BIO
I was born David Glenn Parks in Owensboro, KY. The first part of my life, I grew up in Utica, KY where I lived on a farm with my parents and grandfather. The house was always filled with gospel/country/rock and esp. bluegrass music. My mother performed with many vocal gospel groups as well as playing piano and bass for a number of groups. My grandfather would sit in his rocking chair and sing gospel hymns in a very meaningful way. When he'd sing and play banjo, he did it with heart, this changed me. My cousins had brought home the late 70's and early 80's rock tapes from that era. I adapted to bands like, Kiss, Van Halen, Def Leppard, Journey and melodic groups like Firefall, Eagles, and Ambrosia very quickly and at a young age. This took me to a new level of music appreciation.
From about age 8 on, I spent in Owensboro, KY. I started taking drums lessons about age 9 or 10. I'd sit at home with just practice pads and play along with the radio and songs I had loved from growing up to that point. At this point, Ironic as it may seem at age 10 or 11, My mom took me to my frist Van-Dells show, who knew I'd be working for them in the future? Finally at age 14 my mom bought my first real drum set. It consisted of PEARL kick and toms, a SLINGERLAND floor tom and a CB700 snare which is the only drum I still own from that kit. I played in our apt. to songs, driving neighbors crazy but never got the law called on me. This is when I met who is now one of my best friends,"John Vanover". John and his Dad (both professional drummers) sorta took me under their wings. In fact John is the person who found my first kit. I'd travel around town to clubs with John and watch and learn as he played with many bands and sessions. He gave my # to a local musician who was looking for a drummer. Although I couldn't even drive yet or wasn't old enough to even enter the place we'd play, I was hired and started the local music scene. I'd be in school all day, get my homework done (yeah right) then to marching band practice then a band member would pick me up where I'd go to play the local clubs at night.
Below is a list of bands that I worked with durring this time.
1991, performed in public for the first time, my 8th grade talent show,(drum solo).1991, various fill ins with local bands. 1992, Double D/1993-1994, Southern Wind/1991-1996 (off and on) Kentucky Thunder/ Fill ins where just about every other week, I'd get a call and do fill in work.
In 1994 while playing a show with "Southern Wind", at a car show in front of the Executive Inn, I learned that the Van-Dells where auditioning drummers inside. I was only 18, not even a SR. in high school yet, but little did I know that I would be hired by the Van-Dells.
I am currently still with Van-Dells.I joined the group in 1994 and toured throughout the United States with them. In mid 1995, a side group was formed that consisted of band memebers from my hometown. We'd book gigs and play shows in Bowling Green, Ky where the other three members (Matt Gray, Steve Malicoat, and Mike Hicks), lived and went to college. We named the group, "Kickback Jack". (links coming soon). We'd book the shows in the off days of the Van-Dells tour of coarse and we'd also write and record. We had written and recorded a orginal song called, "You're gonna cry". This song had gained recognition live as well as in the hallways of the college. Almost a year later, we shot a video to promote the song further. I later quit the Van-Dells to put my full time into this group. In early 1997 we received four nominations to the Video Music Awards in Louisville, Ky. We promoted and played throughout the first of 1997 before the group split up, but may I say, we've stayed the best of friends and we still play reunion shows once in a blue moon. (recently played a show with the rock group "Firehouse" and a festival in Owensboro of 1999). This is one group that won't die, and that's because of the friendship behind it. Kickback Jack recently completed work on a original studio CD.
From mid 1996-1998 I played with different local groups such as Kentucky Thunder, 511 Jimmy, Muddy Johnson, Charlie Mattingly and the Rebel Creek Band (house band) and various other groups working fill ins, studio sessions, private lessons and working on my own studio CD. While working on that CD, I had called Mark Barnett from the Van-Dells to do some vocals on one of the tracks. Durring the session for the track, Mark and I talked and as fate will have it, two months later, I was back touring with the Van-Dells. That was 1998 and since then, I've been touring with the Van-Dells and working with side projects, studio sessions, and lessons. Working with the Van-Dells gives me opportunity to work with such great artists as, Diamond Rio, Gary Puckett, The Coasters, Bobby Vee, Holly Dunn, Three Dog Night, and many others as we've performed shows with them all over the United States. I had the opportunity to actually play on stage with James Burton in Shreveport, LA. My biggest thrill came on Sept. 10th 1999 when I was able to perform "I'll fall in love again" with my favorite rock vocalist, Sammy Hagar.
Ex Kickback Jack member, Matt Gray, and I have been in colaboration with a new song writing project called GSP. The group includes Matt Gray, Brian Snyder, and myself. Matt and wrote a few songs together then we called on fellow session bass player for further song writing skill. Brian and myself actually played on a few local records for independent artists before we even knew each other. The magic of new recording gear, all of the musicians can just over dub their parts individually without the others being there, and that's what happened. GSP released the debut CD titled, "In the beginning..." in the fall of 2001.
My plans for the future are continuing to tour with the Van-Dells and off tour work with studio sessions and giving private lessons along with moving on in many other musical ventures to further my career.