Spotlight on...Chief Musician John Parsons by Senior Chief Musician Juan Vazquez
Chief Musician John Parsons currently serves two important roles for the Navy Band. For the past 12 years he has been a driving force for the band’s jazz ensemble, the Commodores, as their drummer. He was recently appointed information systems chief. His desire to contribute at the highest level makes him a credit to the organization. Tell us about your musical beginnings. I grew up in Yorktown, Va., and attended Tabb High School. Under the direction of Percy Ironmonger I had the unusual privilege of having music heavily integrated into my curriculum. In addition to having jazz ensemble every day for fourth period, I had percussion class every day for sixth period and full wind ensemble rehearsal after school. I put off viewing the movie “Mr. Holland’s Opus” for years until finally caving and watching it on television one day. I had no idea how many parallels there were in the movie and in my real-life situation. Indeed, I owe my entire career to my high school band director. He was my musical inspiration and had everything to do with my development as a young musician. Following high school graduation, I attended Old Dominion University for a year while working full time as a freelance musician in the Virginia Beach, Va., area. I continued working as a full-time musician for more than 10 years, performing with some of the area’s best jazz musicians, including the renowned jazz fusion group Secrets, out of Richmond, Va. Carter Beauford, drummer for the Dave Matthews Band, was leaving the group, and I was hired as his replacement. Performing with Secrets was one of the musical highlights of my career. We played everything from Weather Report to the Yellow Jackets and Steps Ahead. The experience was both thrilling and challenging. As fate would have it, I was subbing for my best friend on a gig in Annapolis, Md., and a few guys from the Naval Academy Band came to check us out. Master Chief Musician James Cunningham, now retired, asked if I’d consider auditioning for the Naval Academy Band were there ever to be an opening. I gave him my contact information and the
rest is history. Two years later I auditioned for the Naval Academy Band’s Electric Brigade and won the position. I spent six years in Electric Brigade before auditioning for the Navy Band Cruisers. I moved to the Commodores in 2001. Congratulations on your new role as the Chief Musician John Parsons Navy Band’s information systems chief. Can you tell us about the position? Recently, I had the honor of being appointed information systems chief for our command. While concurrently serving as the drummer for the Commodores, I am the contract technical representative for the Navy Marine Corps Intranet network enterprise, the information assurance manager and the deputy command information officer under Field Support Activity. As CTR, I manage all users and computers on the NMCI enterprise for the band. As the command IAM, it is my responsibility to ensure the organization is in compliance with all information assurance standards through reporting and oversight of command information assurance practices. My CIO responsibilities under FSA include ensuring command compliance with Department of the Navy information assurance fiscal directives, submission of expenditure projections to the comptroller and projection of future IT requirements. Overseeing a staff of five collateral duty personnel, my job as information systems chief is to direct my staff in the operation of the infosys office, including user support, supplies, and equipment and software management. It is also my responsibility to manage the band’s resources within the NMCI network enterprise. You currently also serve as the drummer with the Navy Band’s jazz ensemble, the Commodores. Tell us a little about this role. The first professional big band I ever heard was the U.S. Air Force Band’s jazz Continued on page 8 ensemble, the Airmen of
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Each one of the performers appeared to be a virtuoso with their instrument, and the show gave the audience a chance to enjoy their solo moments as well as their musical cohesion. The players on lead guitar, banjo, violin and steel guitar were standouts. Rick – Hughesville, Md.
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