An Interview With Darren Parry

Darren Parry is a singer/songwriter from Dowlais In Merthyr Tydfil, South Wales. He has toured the US extensively and has just released a new single - "Just The Mention Of Your Name". He spoke to ameriCymru about his life and career:- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Americymru: When did you first become aware that you were intent on a musical career? Darren: I realised this when I started writing songs seriously at around the age of 18. I'd grown up listening to my parents (and especially my mother) playing old 'Motown' ('Four Tops', Diana Ross, 'Temptations', Jimmy Ruffin etc.)records, and lots of 'Free', 'Carpenters', Kenny Rogers and so on and thought, "hmmmm... I'd like to sing and write songs like that". I was always a fan of the big sorta raspy voices, e.g. Joe Cocker, Ray Charles, Michael McDonald, Richard Marx, Joe Lynn Turner, David Coverdale, Bonnie Tyler, Michael Bolton etc. and was always amazed (and still am) by the power and emotion that the human voice can express...what an instrument when used effectively! Americymru: You are from Dowlais in Merthyr Tydfil. Care to tell our American readers a little about the area? Darren: I'm originally from a small village called Troedyrhiw in Merthyr Tydfil and have lived in various areas of Merthyr Tydfil (and a few yrs in Swansea) but now reside in Dowlais. Dowlais, like many areas in Merthyr Tydfil is an old mining village as Merthyr Tydfil was renowned in the 1800's for making iron (exported all over the world) and coal. Merthyr was situated close to reserves of iron ore, coal, limestone and water, making it an ideal site for ironworks. Small-scale iron working and coal mining had been carried out at some places in South Wales since the Tudor period, but in the wake of the Industrial revolution the demand for iron led to the rapid expansion of Merthyr's iron operations. The Dowlais Ironworks was founded by what would become the Dowlais Iron Company in 1759, making it the first major works in the area. It was followed in 1765 by the Cyfarthfa Ironworks. The Plymouth ironworks were initially in the same ownership as Cyfarthfa, but passed after the death of Anthony Bacon to Richard Hill in 1788. The fourth ironworks was Penydarren built by Francis Homfray and Samuel Homfray after 1784. The demand for iron was fuelled by the Royal Navy, who needed cannons for their ships, and later by the railways. In 1802, Admiral Lord Nelson visited Merthyr to witness cannons being made! Americymru: How would you describe your musical style? What kind of material are you most comfortable performing? Darren: My musical style varies as I've written over 150 songs in lots of genres but mainly my music is Adult Contemporary(AC)/Pop/Rock. Americymru: Do you have a regular backing band? Can you tell us something about the musicians you perform with or other performers you have met? Darren: Yes I have a small band comprising of myself (lead vocals/keyboard and or acoustic guitar), Juan Lozano (backing vocals/keyboard/acoustic guitar) Robert Devereux (backing vocals/lead guitar)and sometimes Steve Sims (lead guitar). I'm very lucky that these guys are both superb musicians and my friends. Very often the only payment they need for recording (they play on my albums)and playing gigs is usually I buy them a curry...well worth a few Kema Nans and Chicken Tikka Masala's !!!! Other performers I've met/performed with include - Michael Bolton, Michael Ball, Bryn Terfel, 'The Sweet Inspirations' (Elvis' original female backing singers), DJ Fontana (Elvis' original drummer), 'Scouting For Girls', 'Goldie Lookin' Chain', Peter Karrie, Donny Osmond, Brian Conley, Max Boyce among others. Americymru: We learn from your website that you performed at Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta Jones' wedding. What are your memories of that occasion? Darren: Well I need to clarify this, bit of a strange story! I was on a 3 month, 45 date USA tour with ' The Black Mountain Male Chorus Of Wales' ( which is a 20 man all male choir - check them out on MySpace) in the year 2000. We were performing near Los Angeles and got a call asking if we'd like to sing in MD's and CZJ's wedding! The connection was that our tour manager, Adrian Metcalfe was in school with CZJ's brother in Swansea I believe. Of course, we were very honoured and said yes! The problem was the wedding if I remember was in the East Coast (New York) and it was impossible to break our contract of performing our booked concerts on the West Coast to fly over. Unfortunatley due to this we had to pass and another Welsh choir sang instead. Doh!!!!!! ...but at least we were the first choice! Americymru: What can you tell us about your current release - "Just The Mention Of Your Name"? Darren: It is a melodic AC pop ballad that is my latest song. It is available for commercial download on iTunes, Amazon, Rhapsody and Napster. It is a single from my forthcoming EP entitled..."That Feeling" that will feature songs co-written with 'Dazzle Music' (who's written for/had songs recorded by Charlotte Church). Find more music like this on Americymru Americymru: Where can our readers go to hear/download your music? Darren: http://www.darrenparry.com http://www.myspace.com/darrenparrymusic Americymru: You recently toured the US with the Black Mountain Male Chorus. Care to tell us a bit more about the tour? Darren: This was the second large tour I've done of the States with Black Mountain (BM). The latest tour was in Jan/Feb 2008 and we did 22 concerts. We started in Chicago then went to, wait for it, deep breathe... Indiana, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Missouri, Kansas, Texas, New Mexico before finishing off in LA. We performed in venues for up to 2000 people and were fortunate to get fantastic, enthusiastic crowds every night. BM has now completed over 200(I've done around 70 of these)concerts in the US over the past 14 yrs or so and have a good fan base who are keen to hear male voices sing our repertoire of Welsh hymns, pop songs, rugby influenced songs, folk songs, opera and Celtic music. Americymru: Any plans to visit the States again in the near future? Darren: I've just signed a licensing deal with a company called 'Rock Talk Music', based in LA, California so who knows? I may be coming there in 2010. I've now been lucky enough to have visited around 40 of the 50 US States in the last 10 yrs and I always look forward to coming there! Americymru: Any final message for the members and readers of Americymru? Darren: I'm a member and I'm very glad to see the American and Welsh links being proliferated with a site like Americymru...keep up the excellent work :) Buy the new single here:- http://www.amazon.com/Darren-Parry/dp/B002AVTMQA Interview: Ceri Shaw Email

'Sexbomb' About To Burst Over Portland - Left Coast Eisteddfod 2010

'SexBomb' is a two-piece Tom Jones tribute band from Hanford CA, combining the musical talents of William Parry ( vocals ) and Bobby Z ( guitar, trumpet ). The band will be performing at the Left Coast Eisteddfod in Portland Oregon 2010 ( watch this space for further details ). They agreed to a world exclusive interview with Americymru which we proudly present below. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Americymru:  'Sexbomb' are about to explode on the Portland music scene in October 2010. Can you tell us a little about how the band came to be formed? Sexbomb: True, I’m excited for Portland.  We’ve been terrorizing, uh, I mean, rocking the California music scene for months now, so a little “West Coast Tour ‘10” will be epic.  Sexbomb came together as a natural progression; an ‘evolution’ really of all my past musical forays and experiences . . . that and my other band broke up when my bass player went to jail for his second DUI.  Plus, Bobby Z (SB’s other half, and guitarist / trumpeter supreme) had just been asked to leave his church’s band, so the timing was perfect. Americymru:  Can you explain the symbolic significance of the bands name? Sexbomb: ‘Sexbomb’ is named after Sir Tom Jones’ 2000 hit song of the same name, from his massive “Reload” album.  We can’t really play ‘Sexbomb’ live yet (it’s disco beats don’t lend themselves well to a 2-man acoustical arrangement), but it’s a way cooler band name for us than, say, “Daughter of Darkness” or “Letter to Lucille”…. No symbolism, Bob and I are both married (not to each other). Americymru:  Can you describe a typical 'Sexbomb' performance? Sexbomb: I’d say that we’re the greatest band in the world by default, as we tribute/cover the greatest performer in the world; makes sense.  (But, “Surprisingly good” was the overall audience consensus at our world debut in October ’09…. We’re a 2-man acoustical/unplugged act.)  We’re fun, upbeat, disinclined to take ourselves too seriously, but always respectful of Sir Tom and the material . . . Bob and I like to rock the house, and get off stage quickly so we can go get properly pissed (Ok, ‘more’ pissed.)  Bottom line, we’re a very fun, entertaining band; what we may lack in talent and ‘classical training’ we more than make up for with enthusiasm, good humor, and a love for Sir Tom. Americymru:  Who, besides Sir Tom, are your biggest influences? Sexbomb: Good question.  Vocally I’d have to say Chris Cornell, Dick Haymes, and Dean Martin.  Onstage, my biggest “performance” influences are David Lee Roth, the late Robert Palmer, and Big Ernie McCracken.  Bob has a range of guitar influences, including Johnny Cash, Jimmies Hendrix and Page, Richie Blackmore, Brian May, and even some heavy metal guitarists, which has something to do with his ejectment from the church band. Americymru:  How long have you been a Tom Jones fan? Sexbomb: Since birth, I’m Welsh!! I first saw Sir Tom live in August of ’84 at the Paso Robles mid-state fair; that was my “Woodstock.” Blew me away.  I’ve seen him live many times since, and even shook his hand at the August 9, ’95 gig in Visalia (nearly took a savage beating after from a group of insanely jealous, panty-less housewives), and again in Vegas on April 27, ’06.  Epic.  (Bob’s been a fan since I begged him to form SB with me last year.) Hear 'Delilah' and 'She's A Lady' performed by Sexbomb (recommended listening level is .14% blood alcohol l!! ) Find more music like this on Americymru Americymru:  'Sexbomb' celebrates Welsh culture with particular reference to 'Tom Jones'. Can you explain the significance of drinking in Welsh culture? Sexbomb: Ah, wow, big question… I could more easily break down the I Ching, the Koran, or the DeNiro vs. Pacino debate…. It’s kind of at the Heart of our culture isn’t it?  (um, have I revealed too much about my own personal habits here?) Americymru:  We have pictures of you in a kilt at a Chicago Mass transit station. Can you explain what you were doing on that occasion and were you arrested for it? Sexbomb: Under advice of my counsel, I’m really not supposed to talk about that as litigation is still pending, and I’ll thank you to drop the subject.  I will say this, just to clarify:  I was never “arrested,” merely detained for questioning.  And that was mostly the fault of fellow Americymru member Phil Morgan (for plying me with copious amounts of Newcastle at the Wales v. USA rugby match earlier that day, where you may have seen me – a tattooed dancing Gorilla waving a Welsh flag if you watched the game—I’m told I made the ESPN2 and BBC telecasts.)  The statute of limitations for drunk in public and indecent exposure doesn’t expire for another 20 months, so, no further comment.  (ps – you’ll be subpoenaed and we’ll be setting your deposition soon to ferret out exactly  how you came in to possession of said photos.) Americymru:  Does 'Sexbomb' have any plans to record? Is there anywhere online where people can hear the band? Sexbomb: Yes, we’re recording now actually at American Made Studios, in Fresno, California, with our good friends Marc Kapetan and Paul “Smokin’ Joe” Turner.  When our master recordings are mixed down and ready, we’re prepared to debut them here on Americymru !!  (you’ve still got that case of Penderyn you’re sending me, right?) Americymru:  You are rightly famed on the Americymru site for an incident involving a flight of stairs in your student years. Care to tell us a little more about that? Any chance of a demonstration at the Eisteddfod? ( we need to know for insurance purposes- Ed ) Sexbomb: My only comment is to advise others never to slide head-first down a cement stairway on a lousy 20 quid bet (particularly after 9 JR Tenant Supers).  I should have counted the damn steps… 34 steps at that blood alcohol level is ill-advised, from what I remember anyway. (Hey, did I ever get paid for that?!@?)  And will I be recreating that feat at the LCE? Oh, no, I’m much more mature now and . . . um, why?, you gonna have any JR Tenants Super there?? Americymru:  Any upcoming gigs you'd like to mention? Sexbomb: We’re playing the Sky Line Room in Fresno, Calif. later this month, with a couple return dates tentatively in the works.  (ie, if we don’t get too drunk and stink up the initial gig.)  We’re also set to rock Joey Rubinstein’s bar mitzvah in March, and the Kings County Fair this summer.  Things are really taking off. Americymru:  Any final message for the members and readers of Americymru? Sexbomb: “To live for today and to love for tomorrow is the wisdom of a fool, because tomorrow is promised to no one.  You see, love is that wonderful thing that the whole wide world needs plenty of.  So, if you think for one minute you can live without, then you’re only fooling yourself.”  – ‘Without Love’ by Sir Tom Jones.  Amen. Interview: Ceri Shaw Email