MY Story

As a published singer/songwriter Darren has a renowned reputation for writing well crafted, melodic songs that have caught the attention of some of the biggest names in the songwriting world. Darren beat over 6000 entries from around the globe to win the 2004 UK Songwriting Contest with his song, “Reality”; judged by members of ‘The Brit Panel’ (of ‘BRIT AWARD’ fame). 

He has been recognised with prestigious honourable mentions in the USA ‘Billboard’ contest and in 2008 achieved similar recognition in the USA ‘Song Of The Year’ and USA ‘Unisong’ contests (with his song, “Slippin’ Away”). Judges included members of Rolling Stone Magazine and guest judge, Beyonce. 2014 saw him achieve a runner up position in the USA 'Song Of The Year' with his contagious track "So Into You" (judges included Lenny Kravitz, Alicia Keys, Don Henley, Phil Collins and Gwen Stefani).

Darren has toured all over the world over the past 10 years, especially the USA (40 of the 50 USA states), Hong Kong, Britain and France, including singing as a tenor with the famous Black Mountain Male Chorus Of Wales (patron, Bryn Terfel), The Graceland Band and Sounds Familiar band. Born in Merthyr Tydfil, South Wales, the only child of Bill and Diane, he was obsessed with music from an early age. His mother would play Motown records that became part of his DNA and fuelled his love for melodic, hook laden songs that was embellished by him growing up with 80's Rock and Pop. He became fascinated not just by the singers and musicians of these songs but by the songwriters and producers that were behind the hits. Darren soon studied the songwriting magic of Desmond Child, Diane Warren and the production talents of Mutt Lange and others that inspired him to write his own self-penned songs.

Darren is no stranger to appearing on our screens having appeared /performed on TV shows such as; BBC 1’s “Test The Nation” (with Phillip Schofield and Anne Robinson), BBC 2’s “Let Me Entertain You” (with Brian Conley), BBC2’s “Identity” (with Donny Osmond), BBC “Music Under The Stars” (with Bryn Terfel and Michael Ball), "Cuppa TV" (breakfast  show). Other performances include an ITV Christmas Special production from Cardiff Castle, BBC/S4C broadcasts of Welsh Rugby matches (singing on the Millennium Stadium pitch in front of 70,000 fans) and various appearances on Welsh BBC/ITV news bulletins. 

Darren has performed with/shared the bill with amongst others...Michael Ball, Bryn Terfel, Goldie Lookin' Chain, Scouting for Girls, Steve Balsamo, The Story's, Simon Bowman, The Sweet Inspirations (Elvis' female backing singers), D.J. Fontana (Elvis' original drummer), Chris Needs (MBE), John Barrowman, Peter Karrie, Dave Sharp (The Alarm) and Henry Priestman (The Christians). Darren (Feb 2013) lent his vocals to a charity single called "A Miner's Song" (written by his friends Dan & Laura Curtis) to help raise money for the Welsh Miners Memorial Fund. Other Welsh artists/celebrities on the single include, Ioan Gruffudd, Michael Sheen, Jonathan Pryce, Aled Jones, Joe Calzaghe, Matthew Rhys, Dennis O'Neil, Wynne Evans and many more. 

As well as being a successful solo artist in his own right Darren has written songs and produced for other artists such as Andrew Mark Jones ("Hit You In The Heart"), Nina Jones ("Never Let You Go", "Promises") and Lee Gilbert ("Soar", "Take Me As I Am"). Darren has co-written with renowned songwriters James Warren (The Korgis), writer of worldwide hit "Everybody's Got To Learn Sometime", Steve Balsamo (Slash, Cliff Richard, Meatloaf), Larry Williams/Dazzle Music (worked with Charlotte Church), Juan Lozano and Dan & Laura Curtis (written for Ramin Karimloo, Lea Salonga, Paul Potts etc.). Darren's songs have featured many times on BBC radio, SKY TV, Freeview, Freesat, Lufthansa Airlines, The FOX network, Big Centre TV, Nation Radio and on radio stations all over the world. He is diverse a singer/songwriter as he is prolific, having written songs that continue to appear on... Country radio, Pop radio, R&B radio, Rock radio, AC radio, AOR radio, Soul radio, Easy Listening and more!

New EP..."Learning The Hard Way" COMING SOON! Brand new single... "Feels Like The World's Stopped Turning" (feat. Sian Elson) available now for download. Caitlin Mae's Christmas single (Nov 2020) reaches No.5 on the UK iTunes Country Singles Chart... "A Candle For Christmas" (feat. Darren Parry).

Some of the places Darren has performed at:

  • Several times at Millennium Stadium Cardiff - in front of 70,000 rugby fans
  • Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay -  capacity crowd 1850 people
  • The Hong Kong City Hall - capacity crowd of 2,000 people
  • Swansea Grand Theatre
  • St David's Hall Cardiff 
  • Nantwich Civic Hall
  • Caldicot Castle, South Wales - Dubs In The Castle
  • Aberdare Coliseum, South Wales
  • Stade du Moustoir, Lorient, France - in front of 16,000 people
  • Bakersfield Convention Centre, California, USA
  • Pioneer Centre, Reno, Nevada, USA    ... and at over 65 venues across The United States spanning 40 of the 50 US States!

Songs on over 350 Spotify playlists!

Songwriting/Singing Awards
 
10th USA 'Billboard' Song Contest Awards - Honourable Mention for song "Better Than You"

2000 Welsh 'Megabowl' Singing Champion. Came 3rd in The UK final (in Feltham, London) of the UK 'Megabowl' Singing Competition

2004 UK Songwriting Contest Award Winner (Pop) - judged by among others, members of the 'Brit Panel' (of 'BRIT AWARD' fame) for song "Reality"

* other awards in this contest include: 
semi-finalist 2005 ("Everything But You"), semi-finalist 2006 ("Stay"), semi-finalist 2007 ("Lost") and finalist 2008 ("Slippin' Away"). Commended Entry position 2009 ("Lovin' You"). Commended Entry 2010 ("Just The Mention Of Your Name")

2008 USA 'Unisong' Awards - Honourable Mention for "Slippin' Away"

2008 USA 'Song Of The Year' - Honourable Mention winner for "Slippin' Away" (judged by Rolling Stone Magazine, Music Executives and guest judge, Beyonce)

2010 "Just The Mention Of Your Name" wins 'Suggested Artist' placement in the 2010 USA 'Song Of The Year'

2011 "That Feeling" (written by D.Parry/L.Williams) wins a semi-finalist position in the 2011 UK Songwriting Contest judged by top industry professionals (score 8/10) 

2012 USA 'Song Of The Year' - Semi-Finalist position for "What Good's A Heart That Can't Break"

2014 USA 'Song Of The Year' - 'Runner Up' position for "So Into You".  Judges included Gwen Stefani, Phil Collins, Don Henley, Alicia Keys and Lenny Kravitz

2016 UK Songwriting Contest - Semi-Finalist position for "Promises" (performed by Nina Jones).  Judges included Stuart Epps (Elton John), Shelly Peiken ("What A Girl Wants" for Christina Aguilera etc.), Kipper Eldridge (Sting and x 2 Grammy Winner and Emmy winner), Richard Niles (Kylie, Paul McCartney, Michael McDonald etc.)

2016 USA 'Song Of The Year' - 'Runner Up' position for "Promises" (performed by Nina Jones).  Judges included Alicia Keys, U2's The Edge, Dave Grohl and Steven Tyler

2017 UK Songwriting Contest - 'Higher Commended Entry' for "Why Won't You Let Me Love You"

2019 ISSA Awards - 'Male Vocalist Of The Year', 'Male Single Of The Year', 'Male Songwriter Of The Year', 'Male Rising Star' and 'Music Video Of The Year' nominee

2019 ISSA Awards (International Singer Songwriters Association) - International 'Male Vocalist Of The Year' Silver Crystal Award winner

2020 Caitlin Mae's Christmas single (Nov 2020) reaches No.5 on the UK iTunes Country Singles Chart... "A Candle For Christmas" (feat. Darren Parry).

2021 ISSA Awards - Currently a finalist with 4 nominations in the International category... 'Male Vocalist Of The Year', 'Male Songwriter Of The Year', 'Male Single Of The Year' ("Feels Like The World's Stopped Turning") and 'Male Rising Star'. Winners announced Aug 2021 in Atlanta, Georgia, USA

2021 ISSA Awards - 'International Male Songwriter Of The Year' Silver Crystal Award Winner

Co-writes

Darren has written songs with:

  • James Warren (The Korgis) - writer of worldwide hit "Everybody's Got To Learn Sometime" (covered by Beck, Queen, Yazz, Erasure, Baby D etc.) and had a hit with "If I Had You"
  • Steve Balsamo (Slash, Cliff Richard, Meatloaf) - singer/songwriter and 'Jesus Christ Superstar' star
  • Dan and Laura Curtis (Lea Salonga, Paul Potts, Cheyenne Jackson, Ramin Karimloo, etc.)
  • Juan Lozano (singer/songwriter)
  • Gavin Clifton (Top 20 iTunes Country Chart songwriter)
  • Larry Williams/Dazzle Music (Charlotte Church)
  • Gareth Lewis - award winning Welsh 'Americana' singer/songwriter (BBC Radio Wales 'A list' artist)
  • Josh Gleaves - 19 year old award winning Country/Americana singer/songwriter from London
  • Rachel Walker Mason - writing with Grammy and Emmy winners, Billboard Top 100 artists and Woman Of The Year 2020
  • The Grand Cru - A new, international songwriting team consisting of Darren, Steve Balsamo, Lee Gilbert and Bonnie Skop. Between them they have written for/worked with The Korgis, Slash, Meatloaf, Cliff Richard, Ted Nugent, Bob Seger and many others!

Publishing/Deals/Sync

Darren's songs have been signed to many companies over the years with numerous Publishing deals/sync deals/agreements from all over the world, with companies such as:

Noma Music (USA)

Amurco (UK)

Hummingbird Music (UK)

Blue Haven Publishing (UK)

Hook Line & Sync (Australia)

Rock Talk Music (USA)

Scamp Music Publishing (UK)

Ryan Bizarri (Nashville USA)

Songtradr

Q YOU Media Network (Fox Network, Lufthansa Airlines etc.)

Press