Anthony Parker (musician)

Last updated
Anthony Parker
Anthony Parker (Wordsmith) photo.jpg
Born1980 (age 42–43)
Germany
Other namesWordsmith
OccupationSinger-songwriter
Awards2018 Independent Music Award for Best Album - Rap or Hip-Hop

Anthony Parker (born 1980), known by his stage name Wordsmith, is an American hip-hop artist and music label owner. He has released five albums over his career, and is a member of the nominating committee for the Grammy Awards as a songwriter. In 2009, he founded the NU Revolution record label. In 2018, he was the recipient of the Independent Music Award for Best Album - Rap or Hip-Hop for his fifth studio album, Perspective Jukebox.

Contents

Songwriting

Wordsmith uses different genres in his musical compositions, including Classical. [1] In addition to his recording career, he founded the NU Revolution recording label [2] in 2009. [3] As a songwriter, he has licensed his music to television, video games, and other mediums—for organizations such as the WWE, ESPN, NFL, Nintendo, CBS, NBC, and FOX. [4] In 2011 Wordsmith also became a songwriter for APM Music, working with companies including ABC, PBS, VH1, the Golf Channel, and Six Flags. [3] He is a member of the nominating committee for the Grammy Awards due to his songwriting credits. [5] Television series that have included his music have included Russian Doll , which used his track "Get What You Love". [6] His music has also been used during television shows including ESPN sports talk show First Take , which featured his song "Energy". [7]

Albums

Wordsmith's first album was Vintage Experience, released in 2010. [8] He also released Bridging The Gap, a collaborative record created with Chubb Rock of the group the Crooklyn Dodgers. [3] Several of his albums were co-produced by Jerome Smith since 2011. [9] In 2012 Wordsmith released the album King Noah. Songs from the album were licensed by the NFL Network, MLB Network and CiCi's Pizza. [3] In 2013 Wordsmith release his third album, The Blue Collar Recital. [10] The concept of the album is to track the normal moments of the day for a blue collar worker. [11] In 2015 he released his fourth album Apt. 507. [9] In 2017 Wordsmith released his fifth album, Perspective Jukebox. [12] The album received the Independent Music Award for Best Album - Rap or Hip-Hop in 2018. [13] [14] Reviews of the work have called it “substantial ... expressing disgust over greed and modern day values.” [15] The album reached number 58 on Amazon's top Hip-Hop albums sales chart. [16] In 2021 he released his first jazz album Progressions, composed with Kory Caudill, and performed alongside them in a concert following the launch. [17]

Performances

While touring, Wordsmith travels with a live band. [18] He has made stops in Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Americas. He also performs for US service members at military bases overseas. In his home town of Baltimore, he co-organizes music events with the Concert Artists of Baltimore. [9] Wordsmith has also partnered with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, acting as narrator in public performances [19] and performing spoken word during a 2020 performance of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony. [7] He has also emceed other events for the organization. [20] In 2020 he performed at the Carnegie Hall as a part of the ensemble that presented the show All Together: A Global Ode to Joy. [21] In 2020 he was named to the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Artistic Team, to “serve as an advisor and collaborator, presenting original orchestral projects throughout the season” according to Baltimore Magazine. [22] In 2021 he narrated the commissioned work Destined Words at the symphony, written by James Lee III. [23]

Personal life

Wordsmith was born in 1980 while his father was stationed in Germany [9] and eventually became a native from Baltimore at the age of 19. [12] He currently lives in the Mount Vernon area and is the father of two children. [9]

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References

  1. ↑ "Baltimore Hip-Hop Artist Brings Rhymes to Strathmore". www.nbcwashington.com. NBC Washington.
  2. ↑ "INTERVIEW: Wordsmith is ready to make his 'Statement' - Hollywood SOAPBOX". 4 January 2018.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Wordsmith "The Blue Collar Recital" Release Date, Cover Art & Tracklist". HipHopDX. 15 July 2013.
  4. ↑ "An Interview With The Baltimore-Based Musician, WORDSMITH!". music.allaccess.com. All Access Music. 2 August 2017.
  5. ↑ "Hype Magazine Exclusive: Wordsmith releases dope new album 'Perspective Jukebox'". Hype Magazine. 21 July 2017.
  6. ↑ "Episode 2: Wordsmith, "Get What You Love"". Refinery29. February 2019.
  7. 1 2 Sameer Rao (December 26, 2019). "Sounds of the city: 12 of Baltimore's best musicians tease their 2020 plans". Baltimore Sun.
  8. ↑ "Wordsmith - Vintage Experience". HipHopDX. 8 April 2010.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 Case, Wesley (29 August 2016). "Name to know: Wordsmith, rapper". The Baltimore Sun.
  10. ↑ "Wordsmith's Unique Decisions for "Blue Collar Recital"". Mic Life Magazine. 13 October 2013.
  11. ↑ "Review: Wordsmith - The Blue Collar Recital". Slug Magazine. 30 October 2013.
  12. 1 2 Producer, Morning (20 July 2017). "Wordsmith: Motivational Hip Hop". Fox Baltimore.
  13. ↑ "US rapper, musician, entrepreneur Wordsmith to visit Azerbaijan". news.az.
  14. ↑ "THE 16TH INDEPENDENT MUSIC AWARDS WINNERS - Independent Music Awards". Independent Music Awards.
  15. ↑ "WORDSMITH – 'PERSPECTIVE JUKEBOX'". skopemag.com. Skope Magazine. 3 July 2017.
  16. ↑ "Wordsmith discusses his new album 'Perspective Jukebox'". Hype Magazine. 24 August 2017.
  17. ↑ "Concert for the Human Family celebrates connection through music and storytelling". 18 May 2021.
  18. ↑ Shipley, Al. "Rap Sheet: Dirt Platoon, Wordsmith, and Future Fest". Baltimore City Paper.
  19. ↑ "Carnival of the Animals". Baltimore Symphony Orchestra.
  20. ↑ "Tony Winner Cynthia Erivo to Perform With Baltimore Symphony Orchestra". Playbill.
  21. ↑ "VIDEO: Learn With Carnegie Hall Presents ALL TOGETHER: A GLOBAL ODE TO JOY".
  22. ↑ "The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Enters a New Era". 21 September 2020.
  23. ↑ "The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Honors Marin Alsop a Live-Streamed Gala Celebration Featuring Renée Fleming". 6 May 2021.
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