Parmalee

Parmalee is a Southern Rock/Country band based in Greenville, North Carolina that formed in 2001. Their name was derived from the small, southern town of Parmele, NC, located a couple miles from their hometown, where they started creating music in a small barn. Parmalee consists of lead singer and guitarist Matt Thomas, bassist and vocalist Barry Knox (Matt and Scott Thomas' cousin),Josh McSwain (lead guitar, vocals, and friend), and drummer Scott Thomas (Matt's brother). With the release of their first EP, Daylight, in 2002, the band drew attention from fans everywhere, stemming from their song "Broken Records". The Band eventually caught the eye of producer David Bendeth of RCA. Bendeth invited Parmalee to record three songs at Water Music Studios in Hoboken, NJ, which led to a publishing deal with Los Angeles-based Windswept Publishing. Following the publishing deal came an invitation from Bendeth to record the remainder of the 12 songs that comprised the band's first full-length debut album, Inside, released in 2004. Parmalee spent nearly 2 years touring and promoting the album, garnishing a solid fanbase throughout the Southeastern United States. In 2005, Parmalee released a live acoustic album entitled "Parmalee Unplugged" and a documentary-style DVD "Inside Live." In 2006, the band went to Los Angeles to begin recording with producer Stevo Bruno. The band split their time between touring the East coast and recording in California. Nikki Sixx, bassist of Mötley Crüe, collaborated with Parmalee on several tracks, both writing and producing. Parmalee recorded the majority of the tracks in Los Angeles, but decided to get back to their Southern Roots and headed to Nashville to write, produce, and mix the remainder of the record with producer Kevin Beamish. Parmalee released their next EP, entitled Complicated in 2008. Following the release, Parmalee toured extensively, selling thousands of copies of "Complicated", and creating fans by the thousands. With hit songs like "Carolina", "Complicated", and "San Diego", the guys in Parmalee proved to be formidable songwriters. In 2009, the band started making trips to Nashville to co-write more frequent and found a new home in the local songwriting community. The band spent the majority of 2010 touring the East Coast and making trips to Nashville to write and record. Parmalee remains to be one of the top independent acts on the eastern seaboard and has a mecca of followers that have taken to their huge hearts and have found meaning in the songs that they have written.

Robbery attempt

The band were the victims of an attempted robbery in Rock Hill, SC on September 21, 2010. The band had just finished playing at The Money, a local bar directly across from Winthrop University, and were in their RV when two suspects, Dytavis Hinton and Demario Burris, entered the vehicle with a handgun demanding money. At this time, Scott Thomas came out from the back of the bus with his own gun and told them to leave. The gunman, Burris, opened fire and Scott was shot in the leg, stomach and shoulder.^[1] Scott returned fire, hitting both suspects, killing Burris and wounding Hinton. Scott was treated at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, NC, where doctors gave him a 5% chance of living. He underwent 4 life-saving surgeries and fought his way through a 32 day stay at CMS before being released to Pitt Memorial Hospital in Greenville, NC for an additional 7 days and two more surgeries. A fund, www.helpparmalee.com was established by friends and fans to help Scott Thomas and Parmalee pay medical bills and living expenses.^[2]

After a miracoulous recovery, extensive therapy, and support and prayers from fans, family, and friends, Scott made his way back to the drums in only 3 1/2 months. Parmalee played their first show on Jan. 29. 2011 to a sold out crowd at Tie Breakers in Greenville NC.

On July 12, 2011, the surviving robber, Dytavis Hinton pled guilty to attempted murder, armed robbery, conspiracy and burglary and was sentenced to 20 years in prison.^[3]

Discography

Daylight (2002)

1. Daylight
2. The Meaning
3. Broken Records
4. Looking At You
5. This Way

Inside (2004)

1. Photograph
2. Under My Skin
3. Sun Die
4. (Reprise)
5. Inside You
6. Broken Records
7. Soundtrack
8. Seven Years
9. Was It Everything
10. Wrapped Up
11. Never Hear a Word
12. Throwing It All Away

Complicated (2008)

1. Gasoline
2. Complicated
3. Carolina
4. Only the Good Die Young
5. San Diego
6. Wash

Discography (disregarding different EPs re-releasing songs) obtained from Itunes
Info found at http://www.sputnikmusic.com/album.php?albumid=27892 and http://www.sputnikmusic.com/bands.php?full=1&bandid=9784

References