cannot hold out to get began with rehearsals! This will most undoubtedly be a display to remember,” Parker added.

For much more data on his own audio, look at Parker out on Facebook Here and Spotify Below.