Jimmy Parrish: From Choir Boy to Opening for Kenny Chesney

Back in 2000 - in the days before the internet, Craig's List, and Facebook - if you wanted to buy or sell an item, the best way to get the word out was to post fliers in appropriate spots around town. Had a car to sell? Hang a picture and description in the auto parts store. Looking to get rid of some old golf clubs? A sporting goods shop would probably be the best place. But what if you were looking to start a band?  For Trop Rocker Jimmy Parrish, the answer was found at a local music store in his home town of Jacksonville, Florida. He walked in and told the guys behind the counter he was interested in putting a band together. But, not just any band, one that played "Boat Rock", as he called it - Jimmy Buffett, and songs that spoke to the lifestyle on and around the North Florida waterways where he had grown up. Of fishing, sailing, and the beach. As luck would have it, Jimmy and the two clerks turned out to have similar musical tastes. They played him some of their favorite songs - including "Under The Boardwalk" by The Drifters. The Ocean Waves Band was born. But, getting to that point took almost twenty years.



Where was the first place you ever played?

"I taught myself how to play guitar around age 12, had been singing in church choir. I liked singing, thought I had a talent and wanted to showcase it, but really just for me. The first place I played in front of people was in 1981. I entered a talent show at South Georgia College, where I was going to school. Me and two other guys played 'Long Haired Country Boy' by Charlie Daniels. When people clapped, I thought it was the coolest thing I'd ever done!"


Did that inspire you to start playing out more?

Yes. I started playing wherever I could get booked, first around the college and, later, back home around Jacksonville and Amelia Island, Florida. 


Were you playing Buffet and Trop Rock then?

No, more country covers - Willie and Waylon. But then I started hearing this guy Jimmy Buffett and really liked it. Nobody told me, 'you need to play more Buffett!' And I never thought that it would work, that I'd get more gigs because of it. In fact, there weren't really any 'Trop Rock' venues around. I just discovered him on my own."  


When did you decide you wanted to form a band to play Trop rock?

It was 2000. I had spent the last five years playing guitar in a classic rock band called Cool Deluxe. It was a good band, but they wouldn't play any Buffett or Van Morrison, which I wanted to do. Plus, I also wanted to write my own material. So, I started interviewing musicians in the Jacksonville area. But, I couldn't find anyone who knew more than 'Margaritaville' or, maybe, some Bob Marley." That is, until I walked in to put the flier up in the music store." 


You named the band the "Ocean Waves Band" - after the sunglass company. How did that come about?

"I had been taking part in fishing competitions, Kingfish tournaments, for years. One of the sponsors of those tournaments was Ocean Waves sunglasses. I knew the owner, Kevin, pretty well. So, once I found my guys, I went to him and asked if he'd like to partner up with us - and he said not just yes but 'hell yes! We've been together eleven years now."


You have three cds out..

"The first was in 2003, called 'For The Buffett Fans'. It's all Buffett covers. In 2007 we put out 'Let's Go Fishing', our first cd of original material. Then, late last year, we released 'Act Of Piracy'."


Let's Go Fishing has a great song called "Where's the Tequila?", that is full of references to that particular liquor. When I saw you guys play here in Atlanta, for an Atlanta Parrot Head Club party, there were lots of folk saying "Here's the tequila!" and buying you shots. Parrot Heads being Parrot Heads, is that ever a problem - the audience wanting to drink with you while you're trying to work?

"Hah. That was a fun night. We love it. The audience is just showing their appreciation - it's a kind gesture, you can't turn it down. But, I also want to be professional and do our job, do a great show. So, it's a fine line you have to walk. Luckily, I don't have an addictive personality so I can usually maintain. But, it's tough some times. Somebody's got to remember the lyrics!"


Let's go back to the new album...

"We recorded it at a studio in Jacksonville Beach with A1A Productions, the same team that did 'Let's Go Fishin''. Each song on the cd has a different theme, rhythm, or story. One has an Eagles type feel, another has some hot sauce on it. There's hillbilly country, Southern Rock, a ballad and, of course, Trop Rock. I wanted to take the listener on a journey. Plus, I figured having some different sounds upped the chances of something good happening - country people might hear something they like, Jimmy Buffett's people."


How did Parrish Heads in Paradise, your annual trip to Abacos, get started?

"My connection goes back to when I'd play on cruise ships and would go back and forth to the Bahamas. Then, in 2007, I had an offer to play at a club in the Abacos, at Marsh Harbor. I was living there, staying on a friend's boat. I'd fish and dive during the day, then a taxi would come pick me and my PA up and I'd play at night. It was great. I fell in love with the place. In 2009 I thought, 'Wouldn't it be great if I could take some people - maybe who were familiar with places like the Conch House in St. Augustine or the Nav-A-Gator (in Arcadia, Florida - Fred), but had never been to the 'real' Bahamas - down there?' So, I put together this cruise. It's for people who love Trop Rock and the lifestyle and they get to see the Abacos like a local. I have lots of connections with restaurants, hotels - we do excursions. I'm really excited to share it with people."


The Ocean Waves band opened for Kenny Chesney one night. How did you land that gig?

"Yeah, we were rock stars for a night! Kenny ran this contest called 'Next Big Star' for his 2008 tour. At each stop a 'local' band would get to open the show. We won the Jacksonville contest and got to play in front of 15,000 people."


Any other big acts you have opened for?

"Well, we were playing at the Margaritaville Cafe the night Jimmy did the Gulf Shores concert. They asked us to stop playing at one point so they could televise the concert. So, we like to say we 'opened' for Jimmy! Seriously, though, the Kenny Chesney experience was a great one. We'd love to open for another band some time."


Big shows or little, you guys play out alot. Any events you're looking forward to?

"We're very lucky to be on the road alot, do about 200 shows a year. This weekend we're going down to Tampa, Florida to play a Pre-Buffett show party for the Tampa Bay Parrot Head Club. We're also playing 'The Yard' (a bi-weekly house concert in the Tampa area - Fred). We're going to Lake Charles. Louisiana in June for the Pelican Coast Daze show, then on July 2nd we'll be in Naples, Florida for the 'Red, White & Tunes' event, benefiting the troops. On August 12 we're flying the whole band up to Branson, Missouri for 'Phlock at the Rock'. We're definitely looking forward to that."


You were saying you wish you had started playing Meeting Of The Minds (the annual Parrot Head gathering in Key West) earlier?

"I didn't grasp Meeting Of The Minds for years, the importance of it. I was late getting to the party. My calendar kept filling up around the Jacksonville area, just could never get away. Then, finally, in 2008 I went down with my guitar - no gigs booked - and had a great time. It was the best thing I ever did. Now I have a regular house gig at Willie T's. I encourage any musician who plays Trop Rock to go down there during MOTM (November 3-November 6 this year - Fred). Bring your guitar, soak it in - good things will happen."


Got any favorite local spots you want to share with people?

"In Jax Beach our favorite place is Billy's Boathouse (http://billysboathousegrill.com/). This will be the fifth year we'll be doing 'Flip Flops Sundays' the 2nd and 4th Sunday of each month. And a new place named Nippers is getting ready to open soon that's going to be great (http://www.nippersbeachgrille.com/). It's modeled after a place in the Abacos. Also, Hurricane Patty's down the road in St. Augustine (http://hurricanepattys.net/)."

http://jimmyparrishonline.com/

http://www.oceanwaves.com/

http://conch-house.com/

http://www.nav-a-gator.com

http://williets.com/

http://pages.suddenlink.net/pelicancoastdaze/index.html

http://redwhiteandtunes.com/

http://www.omphclub.com/Phlock_at_the_Rock.html

http://www.phip.com/MOTM.asp

http://www.go-abacos.com/theabs/marsh.html