Ashley Parker Angel
Encyclopedia
Ashley Parker is an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 singer and actor also known as Ashley Parker Angel.

Early years

Ashley Parker was born Ashley Ward Parker, the child of Darren and Paula Parker, and raised in the town of Redding, California. His grandparents are of German and Irish descent. Ashley was named after the fictional character Ashley Wilkes
Ashley Wilkes
George Ashley Wilkes is a fictional character in the Margaret Mitchell's 1936 novel Gone with the Wind and the later film of the same name. The character also appears in the 1991 book Scarlett, a sequel to Gone with the Wind written by Alexandra Ripley, and in Rhett Butler's People by Donald...

, his mother’s favorite character from Margaret Mitchell’s 1937 novel Gone with the Wind
Gone with the Wind
The slaves depicted in Gone with the Wind are primarily loyal house servants, such as Mammy, Pork and Uncle Peter, and these slaves stay on with their masters even after the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863 sets them free...

, which later became a classic film of the same title. When Ashley was three years old, his parents divorced. His mother later remarried, and Ashley was legally adopted by his stepfather, Ron Angel, who is of American Indian descent. He then legally assumed the name by which he is also known as, “Ashley Parker-Angel.” He has two brothers, Taylor and Justin and two sisters, Annie and Emily.

From a very early age, Ashley studied the piano, as his mother Paula was a successful piano teacher with many students of her own. He was by nature active and adventurous. In one incident, at the age of nine he inadvertently set fire to his elementary school’s football and soccer fields due to the explosion of a model rocket he had launched on school property; local police charged him with a misdemeanor.

As an adolescent, he was hired in an open casting call by the California-based video game company Working Designs
Working Designs
Working Designs was an American video game publisher that specialized in the localization of Japanese console role-playing games, strategy video games and top-down shooters for various video game platforms. Though the company had published many 'cult hits', it was known best to fans as the...

, who produced many cult-hit role-playing games that required extensive voice acting. Ashley went on to voice characters in many popular Sega and PlayStation video games, including the lead character Alex in the classic Lunar: The Silver Star
Lunar: The Silver Star
is a role-playing video game developed by Game Arts and Studio Alex for the Mega-CD console. Originally released in Japan on June 16, 1992 to critical acclaim, the game was translated and released in English by Working Designs the following year...

.

During his teenage years, Ashley also worked the game help phone lines at Working Designs, and as a lifeguard at both a local water park and Whiskeytown Lake. He later worked at ShopKo, a regional chain. While there, with each transaction, he would sweet-talk customers into filling out the feedback card he included with their purchase and asked them to mention him if they felt he did a good job. This tactic resulted in his ascent to the position as top employee in the entire store chain based on customer feedback. Always drawn to performing, at 16 he signed with a small talent agency in his hometown and began searching for opportunities to work in entertainment.

O-Town and Making the Band

In 2000 Ashley Parker Angel achieved fame on the hit ABC series Making the Band
Making the Band
Making the Band is an ABC/MTV reality television series that exists in separate iterations, each iteration focusing on a specific music act. It spawned musical acts O-Town, Da Band, Danity Kane, Day26, and Donnie Klang...

, which tracked the formation of a pop music group. The MTV production was the first reality show to be picked up by a major television network. Weekly, viewers saw Angel, after first being plucked from tens of thousands of other auditionees, survive each stage of the selection process to become one of the “final five” members of the new vocal group O-Town.

Making the Band band manager Lou Pearlman
Lou Pearlman
Louis Jay "Lou" Pearlman is a former impresario of the successful 1990s boy bands such as The Backstreet Boys, *NSYNC, Take 5, O-Town and US5. In 2006, it was discovered that Pearlman had perpetrated one of the largest and longest-running Ponzi schemes in American history, leaving more than $300...

, who had been responsible for the formation of groups such as The Backstreet Boys
Backstreet Boys
The Backstreet Boys are an American vocal group, formed in Orlando, Florida in 1993. The band originally consisted of A. J. McLean, Howie Dorough, Brian Littrell, Nick Carter and Kevin Richardson. They rose to fame with their debut international album, Backstreet Boys...

 and ’N Sync (the show’s concept and title have since been adopted by P. Diddy).

Ratings were strong, and as a result O-Town quickly achieved success; by the end of the first season, the group had inked a record deal with music legend Clive Davis
Clive Davis
Clive Davis is an American record producer and music industry executive. He has won five Grammy Awards and is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a non-performer. From 1967 to 1973 he was the President of Columbia Records. He was the founder and president of Arista Records from 1975...

 and become the debut act for Davis’ new label J Records
J Records
J Records was an American record label, owned and operated by Sony Music Entertainment, and was distributed through the RCA Music Group.-Company history:...

. The album O-Town, boosted by the weekly TV publicity, debuted at #5 on Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...

and went on to multi-platinum status. “Liquid Dreams,” the album’s first release, crowned the SoundScan singles chart at #1, selling over 42,000 units in one week. The group won the 2001 Teen Choice Award for Breakthrough Artist.

Because of O-Town, J Records made musical history as the first label in SoundScan history (1991 and on) to have its first single release debut at #1 on the sales charts. Also, O-Town is the first artist in SoundScan history to have its first single come in at #1, an achievement recorded in the 2002 Guinness Book of World Records.

In late spring 2001, the second single, “All or Nothing,” and became the biggest hit of O-Town’s career. The song reached #1 on the U.S. top 40 chart and was nominated for numerous awards, including Song of the Year during the 2001 Radio Music Awards.

The group toured internationally, and went on to be the first reality show cast to remain unchanged for a second and third season. Near the end of the third season, viewers watched O-Town striving to take their careers to the next level, writing their own music, earning the respect of industry peers, and marketing themselves as more than a “boy band
Boy band
A boy band is loosely defined as a popular music act consisting of only male singers. The members are expected to dance as well as sing, usually giving highly choreographed performances. More often than not, boy band members do not play musical instruments, either in recording sessions or on...

.” Unfortunately, by the time of the release of their second album, O2, the teen-pop genre had begun to fade, and they did not find the acceptance they sought. Despite moderate success, O2 got nowhere near the market impact of their first album. In November 2003 J Records dropped the band from the label.

In January 2011, O-Town confirmed their reunion plans, four days after confirming the band had got back together Ashley released a statement via TMZ.com that he wouldn't be reuniting with the band causing an uproar with the fans and media due to Ashley being a key member during O-Town.


"O-Town was one of the greatest chapters of my life, so when the idea of a reunion was brought to me, of course I was intrigued. However I have made the decision not to be a part of an O-Town reunion. It was a difficult decision, but ultimately necessary to move on with the next chapter of my career"

Solo Music Career and There & Back (2004–2006)

In 2004, Ashley had secured a record deal with Blackground/Universal Records
Universal Records
Universal Records was a record label owned by Universal Music Group, and it is now owned by Manny Patino and Michael Jackson, and operated as part of the Universal Motown Republic Group.-History:...

, and later that year MTV began filming There and Back
There and Back (TV series)
There & Back: Ashley Parker Angel was a MTV reality television series than ran for 10 weeks in early 2006. It chronicled the efforts of former O-Town member Ashley Parker Angel to launch a solo career while providing for his new family...

, a reality series tracking his pursuit of solo stardom. The show documented Parker’s struggle to transcend his mostly teen idol image, showcasing him as a serious songwriter and musician who co-wrote every track of his album. The series was backlit by the relationship between him and his then-pregnant fiancée (the engagement has since been broken off) and the obstacles of early fatherhood, and also captured the drama and birth of his son Lyric.

In April 2006, Parker was selected to be a contestant on NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...

’s Celebrity Cooking Showdown
Celebrity Cooking Showdown
Celebrity Cooking Showdown is a program that aired on NBC from April 17-19 and April 22, 2006. It was hosted by Alan Thicke.- Format :The competition was divided into three "preliminary rounds", where each celebrity was paired with a famous chef...

, produced by entertainment mogul/rapper Diddy; Angel placed second, even though he is seen severely lacerating his finger during one of the timed cooking challenges. Shortly thereafter, he competed in the Kelly Slater
Kelly Slater
Robert Kelly Slater is an American professional surfer known for his competitive prowess and style. He has been crowned ASP World Champion a record 11 times, including 5 consecutive titles from 1994–98. He is the youngest and the oldest to win the title...

 Celebrity Surf Invitational
, in which he had another severe injury, this time a foot laceration.

In May 2006, his solo album Soundtrack to Your Life
Soundtrack to Your Life (album)
Soundtrack to Your Life is the solo debut album by singer Ashley Parker Angel. It was released on May 16, 2006. It debuted at #5 on the Billboard 200 albums chart after selling more than 72,000 copies in its first week. By July 11, 2006, the album had sold nearly 150,000 copies in the US...

was released, debuting at #5 on Billboard and receiving many positive reviews. Billboard’s review called it “great melodic rock … falling somewhere between the earnest balladeering of the Goo Goo Dolls
Goo Goo Dolls
The Goo Goo Dolls are a Grammy-nominated American rock band formed in 1986 in Buffalo, New York, by vocalist and guitarist John Rzeznik and vocalist and bass guitarist Robby Takac. Since the end of 1994, Mike Malinin has been the band's drummer, a position previously held by George Tutuska...

 and the driving rock of the All American Rejects.” The first single release, “Let U Go,” was a hit; its video spent weeks at #1 on MTV’s TRL
Total Request Live
Total Request Live is a television series on MTV that featured popular music videos. TRL was MTV's prime outlet for music videos as the network continues to concentrate on reality-based programming. In addition to music videos, TRL featured daily guests...

 and the single had the third-highest-selling debut of 2006. In spring of that year, Parker toured throughout North America with Ashlee Simpson
Ashlee Simpson
Ashlee Nicole Simpson is an American singer and actress. In 2004, she rose to prominence with the success of her number-one debut album Autobiography and the reality series, The Ashlee Simpson Show. In October 2005, following a North American concert tour and a film appearance, Simpson released...

.

Parker was featured as a character in the Clone High
Clone High
Clone High is a Canadian-American animated television series that aired for one season on MTV and Teletoon....

 episode "Gate Expectiations". In the episode, he hosts a teen dance show which is set on the sunny beaches of Canada, where it's always "a balmy 32 degrees". Parker is described in the episode as being like "the Beatles and Jesus all rolled into one."

On Broadway

In January 2007, Ashley Parker joined the eight-time Tony Award
Tony Award
The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Theatre, more commonly known as a Tony Award, recognizes achievement in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ceremony in New York City. The awards are given for Broadway...

–winning musical Hairspray
Hairspray (musical)
Hairspray is a musical with music by Marc Shaiman, lyrics by Scott Wittman and Shaiman and a book by Mark O'Donnell and Thomas Meehan, based on the 1988 John Waters film Hairspray. The songs include 1960s-style dance music and "downtown" rhythm and blues...

, playing the lead character’s love interest, teen heartthrob Link Larkin. The New York Post
New York Post
The New York Post is the 13th-oldest newspaper published in the United States and is generally acknowledged as the oldest to have been published continuously as a daily, although – as is the case with most other papers – its publication has been periodically interrupted by labor actions...

assessed Angel’s performance as “an absolute charmer.” Angel’s presence on Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...

 also led the New York Times to do a feature on the singer/songwriter turned actor. The Hairspray producers
Theatrical producer
A theatrical producer is the person ultimately responsible for overseeing all aspects of mounting a theatre production. The independent producer will usually be the originator and finder of the script and starts the whole process...

 asked Angel to extend his contract four times. In early 2008, Parker sustained a back injury onstage, forcing him to leave the show for a few months, but he returned to finish the last few weeks of his latest contract, giving the actor a successful run in the show for more than a year.

During his stay in New York, Parker performed at several other Broadway-related events, including Broadway in Bryant Park and Broadway on Broadway.

Acting

As a child, Parker was the voice of the main character Alex in the video game Lunar: The Silver Star
Lunar: The Silver Star
is a role-playing video game developed by Game Arts and Studio Alex for the Mega-CD console. Originally released in Japan on June 16, 1992 to critical acclaim, the game was translated and released in English by Working Designs the following year...

and Lunar: Silver Star Story.

In 2007 during his run on Broadway Angel began taking Acting classes after finding acting during the show fun and challenging. In June 2009, Parker signed for his first major Acting role as Carson Wheetly for the movie Wild Things
Wild Things
Wild Things is a 1998 erotic thriller film starring Matt Dillon, Neve Campbell, Kevin Bacon, Denise Richards, Theresa Russell and Bill Murray. It was directed by John McNaughton. In some countries the film was released as Sex Crimes...

by Sony, filmed in Miami over two months and titled Wild Things: Foursome
Wild Things: Foursome
Wild Things: Foursome is the fourth film in the Wild Things series. The film was released as a direct-to-DVD video on June 1, 2010.-Plot:...

originally titled, Wild Things: Criss-Cross.
In June 20 Parker played pop singer Danny Starr in the "Danny Starr / Quinceañera" episode of the children's cartoon Handy Manny
Handy Manny
Handy Manny is a Disney animated children's television program that premiered on September 16, 2006. The program was originally part of the Playhouse Disney daily block intended for preschoolers...

on the Disney Channel
Disney Channel
Disney Channel is an American basic cable and satellite television network, owned by the Disney-ABC Television Group division of The Walt Disney Company. It is under the direction of Disney-ABC Television Group President Anne Sweeney. The channel's headquarters is located on West Alameda Ave. in...

. In which he sang an original song "Twisty Turn Twist" which he co-wrote for the show.
In late March 2010 Parker was cast in the role of Todd for the upcoming family superhero movie Pizza Man starring Frankie Muniz
Frankie Muniz
Francisco "Frankie" Muniz IV is an American actor, musician, writer, producer, and racecar driver. He is known primarily as the star of the FOX television family sitcom Malcolm in the Middle. In 2003, he was considered "one of Hollywood's most bankable teens". In 2008, he put his acting career...

 filmed in Los Angeles. Pizza Man is due for theatrical release in late 2011.
In February 2011 Parker filmed his third movie Amelia's 25th, he plays the role of Jacob. This movie is due for release in 2012.

Personal life

Ashley was engaged to model Tiffany Lynn
Tiffany Lynn Rowe
Tiffany Lynn Rowe , also known professionally as Tiffany Lynn, is a model and actress, initially best known as the partner and later fiancée of singer-songwriter Ashley Parker Angel in the reality series There and Back....

 after a five-year relationship. In June 2008 the couple broke up. They are currently going through court procedures over custody of their son, Lyric Lennon Parker-Angel.

In 2011, Ashley dropped "Angel" from his last name professionally making his name "Ashley Parker"

Filmography / Discography

Year Film Role Notes
2000 Longshot
Longshot (film)
Longshot: The Movie , originally titled Jack Of All Trades is a teen film directed by Lionel C. Martin. It opened briefly in select theaters in Germany. The film was not shown in theaters in North America, but rather was released as a video and DVD only available through the film's web site...

Ashley Angel Ashley played himself with O-Town
2010 Wild Things: Foursome
Wild Things: Foursome
Wild Things: Foursome is the fourth film in the Wild Things series. The film was released as a direct-to-DVD video on June 1, 2010.-Plot:...

Carson Wheetly Filmed in 2009 in Miami
Pizza Man Todd Filming began March 2010
2011 Chubby Chaser Benjamin Digital Short, filmed in 2010
2012 Amelia's 25th Jacob Filmed in early 2011

Television and video games

Year Film Role Notes
1992 Lunar: The Silver Star
Lunar: The Silver Star
is a role-playing video game developed by Game Arts and Studio Alex for the Mega-CD console. Originally released in Japan on June 16, 1992 to critical acclaim, the game was translated and released in English by Working Designs the following year...

Alex Voice of the video game character
1994 Vay
Vay
Vay is a 2D anime fantasy/science fiction RPG published and developed by SIMS in Japan for the Sega CD Console. Working Designs localized and published the American release.-Background:...

Pottle Voice of the video game character
1994 Popful Mail
Popful Mail
is a side-scrolling platform game. Popful Mail was developed by Nihon Falcom for the NEC PC-8801 computer in 1991 and for the PC-9801 in 1992. It was later ported to PC Engine CD-ROM by NEC Home Electronics and to the Sega CD by "Sega Falcom", an alliance of the two game companies Sega and Falcom...

Slick Voice of the video game character
1997 Magic Knight Rayearth Ferio Voice of the video game character
2002 All That
All That
All That is an American live-action, sketch comedy-variety show that aired on the Nickelodeon cable television network featuring short comedic sketches and weekly musical guests. The theme song for All That was performed by TLC...

Himself Played himself with O-Town, Episode 6
2002 Clone High
Clone High
Clone High is a Canadian-American animated television series that aired for one season on MTV and Teletoon....

Himself Voiced himself, Episode 7
2009–present Handy Manny
Handy Manny
Handy Manny is a Disney animated children's television program that premiered on September 16, 2006. The program was originally part of the Playhouse Disney daily block intended for preschoolers...

Danny Starr Voice of the character in "Danny Starr", "The Twisty Turn Twist"

Album / Single Releases

Year Title Record Label Notes
2006 "Let U Go
Let U Go (Ashley Parker Angel song)
"Let U Go" is the first single from Ashley Parker Angel's debut solo album Soundtrack to Your Life. In the U.S., the song debuted at #17 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, the third highest debut of the year. The song moved up to its peak of #12 in its second week, while reaching the top 10 of...

"
Blackground
Blackground Records
Blackground Records is an American record label owned by entertainment attorney and artist manager Barry Hankerson and his son Jomo Hankerson.-History:...

/Universal
Universal Records
Universal Records was a record label owned by Universal Music Group, and it is now owned by Manny Patino and Michael Jackson, and operated as part of the Universal Motown Republic Group.-History:...

The third highest US debut of 2006
2006 "Soundtrack to Your Life
Soundtrack to Your Life (song)
"Soundtrack to Your Life" is a pop rock song by singer Ashley Parker Angel. The song was released in 2006 and is featured on his 2006 debut album Soundtrack to Your Life....

"
Blackground
Blackground Records
Blackground Records is an American record label owned by entertainment attorney and artist manager Barry Hankerson and his son Jomo Hankerson.-History:...

/Universal
Universal Records
Universal Records was a record label owned by Universal Music Group, and it is now owned by Manny Patino and Michael Jackson, and operated as part of the Universal Motown Republic Group.-History:...

Not physically released
2006 Soundtrack to Your Life
Soundtrack to Your Life (album)
Soundtrack to Your Life is the solo debut album by singer Ashley Parker Angel. It was released on May 16, 2006. It debuted at #5 on the Billboard 200 albums chart after selling more than 72,000 copies in its first week. By July 11, 2006, the album had sold nearly 150,000 copies in the US...

Blackground
Blackground Records
Blackground Records is an American record label owned by entertainment attorney and artist manager Barry Hankerson and his son Jomo Hankerson.-History:...

/Universal
Universal Records
Universal Records was a record label owned by Universal Music Group, and it is now owned by Manny Patino and Michael Jackson, and operated as part of the Universal Motown Republic Group.-History:...

12 track album

External links

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