Editorial Reviews Caryl was born and raised in Abilene, Texas. The youngest of four girls in a musical household, she learned to play both piano and guitar. Caryl vividly recalls being a shy eight year old who stared into her bedroom mirror imitating Karen Carpenter, but unsure about singing beyond those walls. So she sang at clubs, pizza joints, and recording studios around Abilene, while attending Abilene Christian University obtaining a degree in Education. There she met Scott. The couple began writing and performing together in Abilene and eventually took their band and music on the road. After three years, and hundreds of live performances they settled in Portland, Oregon. In Portland, Caryl's evocative vocal style quickly earned her a slot as one of The Oregonian newspaper's Top-10 Artists To Watch, while the Portland Music Association dubbed her a Songwriter of the Year. Parker also received heavy airplay and critical acclaim for her Independent album, Smoke and Mirrors. Upon the encouragement of friends, family and industry contacts, Caryl and Scott began numerous visits to Nashville. After offers from several Nashville music publishers, they moved to the Music City in 1994. In 1996 Caryl landed a major recording deal with Magnatone Records, who released "Caryl Mack Parker." However, the album was not without its disappointments. Within 9 months of the album's release, Magnatone Records closed it's offices, a casualty in the Nashville label wars. Despite the set-back, Caryl has continued penning songs for other Nashville artists while writing and recording her own new material. In the meantime, the album has been acquired and re-distributed by another Nashville company! What the critics have said about Caryl Mack Parker is nothing short of miraculous. When the dust settles, this voice will still be singing intelligent lyrics and fresh melodies in clear unwavering tones, sincerely from the heart. Together with producer/husband Scott, Caryl has written and co-produced the majority of her repertoire. Collaborating with an edgy core of Nashville's best writers, her songs draw-in listeners with real-life characters and situations. On her most recent album, she captivates listeners with fresh perspectives and memorable melodies. "When I Come to My Senses" shows Caryl's sexy, sultry side, while the haunting "One Night Stand" takes an emotional inventory of material possessions in the aftermath of betrayal. In a classic Texas-waltz, "Sunset in Abilene," she sings of falling in love in her hometown. "Bourbon Confession" explores forgiveness, in the wake of a morning-after confession. "In the Same Breath" tenderly seeks to understand the pleasure and pain of relationships. Hope, faith, and love prevail in "Better Love Next Time".
Music Review:
Music Review
Music Review: A Descent Into the Maelstrom
Hill Climbing for [Limited Edition] [Import]
Music: End of Vacation [Import]
Journeys By DJ: Triptonite [Import]
Keep on the Sunnyside [Import]
Illusion [Import] [Original recording remastered]
About the Artist
She's caught the attention of nearly every major country music critic. Caryl Mack Parker is a compelling standout in a sea of sound-alike progressive female country artists. According to one reviewer, "her voice is the perfect instrument conveying both yearning and satisfaction in the same breath."
Album Description
Her most recent album "Caryl Mack Parker" has yielded two charting "Billboard" singles, two heavily rotated "Hot Shot" videos on CMT, major airplay in over 80 national markets, and pages of rave critical reviews.