Nominate Honky Tonk Dave Male Vocalist For 2016 Ameripolitan Music Awards

honkytonkdave.bandcamp.com to support the music we love

Greetings!  I would greatly appreciate your help in nominating me for Male Vocalist of the year in the Honky Tonk Category for the Ameripolitan Music Awards.  They will be held Feb 16 2016 in Austin Texas.  I would be honored to represent new original music in this traditional category. And by the way the more nominations they receive the better chance I have to make the cut.

Why the word Ameripolitan?  Well this organization was started by Dale Watson a long time Texas-Honky Tonk artist and here is an excerpt from the website:

“We’re not leaving Country Music behind, we’re taking ‘real’ country music with us.

The Ameripolitan Music Awards were created to benefit and acknowledge artists whose work does not readily conform to the tastes of today’s ‘country’ or other music genres and organizations. It also provides fans with a means of finding these artists and their music.”

Please copy and paste the following text into an email sent to info@ameripolitan.com

If you would like to nominate other artists in other categories please do!  Also check ameripolitan.com to check out other artists and like my song on their front page!

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Honky Tonk Female:

Honky Tonk Male: Honky Tonk Dave

Honky Tonk Group:

Outlaw Female:

Outlaw Male:

Outlaw Group:

Western Swing Female:

Western Swing Male:

Western Swing Group:

Rockabilly Female:

Rockabilly Male:

Rockabilly Group:

Ameripolitan Musician:

Ameripolitan Venue:

Ameripolitan DJ:

Ameripolitan Festival:

Honky Tonk Dave Featured Artist At Ameripolitan Music

Hey friends! 

Ameripolitan.com is featuring "Song From Yesterday" on their front page! I am very honored they would chose one of my tunes to showcase what the Ameripolitan Music genre is all about.

I would also ask that my fans go to this web site and click the like button next to my song and any other song you like too! There are some fun tunes on there. Go check it out and like "Song From Yesterday"

The Country Music Hall Of Fame and the Bakersfield Sound

The Country Music Hall Of Fame held a special program yesterday to coincide with the closing of their Bakersfield Sound exhibit at the end of the year.  My friend Carco Clave got my daughter and I passes to the show! And we loved it!

Chuck Mead and his Grassy Knoll Boys played
and hosted several special guests.  Guests included Suzy Bogguss, Deke Dickerson and James Burton.

If you don't know who these folks are click on their names to learn more they are all awesome!

I asked Aly what her favorite part of the show was and she said "the end."  "No no dad I didn't mean it like that..."

What she meant was the finale was spectacular after 90 minutes of great music.  All of the performers on one stage was pretty awesome.

An added bonus got to catch up with Nic Abston front man for Hillbilly Casino who also brought his daughter to the show.  Great minds think alike.

To top it off today, my heart melted while driving around Nashville Aly asked me if I could turn on some Merle Haggard music.

Thanks Carco Clave for the passes and thanks Country Music HOF for putting on this event. We have to continue to let people know this music is still around and still loved by all.

-Honky Tonk Dave

Lee Ann Womack Nominated For Grammy. Good For Country!

Lee Ann Womack has just been nominated by the Grammy's for best Country Album.  So glad to see an actual country record getting some recognition. Oh and I think I inspired her album cover :)

The music is great and here's a Spotify link to her nominated album.
Lee Ann Womack – The Way I'm Livin'

http://www.leeannwomack.com/

I Love Country Music Or Do I?

I read an article from savingcountrymusic.com that was very interesting and I agree with the writer. First of all the music is not that good but even if it was good just stop calling it Country.

http://www.savingcountrymusic.com/sam-hunt-goes-on-media-charm-offensive-succeeds


Listen to the tunes for yourself. Sam Hunt is a very successful artist.  I have no problem with that.  I have a problem that Country Radio plays his music.
-Honky Tonk Dave

Loretta Lynn's Ranch Is A Great Place To Play Music

OK so I forgot to take pictures so here is my only proof that I played at Loretta Lynn's Ranch on Friday for the campers.  It is such a great gig!  The wind howled the whole time and only half the crowd left.  NO!  I'm kidding.  Everybody stayed, even my new friends from Oskaloosa KS!  Thanks Gary and fam for hangin' out.  We will have us party in NE Kansas soon!

Honky Tonk Dave's Online Store

Since the release of my record "Song From Yesterday" I have been very please with my online retailer Bandcamp.  bandcamp.com is a great way to discover new music as well. Very cool web site and a great way to get merchandise to my fans.  I am looking to add t-shirts and hats soon.

I'll be sharing other places my music is online in the coming days!

Please check it out!

Nominate Honky Tonk Dave for the Ameripolitan Music Awards here!

Sturgill Simpson Not Your Typical Classic Country Artist

Found this video a couple nights ago.  Again a great live band playing great country music.
This video was from about a year ago.  He has since released another album called Metamodern Sounds In Country Music.  Great original record.  It's not for everyone but I would recommend it!

http://sturgillsimpson.com/

Nominate Honky Tonk Dave for the Ameripolitan Music Awards here!

Great Interview and Live Music From Marty Stuart and his Fabulous Superlatives

Marty Stuart and his Fabulous Superlatives

On Saturday before my show at the Fillin' Station I found a link off Facebook.  It was to a radio show on NPR called World Cafe.  It is worth a listen!  Marty and the boys knock it out live!  They sing several tunes including a few gospel tunes.  All of the songs are great and Marty's stories are always great.

It's 30 minutes long.  Take a break, listen and learn what great roots music can sound like.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/world-cafe/2014/09/17/349052375/marty-stuart-and-his-fabulous-superlatives-on-world-cafe

http://www.martystuart.net/

Nominate Honky Tonk Dave for the Ameripolitan Music Awards here!

Nominate Honky Tonk Dave for the Ameripolitan Music Awards

Last January I learned about the first ever Ameripolitan Music Awards. What’s Ameripolitan? More on that later. But I made it a goal to become nominated for Male Vocalist in the Honky Tonk Category for 2015. Well the time has come!

All you have to do is email: info@ameripolitan.com and it would be nice if you emailed me at the same time. daveparks23@gmail.com It would be cool to see how many emails are sent as I need as many fans as possible to email ensuring a nomination spot.

In the email please say something like:
I would like to nominate Honky Tonk Dave for Male Vocalist in the Honky Tonk Category.

And that’s it. You nominated me! Thanks!
If I’m nominated for the Awards:
1.  I’m going to Austin Texas!!!
2.  I’ll be asking for your vote to win the award!

Now more about Ameripolitan music.
http://www.ameripolitan.com

I was so excited to learn that Dale Watson was behind the creation of this group dedicated to the preservation of roots music.

Here is an excerpt from their web site explaining why they exist.

“The Ameripolitan Music Awards have been established to give like-minded individuals an opportunity to come together to celebrate and promote the music we all love. It serves as an event to rally around and we hope that it will be a source of inspiration for artists and fans alike.

This music will always survive, but for it to thrive, Artists need to continue to delight their fans with new, exciting music that honors tradition while striving to be original and fans need to make the effort to encourage these artists with their support. If The Ameripolitan Music Awards can help further this relationship, then it will be a success and continue to grow in stature to everyone’s benefit.

These awards are presented in the spirit of camaraderie and friendly competition, knowing that success for one of us helps all of us. On behalf of the Ameripolitan Music Awards organization, we thank everyone who has helped make this event possible.”

Thanks for coming along on this journey with me.
-HTD

5 Quotes That Show Jason Aldean Does Not Sing Country Music

Country music should never be given a strict definition. Country music has been and always will be accepting of other genres.  Country music is as wide as the oceans.  But at some point enough is enough.  Country radio should not be called "Country Radio."

Honky Tonk Dave exists for the preservation of the country music of our fore-father and mothers. This is why I write this post.

I want to make sure everyone reading this article knows I love all kinds of music including some "Bro Country."  Whew, I can't believe I just wrote that in public... Don't hate me.   But I do feel Country Music has no voice left.  I hold no ill will toward any artist.  They are trying to make a living. Many, are making a good living.  I just want to start a discussion for the defense of Country Music.  

My problem is not with Jason Aldean's music.  He makes great music!  I listen and enjoy many of his tunes. My problem is the genre where they put this music.  It's not country.  A couple weeks ago a friend of mine reminded me of a split that occurred in another genre.  Jazz and Smooth Jazz.  They both have charts on Billboard. Typically lovers of Jazz are not crazy about Smooth Jazz. Great! That means there is more room for more people :)  Why can't country do the same.

The following are quotes from 1 (ONE) article.  The current Billboard cover story located here.
http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/the-615/6258750/jason-aldean-billboard-cover-story

1. "In my case, when 'Hicktown' [his 2005 debut single] came out, there was really nothing like that out there. People saw a hat act that comes out and looks like a country singer, but it's straight rock stuff -- well, then there's a wave of that stuff. If the people that run the record business in Nashville find something that works, they will run it into the ground." -Jason Aldean

2. "I grew up on Guns N' Roses and those guys who were really badass when they played a show," he recalls. "They were stoned or drunk out of their minds onstage, but still just killing it. I remember seeing [GNR] at the American Music Awards drunk out of their minds, accepting an award, cussing all over the place because they were destroyed. I'm not saying that those were the guys that I strived to be, but those were the guys that I grew up watching." -Jason Aldean

3. "Aldean made good use of the hard-rock sound that Big & Rich had introduced to country radio..." -Billboard Magazine

4. "R&B, baby-making music," -Jason Aldean referring to his new single Burnin' It Down

5. Of course, his new album does cover some familiar ground, from the rock'n'roll-all-night opener,  "Just Gettin' Started,"  -Billboard Magazine

The words speak for themselves.  Long live country music.  Support Ameripolitan music at ameripolitan.com
-Honky Tonk Dave 

Alan Jackson: 25 Years Of Keepin’ It Country

The good folks over at the Country Music Hall of Fame have a new exhibit.  They are recognizing one of the few artists to stick with traditional sounds in the past 25 years.  And funny thing, he's sold 60 million records!

http://countrymusichalloffame.org/exhibits/exhibitdetail/alan-jackson-25-years-of-keepin-it-country

I plan to go see this exhibit.  They have a list of some of the items that will be on display and definitely want to see his hand written notes on some of the songs he wrote.

Fulfilling Pledges From Kickstarter

Greetings to all!  

Notice how we had to barricade ourselves on the porch.
The fans were just going crazy.

First I want to apologize to my Kickstarter "Backers" I have missed a couple birthday tunes for folks who pledged for that reward.  I swore I had put it in my calendar to post on that date but alas I fell short. (Organized Musician = Oxymoron).

But I have fulfilled a concert!  We did it a couple weeks ago out at Jody Barrett's house.  It was a blast!

Also here are a few short clips from a show we did a couple weeks ago at the Fillin' Station in Kingston Springs.  I do not forget that my Kickstarter family got this thing rollin'.  It is so much fun singing this music. Thank you.

-HTD

Another reunion! This time at the Fillin' Staiton

Got to pick and grin with Jason Jordan, Carco Clave, Will Mandell and Brian Foti last night.  Such a great band!

Jason has been out on the road with the country group Love and Theft.  Luckily he had the night off and was willing to come out and play some REAL country music!

Carco plays for Chuck Meade (of BR549 fame) and again we were so lucky to have him.

I have Will and Brian signed to an exclusive contract so they can't play for anyone else ;)
Seriously I am so blessed to play with so many great musicians.

Check out some of the pickin' here!

Oxford High All Classes Reunion

 So much fun re-connecting with everyone in Winfield for the re-union!  Thanks to everyone who came out and to those that help make it possible.  We also raised money for scholarships that go to Oxford High grads!

Got to sing with one of my favorite singin' partners ever!  THE Kevin Price.  Thanks Kev for sharin' the stage with me.

We had several more share the stage with me.  Check 'em out!

Barry Patton and my dad Randy Parks.

Interview and singin' with Marty from KSOK

Thank you guys so much for letting me come by and share what I have been up to. Can't wait to see everyone 7pm Sat. Aug 9 at the American Legion in Winfield.

Post by KSOK Radio.

Jason Jordan Artist Of The Month For McPherson Guitars

I am so proud to share my friend Jason Jordan is the artist of the month for McPherson Guitars.  Jason played all the electric guitar parts on my new record!  You can learn more about Jason here... and I hope he lets me sing a tune on a new record he might be working soon!

http://mcphersonguitars.com/ click here to check out their amazing guitars

Here's the interview with Jason and he picks a little too!

Reviewed By Duncan Warwick In July Issue Of Country Music People

I thought my fans would have fun reading an honest review of my music.  Duncan Warwick is a CMA award winning journalist and works for the British publication Country Music People.  I am truly honored that Duncan took the time to give my music a review and that he gave constructive criticism to what I'm doing as an artist.  Honesty is an amazing thing! And yes I'm featured in a magazine with Dolly on the cover!!! So here ya go....

__________________________________________________

Review by Duncan Warwick--

I guess you could argue that the name ‘Honky Tonk Dave’ tells you all you need to know.  His name is Dave and he sings honky tonk. More accurately, he likes to write and sing new songs in the classic honky tonk style, and he does so brilliantly. Think Tom Armstrong meets Dave Cox and you’ll have a good idea of what to expect. The trouble is, there’s another singer called Honky Tonk Dave already out there, but he seems to sing in a ruba-dub-dub in Enfield, plays the old Joanna (cor blimey!), and is the epitome of a pub singer, which just goes to make it all the more difficult to find out much about the Nashville based singer responsible for this terrific CD.

‘Dave’ refers to himself as ‘HTD’, and I’ve still no idea of his real name, but most of the songs are credited as HTD cowrites with various people with the surname Parks.

Willie Nelson said that “If a song was ever good, it’s still good” and that’s kind of the theme of Song From Yesterday. Dave wants to go back to a time when “every jukebox knew the sound that twin fiddles made” and does so brilliantly on this Crazy Armsesque opener that will have you hooked after about three seconds.

The whole album has a retro feel, whether it’s the Buck-ish Love, Love, Love, the wonderful old-style waltz of Fanny, the swing of May Take All Night Long, or the Haggard inspired Merle, My Hats Off To You.

Another highlight is The Ballad Of Honky Tonk Dave in which he extols the virtues of four chords and his rusty old Ford, and how he was raised on Faron Young and George Jones while his friend’s rock and rolled through school. Drag Strip Boy meanwhile has a truckin’ feel, and really the only track that didn’t completely work for me was the Willie Mack song Cool Sunglasses, which I realize was supposed to be fun but came out way too cheesy. 

Personally, I feel that if you call yourself Honky Tonk Dave it cheapens your product in the minds of prospective purchasers, and might even suggest to them that as an artist you are not taking this very seriously. I had some fun thinking up names for some other artists that would describe their sound – like Bad Rock Jason, Gone Completely Pop Taylor, Precocious Little Hunter… you get the idea and I’m betting you could come up with some of your own. However, what matters is what’s in the grooves, and I like that very much. So much so that this is already a contender for the best of the year list. Bad name, really great record.

4 1/2 Stars

Duncan Warwick

http://www.countrymusicpeople.co.uk/

Honky Tonk Dave Announces Show on Saturday August 9th in Winfield Kansas

We are please to announce that Honky Tonk Dave and his Ameripolitan All-Star band will play at the American Legion in Winfield KS on Aug 9th!  Doors open at 7pm and the show will start around 7:30pm.

Introducing Ameripolitan Music To My Friends

I want to introduce you guys a new genre of music.  And I play this genre!  Ameripolitan Music.  OK maybe it's not a NEW genre but if you care about traditional country music this web site should interest you.  And I would like to be associated with these guys and can't wait to network all the good folks in Ameripolitan.

http://ameripolitan.com/about.html
Here's a blurb from the web site.  But click on the link to read more.

Ameripolitan – This thought provoking word is intended to be an invitation to discuss the future of the music that is important to so many of us. By leaving the hopelessly compromised word “country” behind and exclusively using the term “Ameripolitan”, our intention is to reestablish this music’s own unique identity, elevate its significance and help reinvigorate it creatively. Also, because of our place in history, we have the privilege and responsibility to pass a great musical tradition on to future generations who will otherwise have no direct connection to this music.