Not shy about his Texas heritage, Parker McCollum is a thirty year old singer and songwriter specializing in sad, slow country love songs where everything goes wrong. Crediting George Strait’s “Amarillo by Morning”, Townes Van Zandt, and Willie Nelson as musical influences, McCollum aims to find the balance between staying in the Texas music scene and the pop-country sounds of Nashville.
Parker Yancey McCollum was born on June 15, 1992 in the small town of Conroe, TX just north of Houston. From an early age he grew up surrounded by music, having listened to Willie Nelson and Buck Owens and was even introduced to red dirt musicians by his family. In elementary school he learned how to play the violin for his school’s orchestra and picked up playing the guitar at thirteen. By age sixteen he was writing his own songs and playing gigs at small local establishments. Soon after graduating high school, McCollum moved to Austin to pursue his music career and immerse himself in the live music scene while attending college.
Not long after the move, music won out and McCollum signed a deal to tour with the Texas Ban Six Market Blvd. While on tour, he was inspired to write the lyrics of his first released song “Highway” which was later included on his debut EP A Red Town View. This EP only had four songs, but was just the beginning.
In February of 2015 McCollum independently dropped his first full album titled The Limestone Kid, a homage to growing up in Limestone County, TX and one of his childhood nicknames. The album included styles like Americana, Texas country and folk rock. Despite being his first album, it was a great success. McCollum’s songs don’t shy away from the hardships in relationships and life, but rather describe them in blatant honesty giving people something to relate to.
In 2017 McCollum released two EP’s: Probably Wrong: Session 1 and Probably Wrong: Session 2. Session 1 was his first release to appear on any chart, reaching number six on Billboard’s Heat seekers chart and even made appearances on Billboard folk and indie charts as well. The full album was released later in the year and included some of his most popular songs like “Hell of a Year” and “I Can’t Breathe.”
After touring, McCollum signed with Universal Music Group in 2019 and went on to release “Pretty Heart” which details the downfall of a relationship. In the song, Parker sings that he’s been “drinking like a drunkard in these Austin neon lights” referencing the uniqueness that the city is known for.
Under the same label in 2021 McCollum released Golden Chain Cowboy which made a top ten showing on the Country albums chart and hit number 60 on the Billboard 200. Having either wrote or co-wrote ever song on the album, this album shows even more growth in music styles, having a more polished sound while not straying from McCollum’s roots. It expands on the lone drifter feeling with a collection of songs riddled with mistakes, disappointments, and the hunger that drives people to move forward. Parker says “I’ve lived every one of these songs… on every album” showing that pain and life experiences radiate across all people. He spent his summers growing up helping on his Grandfather’s cattle ranch surrounded by the rodeo life which he credits as an influence to the Texan experience in his music.
The album also features songs “Dallas” and “Why Indiana” which both have strong Texas references. “Why Indiana” talks about a new age breakup over the phone where McCollum is wondering why it couldn’t have happened in any city, specifically San Antonio. As the namesake would suggest, “Dallas” is about the heartache that would occur if he stayed in the city without his love, and how leaving is just as painful as staying. Despite having similar themes as the rest of the album, “Dallas” is upbeat and ” kind of came out of nowhere. One night I was in a rehearsal, and I’d been writing a lot of slow, sad country songs, and we had taken a break,” which led to the chorus of the song.
In March of 2022 he went on to win New Male Artist of the Year at the American Country Music Awards and went on to release his next single, “Handle on You” later that year. McCollum is currently releasing singles while on tour and is gearing up to drop his latest album in 2023.
Sources
Barnett, Amy. “Parker McCollum – Living the Dream, from Houston to Nashville.” Your Destination for Local Living, https://citylifestyle.com/houston-tx/articles/entertainment/parker-mccollum-living-the-dream-from-conroe-to-nashville.
“Biography.” Parkermccollum.com, https://www.parkermccollum.com/bio/.
Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. “Parker McCollum Biography, Songs, & Albums.” AllMusic, https://www.allmusic.com/artist/parker-mccollum-mn0003377460/biography.
Evans, Sid. “Parker McCollum on Growing Up in Texas and His Family’s Influence on His Career.” Southern Living, Southern Living, 19 July 2022, https://www.southernliving.com/biscuits-and-jam-podcast/parker-mccollum-season3-ep9.
Kawashima, Dale. “Parker McCollum Interview – Writing His Hit Songs, Gold Chain Cowboy.” SongwriterUniverse, 17 Nov. 2022, https://www.songwriteruniverse.com/parker-mccollum-interview-2022.htm.
