Parmley, David

DAVID PARMLEY (AND CARDINAL TRADITION)

  • From Nashville (White House, Tennessee), but grew up in Los Angeles, California.
  • 1974, began playing bluegrass professionally at age 17 with his father Don in the Bluegrass Cardinals. David sang lead and played guitar.
  • 1989, released first solo project I Know a Good Thing (Sugar Hill).
  • 1993, left the Cardinals and moved to Nashville to pursue a solo career in country music.
  • 1993, released Southern Heritage album (Rebel).
  • 1994, formed Continental Divide (AKA David Parmley, Scott Vestal and Continental Divide) with Scott Vestal (banjo), Rickie Simpkins (fiddle), Jimmy Bowen (mandolin), Mike Anglin (bass) and Randy Kohrs (Dobro™).
  • 1995, released David Parmley, Scott Vestal & Continental Divide album (Pinecastle).
  • 1995, Continental Divide won the IBMA Award for Emerging Artist of the Year.
  • 1996, released On the Divide album (Pinecastle).
  • 1998, Vestal departed and the band name was changed to Continental Divide, then David Parmley and Continental Divide.
  • 1999, released “There’ll Always Be a Rocking Chair” album (Pinecastle).
  • 2001, released What We Leave Behind album (Pinecastle).
  • 2002, released Pathway of Time album (Pinecastle).
  • 2002, Randy Graham (formerly with Bluegrass Cardinals, Doyle Lawson, BlueRidge) joined the band.
  • 2002, his tour bus was destroyed by fire when it collided with a gas tank on the highway.
  • 2002, formed a part-time band called White House (all members of this band were from White House, Tennessee).
  • 2005, released “Long Time Coming” album (CMH).
  • 2006, released Best of David Parmley & Continental Divide album (Pinecastle).
  • 2007, released “Church House Hymns” album (Pinecastle).
  • 2008, released Three Silver Dollars album (Pinecastle).
  • 2008, took a hiatus from performing because of health problems.
  • 2010, returned to performing with his band Continental Divide.
  • 2012, retired from music. Began driving and maintaining tour buses for various artists (such as Rascal Flatts.)
  • 2015, began performing and touring again with his new band Cardinal Tradition.
  • 2019, retired from music again. Several of his band members formed a new band called Fast Track: Ron Spears (bass), Dale Perry (banjo) and Steve Day (fiddle). Joining them: Jesse Brock (mandolin) and Duane Sparks (guitar).
  • 2022, formed a new band with Larry Stephenson and Randy Graham called the Bluegrass Cardinals Tribute Band.