A native Floridian and long-time Jacksonville resident, Jimmy Parrish has been performing both as a solo act and with his band for nearly thirty years. After forming the Ocean Waves Band in 2000, his goal was to entertain audiences throughout the southeast with an island style tropical vibe. Armed with a combination of acoustic rock heavily influenced by the music of Jimmy Buffett, along with his love for the ocean and his time spent in the islands, Jimmy helped pave the way for what would be an up-and-coming musical genre now known as "Trop Rock". In 2008, Kenny Chesney's management group hosted a nationwide contest to find the "Next Big Star", which Jimmy and his band won in the northeast Florida region. As a result, they were awarded the opportunity to open for Chesney when he performed at the Jacksonville Memorial Arena later that year. "It was quite a thrill indeed", Jimmy boasts, "We got to play rock stars for a night in front of nearly 15,000 people!"
The music of Jimmy Parrish & the Waves has grown greatly in popularity in recent years. With the
release of their third CD, Act of Piracy, they're steadily becoming one of the more well-known acts in the
Trop Rock nation. In recent years, Jimmy Parrish & the Waves have headlined several of the larger Trop Rock events in the country. Due in part to a significant and loyal following, along with a song list loaded with creative originals, Jimmy and the band were awarded the 2010 Trop Rock Music Association Horizon Award, nominated in 2011 in three more categories including Band of the Year, Album of the Year, and Musician of the Year, and 2012 nominees for Band of the Year.
Performing at nearly 200 events each year, Jimmy continues to headline festivals and Parrot Head events, perform at major resorts, beachside tiki bars, corporate functions, and clubs throughout the U.S. The live shows are filled
with the Trop Rock favorites you know by heart from artists like Jimmy Buffett, Kenny Chesney, Zac
Brown and Bob Marley, plus great classic party music, Motown and more!