Inside Mormon Music: Inside the life of a songwriter

Twelve-year-old Richard Parkinson wanted to impress a cute girl in his eighth grade class. So what did he do? He wrote her a song, of course."I worked really hard to make that song as good as I could and then played it in front of the whole student body. I thought it might impress her so much that she might 'go with me' (I think that was the term back then). It did make an impression on her — she didn't talk to me for about six weeks. I didn't write any more songs for girls, at least not for a while," Parkinson said.Parkinson's inspiration for his songs has expanded since then to everything around him. He sees song potential in everything.__IMAGE1__"I imagine I look around at the world a little differently than most. I try to listen, to really hear what is going on around me. Sometimes it's something little like the precious laugh of a child, or how they smile when you give them a cookie, or how the bird outside pretends he doesn't see you, but we all know that he can. My own personal motto as a writer is 'THAT could be a song,' because I think anything can become something interesting in a song, as long as it exists and you can find a way to put a cool twist to it."Parkinson not only sees song potential in everything, but he also sees great potential in every songwriter. As the Salt Lake/Provo chapter president of NSAI (Nashville Songwriters Association International), Parkinson meets monthly with local songwriters and gives valuable feedback to help them strengthen their songs. "I try to be there to support and lift and love each writer to their potential," he said. "There is so much talent in our area and I sincerely hope that everyone finds their place with that talent and prospers."Parkinson's talents expand from songwriting to arranging and producing. He recently co-produced and arranged three songs (with Sam Cardon) on David Archuleta's "Christmas from the Heart" album."I have actually worked with David for about four years, performing with him all over the place, and this was the culmination of a lot of hard work and sacrifice. David is an amazing talent, an even better person, and I'll say what I've heard said by many. He deserves everything that comes his way."Parkinson is grateful to get to do what he loves. It's an incredible feeling to know you can make someone else's day a little brighter through a song you've created."I remember standing in the room where one of my arrangements was being broadcast worldwide and thinking that this song could be affecting somebody's life in a way that they might want to be a better person, somebody that I may never meet," he said. "I think that we all carry responsibilities through the talents that we have been given to take care of each other, lift each other, and make each other feel good. Some talents are more on display than others and sometimes I wish it wasn't that way because it's the small, what we would consider 'insignificant' talents that really make the world go around."Being LDS in the music industry actually makes it much easier for Parkinson because his feet are planted and he knows where he stands."I can't imagine not having the knowledge of what happiness the gospel can bring you and trying to find your way through this industry."On the other side, Parkinson has deepened his understanding of the gospel from his experiences in the music industry."I have learned...how to not be judgmental and to give people allowances for the decisions that they make. Everyone makes mistakes and I try really hard to keep an attitude of forgiveness. It just makes it easier to move forward and keep friends. I hope others will do the same with me because heaven knows I make mistakes," he said.All of these experiences help him to create music that lifts and opens eyes and hearts."It's just so amazing to have a vehicle like music at our disposal to enrich the lives of those around us."Parkinson has many more songs to bring to life. Since everything could be a song, he has only started to scratch the surface.Parkinson will be performing March 5 with Critter who's opening for the Courage to Shine benefit concert for Bulgarian orphanages. For more information, visit www.oneheart-bg.org.