The schedule of an up-and-coming country music star can be demanding.
But one K-State alumnus whose musical stock is on the rise in Nashville, Tenn., found time this weekend to return home and help an old friend.
Dave Parks, a Nashville-based country singer/songwriter, independent recording artist and 1998 K-State graduate, returned to his college stomping grounds Saturday night to perform as part of the grand opening of Misty's, a new sports bar in Westloop Shopping Center.
The rising Nashville star and his band treated about 150 attendees, who purchased $8 tickets, to a four-hour set of patriotic pop-country.
Misty Wege, owner of the bar, said she had known Parks for a number of years, and he approached her with the idea of performing to help promote Misty's first night.
"He was very willing to come here and play, and we saw it as a way of getting more people to come for our opening," said Wege, who also used to watch Parks perform years ago at her first bartending job in Randolph, Kan.
Wege said she was pleased with the results of the country show/grand opening of her sports bar.
"I thought that the turnout was great and that Dave did a wonderful job," Wege said. "I really couldn't have asked for more."
In recent years, Parks has done more than just perform for the grand openings of local bars. According to a press release, the title track of Parks' new CD, "Livin' an American Dream," recently debuted on local radio.
Fans recently voted to give the first single's music video, which premiered nationally in March, the prize for best video at NBC TV's "It's Your Show" Web site.
In addition to airing on local radio, the single, "Livin' an American Dream," has been making its debut on other mid- and large-market radio stations around the country.
Sales of Parks' new album have spiked on the independent artist Web site CDBaby.com.
Parks' press release said he caught the attention of many in Nashville, including famed singer Craig Morgan and former Country Music Association president and veteran talent agent Tandy Rice.
Parks recently signed on to appear in a movie alongside Stella Parton, sister of Dolly Parton, and Mark Collie, among others. Parks co-wrote the film's title theme, "A Father's Choice."
Also, George Jones University selected Parks as a featured guest at its quarterly clinic in Nashville last month.
After Saturday night's show in Manhattan, Parks continued touring the places of his past, visiting his hometown of Oxford, Kan., where he performed at his former high school's auditorium on Sunday night.
To learn more about the country artist or listen to his tracks, go to www.myspace.com/daveparksnashville.com.
is a member of the 
