Biography

Some might call it traditional. Others would say it's roots country, or even Americana. Call it whatever you like, but "Rye Whiskey Why" is a collection of songs about life. Be it real love or lost love, hard times and second chances, cheating and lying, or drinking and dying. Mike writes about the moments that warm our hearts and dry our tears...........and brings us down to earth with songs about the familiar and unavoidable truths of life sorrow, heartache and pain. Real life stuff this is!

Recorded in Burleson, Texas at Patriot Recording Studios with some of the finest Texas players imaginable. Two time Grammy award recipient Chris Booher - keyboard/fiddle, Gary Carpenter - pedal steel/dobro, Derek Spigener - drums, John Sharp - background vocals, Reggie Rouffer - fiddle, Tommy Nash - electric/acoustic guitar, Ron Jones - bass/acoustic guitar/dobro, Randy Elmore - Mandolin, Stefani Little - background vocals, Jai Hutcherson - studio engineer.

How do you sum it all up? Well, this is REAL COUNTRY MUSIC in its purest form the way it was meant to be. Pull up an ear and have a listen.
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Review by Timothy Edward Jones www.tejbooks.com
Once every 20 years or so, there comes at least one great singer/songwriter to Country music. Mike Parrish just happens to be that artist. Parrish's latest album "Rye Whiskey Why" is a testament to his natural ability to connect the most meaningful sentiments in song with a voice that is just as hungry and desperate as the pictures he's painted in his songs.

"Rye Whiskey Why" is a 10-song treasure that stirs a longing to hit the road and 'run, rope & ride.' The highlights of Parrish's album includes the upbeat cowboy anthem "Wild and Free." Its heavy steel guitar overtones sets the stage for a down and out drifting feeling that takes us down a lonesome Texas highway with our thumbs sticking in the wind.

"Lonely Fool" is as Texas as you can get. This track features a Bob Wills-style fiddle that infects the soul. Parrish's songwriting ability showcases his ultimate talent. Parrish has a way of writing in the simplest terms to get maximum results.

"Can't Drink My Blues Away" is yet another track that tears away the glitz of today's so-called Country music and gives us nothing but hardcore Texas Honky Tonk music.

The title cut "Rye Whiskey Why" mixes Merle Haggard guitar with a Hank Williams, Sr. style vocal and lyric. The steel guitar waves are reminiscent of Don Helms.

This album showcases an artist of the great Northwest who bares his Texas soul. Mike Parrish is a songwriter conveying his message of love, loss and ramblin' in terms all his own.
He's the Real Deal!