‘Catch of the Day’ – Parker Willingham – “Cold Creek” [AUDIO]

It's Unsigned/Indy Artist Thursday and today we welcome the return of a singer that makes me wonder how he still fits into this category. He's the best kept secret in Nashville, and before much longer the big labels in Music City have to come to their senses and sign this singer and songwriter from the Florida panhandle.

Parker Willingham's first single, "All Over You" was featured back in May, receiving a great responses from our listeners and readers. Parker makes the trip regularly from his home in Niceville, Florida to Nashville to play regularly at all of Music City top venues. He is blessed with a powerful voice, with the range to bounce from up-tempo party songs to bluesy, soulful ballads at the drop of a chord. The singer, songwriter and guitarist began playing in Nashville about four years ago and is now becoming a well known name around the city's haunts.

Parker's youth was spent along the gulf coast of Florida, growing up in a house where music was always in the air. After high school, he had to make a decision: continue playing baseball, where he had found great success, or pursue his true love, country music. He attended the local community college while he worked on his decision, playing baseball and recording an album which was distributed locally, while he entered and won several local music contest. His decision was made: he packed his bags and moved to Nashville.

But the move to Nashville didn't prove to be the launching pad Parker had hoped for. But in a case of sometimes you have to go backwards to move forward, a chance meeting by Parker's father with local music producer Kate Hart proved to be the break that the younger Willingham needed. After sharing some of Parker's work with Hart, she decided she to sign him to The Apple Row Music Group in 2014. Hart helped Parker find that voice that was deep down inside him, directing his music to a level it hadn't seen.

Parker spent over a year developing and honing his sound, writing songs and leading a team of musicians in recording sessions in the Apple Row Studio. From these sessions, a new album emerged, featuring 12 tracks of original songs written by Parker and other songwriters that have been part of his journey since he moved to Nashville. It is a fresh sound that is modern country, offering country music fans a singer who can touch their hearts with his voice and with his words.

The second single from that album, We Got It Alright, is in our spotlight today. Parker Willingham and "Cold Creek" is today's Unsigned/Indy Artist Catch of the Day, new music you haven't heard, but you'll want to hear it again.