As David Parks strolls The University of Memphis campus sporting his black t-shirt, not-too-tight sleek silverish pants and black-rimmed glasses, fellow students greet him with handshakes and nods of acknowledgment for his accomplishments as an electric bassist.
The 24-year-old senior studio and jazz performance major said his goal is to bring back the reputation Memphis music held in the Stax ‘70s era.
"I want to be able to bring to Memphis what other cities have. I want Memphis to have that same vibe as Atlanta, as L.A.," he said. "I think it's not because of a lack of talent. I think it's a lack of drive and a lack of motivation."
Three years ago, Parks co-founded Trump Tight, a Memphis "swag" compilation band. He played his Lakland five-string bass in over 80 cities with Sean Kingston during Justin Bieber's My World 2.0 tour. He also competed for two months in MTV's Sean "Diddy" Combs' "Making His Band" in 2009.
"I went from Miami to L.A. and back. We did Madison Square, The Staples Center, FedEx Forum," Parks said. "I still play with Sean to this day. I'm probably about to go to China in a couple of months."
Parks, a born and raised Memphian, wasn't always a bassist. When he was younger, he mostly painted and played sports. In tenth grade at Overton High School, he picked up his passion — the electric bass.
"I've always been a fan of all music," Parks said with a smile on his face. "The bass is always the foundation in any form of music. I knew it would be an instrument I'd enjoy playing. I didn't know I'd make my career with it."
Trump Tight features a heavy jazz influence with a blend of different music genres ranging from hip-hop to country. The four current members incorporate different professional musicians by jamming with them and determining whether they bring the right sound to the mix.
"Not that I'm cocky, but everything we do is dope," Parks said on behalf of his band. "There's a reason why it's dope. We don't half-ass it. We put a lot of time and a lot of effort and resources into it."
Claude Hinds, another founding member and keyboardist for Trump Tight, met Parks nine years ago in a local jazz band. Now, Hinds and Parks collaborate on Trump Tight's original material.
"(Trump Tight) is like no other experience. I strongly believe it has the best players in the city," Hinds said. "We probably play with at least 90 percent of the artists in the city. Our motto is, ‘The best band with the best hands,'" referring to a poker hand.
Before college, Parks watched Tim Goodwin, associate music professor, play bass during music events at The University. Nowadays, Parks jams with Goodwin and said his playing and teaching abilities are "genius."
"A lot of teachers can teach, but can't play. Tim can do both," Parks said.
Tim Goodwin met Parks while he was in high school, and said he is a "gifted, naturally great musician."
"If there was one flaw, it's that he is so gifted that sometimes I tell him something he already knows what the sound is," Goodwin said. "The theoretical explanation of that is either shocking or confusing."
Goodwin said Memphis has a reputation for providing America with great music and musicians, but is unsure if Parks' success will catch on.
"David does have the ability to bring attention to the city, but primarily within the music community," he said. "We'll see what happens with the public at large."
Goodwin heard Parks and members of Trump Tight play "hundreds of times," and said when you play with a group of musicians that long, an understanding with one another tends to develop.
"It's kind of a magical situation with them," Goodwin said. "They energize each other. They spur creativity."
Parks acknowledges the difficulty of getting Memphians to come and watch shows, but once a "brand" is developed, people know to come feast their eyes.
"That's my whole concept for the world. If you build something that's undeniable then no one can deny it," he said. "People will gravitate to it."
