The music of Cecil Parker has an authentic story that was shaped on the streets of Philadelphia, where he grew up not having a "full-time" father around. Fortunately, he had an amazing mother, who was his biggest fan, until she passed away a few years ago. Cecil also lost his sister when she was murdered the week of his initial headlining debut in Atlantic City, NJ.
An athletic scholarship for track and field drew Cecil from a major university to A. A. U./Olympic Development status, but his heart was drawn to music. While enrolled at Penn State, he finally got a taste of solo performing; "better late than never" in Cecil's words after previous years of playing bass and drums accompanying others. Quite literally pushed onto stage at a college talent night, he received applause and an ovation for covering the B-side of a Jackson 5 record. According to Cecil's brand of humor, they may have applauded "'cause it was finally over."
Bronze Pop Global Music Award finalist, 2020 Indie Music Channel Winner for Best Rap/Hip-hop Song, 2020 World Songwriting Awards Best R&B Song Finalist, Akademia Winner for R&B and Pop, Hollywood Music and Media Award finalist and Billboard's Most Promising New Talent are just a few of Cecil's accomplished accolades along the way having also been the recipient of the Penn State University/Kappa Alpha Psi Career Achievement Award as well as being a featured subject in the book entitled, 'Philly Pop, Rock, Rhythm and Blues,' a look back at the musical history of Philadelphia.
Cecil Parker has become one of the most exciting "LIVE" acts performing today. He is a hit coast to coast and abroad. He's a powerhouse performer with major drawing power at the top showrooms in Atlantic City, and far across the pond at Harrah's New Zealand. A strong act at NBA 76rs games, Cecil has also been on stages at sea, aboard Celebrity, Azamara, Costa, Norwegian and Carnival Cruises in Europe, South America and Asia.
Signed first by Philly Groove Records, Cecil Parker moved to TEC/WMOT Records where he received his first world-wide release, "Really, Really Love You". Later came the critically acclaimed remake, "I Think I'll Tell Her" still being heard by more then 1 million listeners each week. Although his album Chirpin' included popular singles like "Really, Really Love You" and "Love Is," ultimately Cecil has gone the independent route with his music.
Alan Mercer: Thanks for taking time out of your day to talk with me Cecil. I'm really enjoying your new album, as I have all your albums. I love your 'Chirpin' album! I think it holds up even in today's music scene. What do you think?
Cecil Parker: Thank you, Alan. My pleasure. Happy to be here and I do, I do try "not" to do anything that doesn't hold up. At least in my mind I have to believe it will. It's up to the listeners to decide and they've been very kind. I like the scenario where if somebody comes across some of my stuff from before, they'll hopefully think it's great but maybe wonder why it didn't get the exposure it needed and that's the only reason they might not have heard it. I've been with major labels and often when an artist is with a label, you're kind've at their mercy. As in, "Hey, we love you...so unique...sign with us....now ,change 'cause this is what everyone else is doing so we mimic that and our data shows.....blah blah, blah". or they can suddenly decide they're going to prioritize other artists thereby putting you on hold. That's a rude awakening for any truly creative artist. I just believe the music listening audience is under served by not being able to have access to more of what's uniquely and creatively, "out there".
AM: I've heard dozens and dozens of stories from label artists that are horrible. In that regard, it's better to be an independent artist like you, even with all the challenges. At least you don't have to deal with the headache of a label.
CP: Oh that's definitely waaz' up. You can, in a sense, move and groove at will. Don't get me wrong; resources, machinery, corporate muscle and all that is cool but there's a price to pay sometimes. The scenario is the same. To the world, music is music. The definition of 'Indie' obviously means being all about resources or the lack; thereof. Even if you put everything you have into a project, you still have to look at a whole new funding landscape to just get it "out there" afterwards.
AM: That's the hard part.
CP: "Amen, tell a friend!" That often costs more than the actual project.
AM: You seem to be able to do all the different jobs it takes to get the music out there and heard.
CP: Yeah, I'm still trying to connect the dots.
AM: When did you start working on your latest album?
CP: I started it a year ago. The last album I had out before this one was in 2016. I looked at all my previous projects and recalled having so many constraints. I was doing them all myself and at times be in the studio and only have enough time to choose what had to be done based on available resources. That's not 'creative mode'. That's 'survival mode'. I'd have to do it fast or settle for this or settle for that, and so on. With this album, I just took more time to let it flow of course with the desire to do the best I could.
AM: What does that mean to you?
CP: It means I made it as organically as possible and that I did something I can be proud of.
AM: Did you write the songs?
CP: I did. For a long time, people have been telling me to record an album of "my own songs'. For so long I made a living out of covering other people. I had never recorded a complete album where everything was written and produced by me.
AM: Well you did an excellent job. I love how you filled up the CD with 19 songs.
CP: Thanks, Alan. The engineers and I were laughing about there being so many songs, but when I sat down to streamline the album, I felt that each song had a different 'emotional resonance' so I ended up not making any cuts at all. Besides, what's the difference between this and a double album anyway? (lolololol)
AM: Exactly! I appreciate you having a lot of songs on there.
CP: Thanks. I feel like for any artist, If you have something else to say, it should be included.
AM: I can tell you really care.
CP: True, that....I've always been a fan of "real songwriting" which leads to "real songs" requiring "real singers" and the process of creating "instant classics". I kind've study all of it. You have to be a student of the game, not just a player.
AM: That is smart. It seems you've become more prolific at that since the turn of the century. Are you more inspired these days?
CP: I think I've "learned to learn" more, and the ever-changing sides of the business keeps ya' hoppin' which in effect helped me find my direction. I started having more answers than questions. You go through different phases asking yourself who am I? And what am I? What should I be doing and what shouldn't I be focusing on?
AM: Those are valuable questions to ask yourself.
CP: In a sense, I knew what I didn't want from "jump". I was fortunate to pinpoint "this is what I don't want to 'be' and that is what I don't want to 'do' because I don't think it will last. I pretty much have stuck to that way of thinking and I believe this has given me the longevity I've been able to enjoy. Some of my friends, who followed the trends, are no longer in the game.
AM: That is so true.
CP: The word "trending" doesn't exist without the word "ending" or the word "contemporary" without the word "temporary". The "next big thing" is soon to be the "last big thing" if you're not careful.
AM: I never realized this. You are also a seasoned live performer.
CP: That's true. In order to survive I've worked in a lot of environments. I had to excel at live performing. I headlined in Atlantic City for a while. There were a lot of circumstances where I was the only person of color. I had to be better than better and constantly proving myself. For example, I was a headliner with Celebrity Cruises for four years when I later found out I was the only Black headliner in the entire cruise line.
AM: Do you want to get back on a cruise ship and perform again?
CP: Cruising is a job not a career if you really think about it. It can be lucrative but 'what's next' if you leave? Maybe if the right offer came along I'd certainly consider it. I always enjoyed it and I still talk to some of the talented performers I met along the way. It was a real learning experience.
AM: What was one of the things you learned from doing that?
CP: Hmmm.....Well, before headlining I did production shows as a stepping stone and since you don't do the hiring on the production show side of it you have to learn how to deal and work with people from all over the world sometimes in circumstances you can't change and may not particularly care for. You have to rise above it. As a headliner I welcomed the challenge of performing for such varied kinds of audiences because it conditions you to be professionally equipped for almost anything. You soon discover ,whatever the audience; there's an app for that. (hahahahahaha) and if you're paying attention you garner your standing O's , you sell lots of CD's and you increase your dedicated global fan base because "hey, they just experienced your work". Most of all, traveling around the world teaches you to appreciate and better understand other cultures.
AM: What have you been doing with your time in this time of covid 19?
CP: I'm actually still writing and starting on the next album, as well as promoting the "UhoH" album which is doing quite well so far. I just want to say "thanks muchly" to all the readers, listeners and fans who've contributed so much to 'amping up' the degree of success my career has afforded me thus far. I appreciate you 'cause without you.....? And 'thank you' for this time, Alan.
