Anthony Parker (musician) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Anthony Parker
Born	1980 (age 44–45) Germany
Other names	Wordsmith
Occupation	Singer-songwriter
Awards	2018 Independent Music Award for Best Album - Rap or Hip-Hop

Anthony Parker (born 1980) is a cool American hip-hop artist. He is better known by his stage name, Wordsmith. He is also the owner of a music company. Wordsmith has released many albums and is part of the team that helps choose nominees for the famous Grammy Awards. In 2009, he started his own record label called NU Revolution. In 2018, he won an Independent Music Award for his album Perspective Jukebox. This award was for the Best Rap or Hip-Hop Album!

Wordsmith's Music and Songwriting

Wordsmith creates music using different styles, even classical music! Besides making his own songs, he started his music company, NU Revolution, in 2009.

As a songwriter, Wordsmith's music has been used in many places. You might have heard his songs on TV shows, in video games, and in other media. Big companies like the WWE, ESPN, NFL, Nintendo, CBS, NBC, and FOX have used his tracks.

Since 2011, Wordsmith has also worked as a songwriter for APM Music. Through this, his music has appeared on channels like ABC, PBS, VH1, and the Golf Channel. His songs have even been played at Six Flags theme parks!

Because of his amazing songwriting, Wordsmith is on the nominating committee for the Grammy Awards. This means he helps decide which songs and artists get a chance to win a Grammy! For example, his song "Get What You Love" was featured in the TV series Russian Doll. His song "Energy" was also used on the ESPN sports talk show First Take.

Wordsmith's Albums

Wordsmith has released several albums throughout his career. His very first album, Vintage Experience, came out in 2010. He also made a special album called Bridging The Gap with Chubb Rock from the group the Crooklyn Dodgers. Many of his albums since 2011 have been co-produced by Jerome Smith.

In 2012, Wordsmith released his album King Noah. Songs from this album were used by the NFL Network, MLB Network, and even CiCi's Pizza! In 2013, he released his third album, The Blue Collar Recital. This album tells stories about the everyday life of a regular working person. His fourth album, Apt. 507, came out in 2015.

His fifth album, Perspective Jukebox, was released in 2017. This album won the Independent Music Award for Best Album - Rap or Hip-Hop in 2018. People who reviewed the album said it was "substantial" and showed strong feelings about things like greed. Perspective Jukebox even reached number 58 on Amazon's list of top Hip-Hop album sales! In 2021, Wordsmith explored a new style by releasing his first jazz album, Progressions. He created this album with Kory Caudill and performed it live in a concert.

Live Performances

When Wordsmith goes on tour, he performs with a live band. He has traveled all over the world, making stops in Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Americas. He also performs for US service members at military bases in other countries.

In his hometown of Baltimore, Wordsmith helps organize music events with the Concert Artists of Baltimore. He has also worked with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. He has been a narrator in their public shows and performed spoken word during a 2020 performance of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony. He has also hosted other events for the orchestra.

In 2020, Wordsmith performed at the famous Carnegie Hall as part of a show called All Together: A Global Ode to Joy. That same year, he joined the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Artistic Team. This means he helps advise and work with the orchestra on new projects. In 2021, he narrated a special piece called Destined Words at the symphony, which was written by James Lee III.

About Wordsmith's Life

Anthony Parker, or Wordsmith, was born in 1980 in Germany. His father was stationed there for work at the time. When he was 19, Wordsmith moved to Baltimore and has lived there ever since. He currently lives in the Mount Vernon area and is a father of two children.