Parson James

Last updated

Parson James
Parson James shot by Luke Fontana.jpg
Born
Ashton Parson

(1994-06-07) June 7, 1994 (age 29)
Other namesParson James
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • model
Label RCA [1]
Website Official Website

Parson James (born June 7, 1994) is an American singer and songwriter. He is best known for his single "Stole the Show", a collaboration with Norwegian producer Kygo. The song became a hit in a number of countries as well as receiving certifications in Italy, New Zealand, Norway, and the United Kingdom. He has collaborated with various artists including on the song "Insomnia" by Audien. On February 5, 2016, he released his extended play release The Temple EP on Sony Music with a full studio album due later on RCA Records.

Contents

Biography

James was born Ashton Parson in Cheraw of an interracial relationship, with his father being black and his mother white. His mother, just 16, was kicked out of her parents' house because of the relationship. He and his single mother faced hardship in Cheraw, South Carolina, where he was born and raised and where he grew up singing hymns in church. [2] At 17, he decided to move to New York City, partly because he wanted wider possibilities than his conservative hometown would offer to a bi-racial and gay young man. [3]

James signed with RCA Records in early 2015 after the release of his first single, "Stole the Show", a collaboration he co-wrote with Kygo. [4] The song became a hit in a number of countries [2] as well as receiving certifications in Italy, New Zealand, Norway, and the United Kingdom. The video to the song was released at the YouTube Music Awards, with the duo also performing a cover of Tove Lo's single "Habits" on BBC One's Live Lounge. [5]

Parson followed-up with his solo debut, "Sinner Like You", a song produced by Elof Loelv. [6] [7] In addition to releasing his own music under RCA, he has collaborated with additional artists including on the song "Insomnia" by Audien. [8]

On February 5, 2016, he released his extended play release The Temple EP on Sony Music with a full studio album due later in the year on RCA Records. The EP included the title track "Temple", plus "Slow Dance with the Devil", "Sinner Like You", his great hit "Stole the Show" and finally "Waiting Game". James also appeared on Late Night with Seth Meyers performing "Temple" from the EP after having been featured with Kygo in February 2016, performing "Stole the Show" live on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon alongside Kygo. The track "Waiting Game" from The Temple EP got huge exposure when Trent Harmon, a contestant in season 15, the last season of the American Idol performed it after a suggestion by judge and mentor Keith Urban. [9] In April 2016, James was featured on the cover and in the pages of Hello Mr. , [10] and in November 2016 was picked as "Artist of the Month" by Elvis Duran performing his single "Sad Song" during the NBC's Today show with Kathie Lee and Hoda Kotb.

In February 2021, Parson James joined the roster of Prescription Songs. [11]

Discography

Extended plays

TitleDetailsTrack listPeak chart position
US Heat
[12]
The Temple
  • Released: February 5, 2016
  • Label: Sony Music
  • Format: Digital download
  1. "Temple" (4:09)
  2. "Slow Dance with the Devil" (3:27)
  3. "Sinner Like You" (3:50)
  4. "Stole the Show" (3:51)
  5. "Waiting Game" (3:52)
20

Singles

As lead artist

List of singles, with selected chart positions and certifications, showing year released and album name
TitleYearAlbum
"Religion"2014Non-album single
"Sinner Like You"2015The Temple EP
"Stole the Show"
(Solo version)
"Temple"
"Sad Song"2016Non-album singles
"Tennessee Whiskey" [13]
(with Stan Walker)
2017
"If You're Hearing This"
(with Hook N Sling & Betty Who)
"Only You"
"Minute"2019
"Oh Love"
(with Wrabel & VINCINT)
"High Tide, Low Tide"2020
"Bigger"
(Duet Version) (with Stan Walker)
"Dirty Laundry" (featuring JoJo)2021
"Little Fires"2023
List of singles, with selected chart positions and certifications, showing year released and album name
TitleYearPeak chart positions Certifications
US
Dance

AUS
[14]
AUT
[15]
FRA
[16]
GER
NL
[17]
NOR
[18]
NZ
[19]
SWE
[20]
SWI
[21]
UK
"Stole the Show"
(Kygo featuring Parson James)
201511532123141324
  • IFPI NOR: 3× Platinum
  • BPI: Silver
  • RIAA: Platinum [22]
"Insomnia" [23]
(Audien featuring Parson James)
32
"River" [24]
(The Knocks featuring Parson James)
2021
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kygo</span> Norwegian DJ and record producer (born 1991)

Kyrre Gørvell-Dahll, known professionally as Kygo, is a Norwegian DJ and record producer. He garnered international attention with his December 2013 remix of the track "I See Fire" by Ed Sheeran and his December 2014 single "Firestone". In late 2015, he reached 1 billion streams on Spotify faster than any other artist, and by June 2016, he had reached 2 billion streams.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Easton Corbin</span> American country music singer

Dan Easton Corbin is an American country music singer. He signed to Mercury Records Nashville in 2009 and released his self-titled debut album in March 2010, featuring the two number-one hits "A Little More Country Than That" and "Roll with It", as well as the number-14 hit "I Can't Love You Back". His second album, All Over the Road, was released in September 2012. Its first single, "Lovin' You Is Fun", was released in February 2012. The album's second single, "All Over the Road", was released in January 2013. As of 2021, he had sold over 500,000 albums and over 5 million singles. His song "Are You with Me" became an international hit in a remix version released by the Belgian DJ and record producer Lost Frequencies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miguel discography</span>

American R&B singer Miguel has released four studio albums, twenty-three singles, four mixtapes and seven EPs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Audien</span> American DJ and producer

Nathaniel "Nate" Rathbun, better known under his stage name Audien, is an American DJ and electronic music producer. Audien has released many singles and remixes for electronic record labels including Enhanced, Perceptive, Armada, Black Hole, and Nervous. His tracks have appeared on Corsten's Countdown, Tiësto's Club Life, Above & Beyond'sTrance Around The World, and Armin van Buuren's A State of Trance compilations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kim Cesarion</span> Swedish singer (born 1990)

Kim Hugo Leonel Niko Cesarion is a Swedish singer-songwriter of Guadeloupean and Greek origin. Cesarion is a classically trained musician. He studied at Lilla Akademien, a highly acclaimed music school in Stockholm, and plays several instruments including the violin, piano, double bass, and viola, as well as drums. He is signed with RCA, Sony Music and Columbia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alle Farben</span> German DJ and record producer (born 1985)

Frans Zimmer, better known by his stage name Alle Farben is a German DJ and producer. Since 2014 Zimmer is signed to the record label Guesstimate/b1 Recordings and the publishing house Budde Music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Conrad Sewell</span> Australian singer and songwriter

Conrad Ignatius Mario Maximilian Sewell is an Australian singer and songwriter. Sewell is best known for his vocals on Kygo's single "Firestone" and his number-one single "Start Again".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stole the Show</span> 2015 single by Kygo

"Stole the Show" is a song by Norwegian DJ and record producer Kygo, featuring vocals from American singer Parson James. It was released on 23 March 2015, becoming a hit in a number of countries and the biggest commercial success of Kygo besides "Firestone". Later, on 21 August 2015, a solo version by James was released. This version was included in his EP, The Temple.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gavin James (singer)</span> Irish singer-songwriter

Gavin Wigglesworth, known professionally as Gavin James, is an Irish singer-songwriter. In March 2013 and March 2016, he won two Choice Music Prize Irish Song of the Year award.

Dawin Polanco, better known mononymously as Dawin, is an American singer, songwriter, rapper and record producer from Brooklyn, New York. He is best known for the song "Dessert", which reached number 68 on the Billboard Hot 100.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Here for You (Kygo song)</span> 2015 single by Kygo featuring Ella Henderson

"Here for You" is a 2015 single by the Norwegian DJ and record producer Kygo. It features the vocals from British singer and songwriter Ella Henderson. It is the vocal version of Kygo's previous track, "ID", which was released on 10 February 2015.

Grace Sewell, known professionally as SayGrace, is an Australian singer and songwriter. She is best known for "You Don't Own Me", a cover version of the 1963 Lesley Gore song, produced by Quincy Jones, Parker Ighile and featuring G-Eazy. The song, a single from her debut album with Regime Music Societe and RCA Records, was a number-one hit in Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jack Garratt</span> English musician (born 1991)

Jack Robert Garratt is an English singer, songwriter and composer from Little Chalfont, Buckinghamshire. He released his debut studio album Phase on 19 February 2016. At the 2016 Brit Awards he received the Critics' Choice Award.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stay (Kygo song)</span> 2015 single by Kygo

"Stay" is a song by Norwegian DJ and record producer Kygo, featuring American singer Maty Noyes. The song was produced by Kygo with fellow Norwegian, William Wiik Larsen, who also wrote it with Noyes. It was released as the fourth single from Kygo's debut studio album, Cloud Nine (2016). An official music video for the song was released on 18 February 2016.

<i>Cloud Nine</i> (Kygo album) 2016 studio album by Kygo

Cloud Nine is the debut studio album by Norwegian DJ and record producer Kygo and features the likes of Maty Noyes, Conrad Sewell, Parson James, Tom Odell, Foxes, Matt Corby, Rhodes, Will Heard, Julia Michaels, James Vincent McMorrow, Kodaline, Labrinth, John Legend and Angus & Julia Stone. It was released on 13 May 2016 by Sony Music and Ultra Music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kygo discography</span>

Norwegian DJ and record producer Kygo has released four studio albums, one extended play, 43 singles, 8 promotional singles, 13 remixes and 29 music videos. According to Recording Industry Association of America, Kygo has sold 10 million certified albums and singles in the US, including the multi-platinum hits "It Ain't Me" with Selena Gomez and "Higher Love" with Whitney Houston.

Alessandro Michele Cavazza, mostly known as Sandro Cavazza, is a Swedish songwriter and singer of Italian origin. Besides his solo career he was also a member of the pop group Estraden.

"Stargazing" is a song by the Norwegian DJ and record producer Kygo. It features vocals of American singer Justin Jesso. The song was written by Kygo, Justin Jesso, Stuart Crichton and Jamie Hartman. The song was co-produced by Kygo, Stuart Crichton and Jamie Hartman.

<i>Kids in Love</i> (album) 2017 studio album by Kygo

Kids in Love is the second studio album by the Norwegian DJ and record producer Kygo, featuring John Newman, Jason Walker, Oliver Nelson, Bonnie McKee, OneRepublic, Wrabel, The Night Game, James Abrahart and Billy Raffoul. It was released by Sony Music and Ultra Music on 3 November 2017. The album's lead single and title track, "Kids in Love", was released on 20 October 2017.

<i>Golden Hour</i> (Kygo album) 2020 studio album by Kygo

Golden Hour is the third studio album by Norwegian tropical house DJ and record producer Kygo. It was released on 29 May 2020 by Sony Music.

References

  1. Peters, Mitchell (May 7, 2015). "New Signings: Elektra Signs Royal Teeth, Brett Eldredge Joins WME, Downtown Nabs RJD2". Billboard. Retrieved September 17, 2015.
  2. 1 2 Stern, Bradley (June 23, 2015). "Popcrush Presents: Parson James". Pop Crush. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
  3. Andre Wheeler (February 29, 2016). "Meet Rising LGBT Singer Parson James". Out.com. Retrieved April 6, 2016.
  4. Cooper, Duncan (August 20, 2015). "The Original Version of Kygo's 'Stole The Show' Slays Too". The Fader. Retrieved September 17, 2015.
  5. Middleton, Ryan (May 5, 2015). "Kygo, Parson James Cover Tove Lo 'Habits' in BBC1 Live Lounge". Music Times. Retrieved September 17, 2015.
  6. "Listen to Parson James' superb debut solo single Sinner Like You". Chart Shaker. July 26, 2015. Retrieved September 17, 2015.
  7. Wass, Mike (April 24, 2015). "Parson James Signs With RCA Records: Check Out His Kygo Collaboration 'Stole the Show'". Idolator. Retrieved September 17, 2015.
  8. Vain, Madison (July 1, 2015). "Audien's Lady Antebellumcollaboration 'Something Better' is everything you need to feel good today". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved September 17, 2015.
  9. Desk, BWW News. "Parson James's 'Waiting Game' Featured on AMERICAN IDOL; Watch Video for 'Temple'". BroadwayWorld.com.
  10. Lee, Peter Ash (April 14, 2016). "5 Things We Learned About Southern Singer Parson James from Hello Mr". OUT. Retrieved September 20, 2016.
  11. "Login • Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved February 9, 2022.{{cite web}}: Cite uses generic title (help)
  12. "Parson James - Chart History | Billboard". Billboard .
  13. "Tennassee Whiskey (single) by Stan Walker and Parson James". iTunes Australia. May 5, 2017. Retrieved May 5, 2017.
  14. "Parson James discography". australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved November 14, 2016.
  15. "Parson James discography". austriancharts.at. Hung Medien. Retrieved November 14, 2016.
  16. "Parson James discography". lescharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved November 14, 2016.
  17. "Parson James discography". dutchcharts.nl. Hung Medien. Retrieved November 14, 2016.
  18. "Parson James discography". norwegiancharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved November 14, 2016.
  19. "Parson James discography". charts.nz. Hung Medien. Retrieved November 14, 2016.
  20. "Parson James discography". swedishcharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved November 14, 2016.
  21. "Parson James discography". hitparade.ch. Hung Medien. Retrieved November 14, 2016.
  22. "American single certifications – Kygo – Stole The Show". Recording Industry Association of America.
  23. Farella, Dylan (March 3, 2015). "Audien – Insomnia (feat. Parson James)". Dancing Astronaut . Archived from the original on May 20, 2016. Retrieved July 30, 2018.
  24. "River (feat. Parson James) - Single by The Knocks on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved November 27, 2021.