HUNTINGTON Ƶ A special concert will happen at the Fly In Café this weekend when bluegrass veteran David Parmley brings his band to Huntington to celebrate 50 years in the music business.
The concert will take place at the new outdoor Pavilion Stage that Robert Newlon Airport owner Carl Bailey has built to add to his growing live music facility, at 6090 Kyle Lane in Huntington.
Many might remember David Parmley for his band Continental Divide, which played in the Tri-State many times during its run. Now, with a half of a century under his belt in the bluegrass world, Parmley has formed a new group and is currently releasing singles and recording new tracks for Sammy Passamano IIIƵs 615 Hideaway Records label.
The David Parmley Band show begins at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, June 7. Tickets are $20.
Parmley grew up in southern California in a bluegrass family. His bluegrass-playing father Don Parmley was a part of one of the only bluegrass bands in California in the 1960s, The Golden State Boys.
By the time David Parmley was a teenager in the 1970s, he was playing in the band The Bluegrass Cardinals with his dad and Randy Graham. When the 1990s rolled around, Parmley moved to Nashville to try his hand in the country music genre. About three years later, however, he was back in the bluegrass fold with his new band Continental Divide, which featured Scott Vestal, Randy Kohrs Ricky Simpkins and others.
At various times over the years, Parmley would take a break from the bluegrass touring. But after some time would go by, Parmley would get the itch to play again, which is what spurred his latest single releases and his time back on the road to do shows.
Parmley said he ran into a friend recently who connected him with 615 Hideaway Records, leading to him wanting to go back on tour.
ƵAfter we recorded some singles and they began to get some good airtime on radio, that is when I thought I should put a band together and get back to picking again,Ƶ Parmley said.
Over the years, Parmley has performed many times in the Tri-State.
ƵWe used to play at that place just outside of Huntington called the Mountaineer Opry House all of the time,Ƶ he said. ƵThen, just down Rt. 60 a little ways, we used to play a lot at a place in Hurricane called The Rose Garden Inn. We used to be really good friends with the family that owned that venue and back in the Bluegrass Cardinal days, in the winter time, we would play there once every two weeks or so.Ƶ
ParmleyƵs new recordings feature artists including Nashville bassist David Roe, Scott Vestal on banjo, Tim Crouch on the fiddle, Jim Hurst on guitar, Jeff Partin on the Dobro, Seth Taylor on mandolin, and The TravelinƵ McCourys.
The band that Parmley has put together for this show this Saturday here in Huntington is a special outfit filled with fellow musicians that he has known for a long time.
ƵIn my band now is Doug Bartlett, who will play the mandolin and harmony fiddle, John Goad will play bass and sing tenor, Jackson Lewis is playing the banjo and singing baritone, and Craig Fletcher is on the fiddle,Ƶ Parmley said.
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