Marvin Parks Music

Marvin Parks: American Jazz Singer My EP 'The Very Thought Of You' was released 2012. It contains six songs that I previously recorded over a span of eight years(2001-2009)for various projects: audition tapes, song demos, and one live performance. It was produced by me. Three of the songs were written by me. All of the songs were arranged by me. These songs represent my earlier development as an artist. It is by definition a "mixtape." However, it is unusual for a jazz singer to produce a "mixtape". Usually, a mixtape is released by rap/hip hop artists, not by aspiring jazz crooners. My EP is available digitally on iTunes and CDBaby. [This is a link to the entire EP on Soundcloud: soundcloud.com/theverythoughtofyou] The standards: 1-Summertime 3-The Christmas Song(Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire) 4-The Very Thought Of You The original songs: 2-Never Been In Love Like This Before 5-The Voice Of Shirley Horn 6-The Ugly Song(You're A Mess)*recorded live at Birdland Jazz Club in NYC* I am 39 years old. I was born in Baltimore, Maryland and was raised by my mother and grandmother. My mother Zelma was a gospel singer who sang on the church choir and in many groups including one that she founded and performed with until her untimely death at the age of 40 from colon cancer. She encouraged my talent when I was 5 years old and had me sing a solo in front of our congregation and on the choir. It was jazz and soul legend Natalie Cole-who died on January 31, 2015-and her father, the iconic crooner Nat King Cole, who inspired me to be a jazz singer after I heard Natalie's album 'Unforgettable'. My focus as a singer and songwriter has been on jazz, traditional pop, and the American standard. Those iconic songs that made singers like the Coles, Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, and Tony Bennett themselves iconic. One dream of mine is to sing 'Les Moulins de Mon Cœur'(Windmills of Your Mind) with Michel Legrand. I am currently signed to the Italian record label Schema Records, in association with Bonsai Music. My debut album 'Marvin Parks' will be released this year. It includes a mix of many classic pop and jazz standards and some contemporary songs. In 2012, I was featured on the album 'Brooklyn Butterfly Sessions' by Stéphane Ronget's Rongetz Foundation released on the label Heavenly Sweetness. In 2014, I was featured on 'Free Souls' produced by Nicola Conte and released on Schema Records. Mr. Conte is the producer of my new album. After performing in singing contests and participating in the local music scene in Baltimore, I moved to New York City in 2007 to pursue a career as a singer. I sang in open mics and jam sessions. I took jobs as a furniture mover and a housekeeper and worked in retail stores to support myself. Late in 2013, I took what was to be a three week trip to Europe, but after falling in love with the city of Paris, I decided to stay. Since arriving to Paris, I have sung at various jazz clubs like Café Universel, Bab-i-lo, Sunset-Sunside often filling them with people who pass me every day in the métro. I auditioned for 'The Voice'. I have also sung in festivals Serbia, Denmark, Germany, and Italy. In August 2015, I performed at the Gaeta Jazz Festival in Gaeta, Italy. Some may recognize me as the guy who sings jazz tunes a capella in the couloirs of the métro parisien. I began singing in the métro after a bank machine kept my card while I was out one night. I continued to do so after I became determined to build my fan base one smile, one song, one handshake at a time. It has produced some really meaningful and beautiful experiences. Also, I get to tell the city of Paris how much I love being here and to share the American songbook. The people of this city are really kinder than what some may think. And performing in the métro Parisien has given me that opportunity to not only meet people in the city, but also to meet people from all over the world-even people from Baltimore. Paris-based American singer of jazz and traditional popular music(i.e. The Great American Songbook) and notorious subway busker.