Courtesy Grand Ole Opry LLC, Photo by Jim McGuire
Pictured (L to R): The Hot Links: Steve Mackey, Lynn Williams, Kevin McKendree, James Pennebaker, Lee Roy Parnell
Parnell, whose hits include “On The Road,” “Love Without Mercy,” “I’m Holding My Own,” “Tender Moment” and "What Kind Of Fool Do You Think I Am,” has a deep-rooted friendship and collaborative history with The Hot Links: Steve Mackey (bass), Kevin McKendree (keys), James Pennebaker (guitar, mandolin, fiddle & steel guitar) and Lynn Williams (drums).
Parnell made great progressions within the country music industry as he was one of the first in the '90s to use his live band in the studio rather than studio musicians who were frequenters on Music Row. The result: Parnell and The Hot Links firing on all musical cylinders as can be experienced on Parnell’s country chart hits such as "Heart's Desire” and "A Little Bit Of You” and his highly acclaimed classic albums, We All Get Lucky Sometimes and Every Night's A Saturday Night. The Orlando Sentinel, in a vintage Lucky review, called Parnell a "fiery slide guitar player and, like Vince Gill, has a reputation as a musician's musician" and The Hot Links a “hard-driving, versatile band.”
“I always liked artists or bands that sounded unique,” Parnell explains. “My motto was ‘if I sound like everybody else, then what's the point?’ When it came to recordings, I always felt like the records should sound like the band live on the bandstand and vice versa, so I started putting my dream band together long before I came to Nashville.
“I’ve known James Pennebaker since we were 17 years old. The first time I heard James play (with our friend and mentor, Delbert McClinton) I knew that when the time came for me to put my band together, Brother James was my guy. The same can be said for Brother Lynn Williams on drums and Brother Steve Mackey on bass. I knew they belonged in this band long before I could hire them. Brother Reese Wynans, who had played with me in Austin and was with me again for a time after I had moved to Nashville, ultimately decided to stay home in favor of playing sessions. Blood brother, Rob Roy Parnell, and his harmonica had the gig with me since he was 12 years old, so he was on board. Then came our final member, Kevin McKendree, who was the perfect addition on keyboards, and that was the final and definitive Hot Link roster,” says Parnell.
A tradition has been established over the last several years, with Parnell playing The Franklin Theatre each fall, many times in a "Lee Roy Parnell & Friends" format with special guests, but this will be the first time Parnell and The Hot Links, along with special guest and honorary band member Rob Roy Parnell, have performed together at one of these unique shows.
“The Franklin Theatre is — and always has been — my baby,” says Parnell, adding, “we love the staff and the vibe at ‘The Franklin.’ The production is top notch! We all live within 30 minutes from there, and it’s always one of the last shows of the year. This show is always a homecoming! That goes for our friends and fans, too.”
When Lee Roy Parnell and The Hot Links once again join forces on Nov. 20 at The Franklin Theatre, the reunion has all the makings of becoming a truly legendary evening of music.
"We are going to throw down and have a whole lot of fun,” says Parnell. “This will be a special night."
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