17 AUG 2026 · Ask any bluegrass fan to list their top 5 singers and rhythm guitar players, and there’s a very strong likelihood David Parmley’s name will be on it. He is a masterful, nuanced, vocalist and interpreter of both traditional and contemporary bluegrass, and an industry mainstay over many decades.
David was born in southern California, February 1st, 1959, and raised on a musical diet of first-generation bluegrass. He developed an early interest in the artform and was singing perfect harmony parts by the age of 8. Under the guidance and encouragement of his father, journeyman banjoist, Don Parmley, David honed his skills, and co-founded his first professional band, the Bluegrass Cardinals, who released its first commercial recording, all before he was old enough to hold a valid driver’s license. By 1976 the Bluegrass Cardinals were well on their way to establishing their mark as a top-tier act and David’s emotive voice was attracting international acclaim. In their legendary career, the Bluegrass Cardinals released 18 full-length recordings considered the finest to come out of the 70’s and 80’s Bluegrass era and David collaborated on 2 successful solo projects.
In 2022 David was drawn back to the music he loves so much and signed with The 615 Hideaway Records label in Nashville Tennessee. So, it was very appropriate that David Parmley’s new album was aptly titled, So, What’d I Miss? Parmley hit the ground running with two back-to-back #1 hit singles “All Dressed Up” and “West Virginia” on the Bluegrass Today Weekly Airplay Chart. In addition, four more charted hit singles were released and all six were bluegrass radio favorites including “Goodbye To The Blues, “What Makes You Think”, “I’ll Be here In The Morning”, “If You Can’t Feel It”.
About Sam Passamano Jr. Sam Passamano II, has been associated with an abundance of music business family history and veteran experience through the years that surround his years in the music business. Sam, Sr. passed on to his son the knowledge, hard work ethics, music industry knowledge and credibility that followed him throughout his 36-year career as a distribution executive with DECCA, UNI and MCA Records. Also, Mr. Passamano, II passed on the tradition to the next generation. His oldest daughter and oldest son, (Sammy III), held key positions in the Rural Rhythm Records family business.
Sam II was on a high career track in the music business graduating from California Polytechnic University, Pomona in 1976 with a Bachelor of Science degree in marketing management and shortly after that becoming director of Marketing at MCA Records at the age of 23. Over the next six years Mr. Passamano acquired many areas of responsibility including management of all Marketing activities including In-house and Field Product Managers, Advertising, Merchandising, Publicity and development of all marketing campaigns for this 6-year period. Mr. Passamano had control of Advertising and Merchandising budgets that exceeded millions of dollars annually and was involved in the development and execution of many successful releases over this 6 year period including major titles by Elton John, Olivia Newton John, Steely Dan, Tom Petty, The Who, George Strait, Merle Haggard, Bill Monroe, Reba McEntire, Barbara Mandrell, Don Williams, Conway Twitty, Oak Ridge Boys, etc.
After building a large Bluegrass music catalogs of heritage and contemporary master recordings, Rural Rhythm Records and Sage Brush Music Publishing assets were sold to Primary Wave / Gaither Music Group in 2020 after Sam suffered an illness in 2019 but has since recovered to good health.