Scott Parker's video: Better Off by Becky Parker from the CD Finally Home ORIGINAL SONG

https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/better-off/id990997215?i=990997228 http://www.facebook.com/ScottAndBeckyParker from the CD "Finally Home" Written by Scott Parker ©2015 Luz y Vida Music (SESAC) Growing up in Oliver Springs, Tennessee, it wasn't hard for Scott and Becky Parker to embrace the values of the Bible and the importance of family. A small town in the foothills of East Tennessee, Oliver Springs is home to a strong community of roots and faith. "It's a place like many rural towns: people care about each other and would do anything for you. One of those beautiful places to be from," Becky smiles. The Parkers grew up exposed to a wide variety of secular and church music, with Scott learning the guitar and Becky playing the piano. Scott remembers, "It was a time when people like Smitty and Steven Curtis Chapman were really impacting young people and our youth group was always singing on mission trips and doing performances. I got the bug to learn more about how music was made." The high school sweethearts both graduated from Belmont University in Nashville and were married in 1997. Becky worked for a chiropractor and Scott was privileged to work in music publishing with some of the industry's most gifted songwriters. He pitched and secured recordings for his writers by artists like Tim McGraw, Trace Adkins and Clay Walker. After five years, God called the Parkers to southern Chile as missionaries with the International Mission Board. "God had told me about a year before that we were going somewhere. I was just waiting on him to tell Scott!" Becky laughs. Doing church planting and media work, Scott and Becky also had many opportunities to sing together for churches and retreats. Scott's eyes light up, "I think that's where we began to really work hard on learning songs that fit us and telling our own stories of God's grace in our lives." Leaving Chile with a lifetime of memories and their one-year old son, the Parkers returned in 2005 to the place they knew as home: Oliver Springs. In late 2012, they released their first album, "When God Dreams." Containing all original songs and arrangements, BREATHEcast.com stated, "Musically, their worship style predominantly stays clear from the scaffold of electric guitars and towering drums. Rather, they have opted for the recourse that less is more...When God Dreams is a breath of fresh air. In a culture whose eyes are on the "I"s, the Parkers rightly remind us that we are not the center of the universe. God is." Scott says, "It was a step of faith to put out a collection of our own material, but we really felt God leading in that direction and it's been so exciting to hear from people who are impacted by the words and message of those songs." With further encouragement from the response of that project, Scott entered and placed songs at the Song Competition during the Smoky Mountain Songwriters Festival in Gatlinburg for three years running. His songs in the Inspirational category won the top prize in 2013 and he and his co-writer were awarded Audience Favorite in 2014. He has also been a finalist in the Country and Bluegrass categories. After the last competition, Becky suggested they begin another project. "I felt there were other really meaningful songs Scott has written since the last album, that it was the right time to get those out for somebody that needs that word," Becky shares. The sophomore release, "Finally Home" shows the Parkers diving deeper into true grace and unconditional love - the title track being a song that Scott introduces as his 'testimony song.' "It is just that: a song that tells what it's like for me to be redeemed and loved beyond anything I can understand." The entire family also got involved once the 'home' theme was decided, with Scott and Becky's children singing on a few numbers. The Parkers are parents to three children and a foster baby. Becky works hard home schooling and singing in the choir. Scott works for Verizon Wireless and helps lead worship for the youth group. Currently performing wherever God leads with a mix of original and popular worship songs, Scott and Becky are excited to see who God leads them to. Scott shares, "Everyone is looking for hope and God uses any number of ways to point people to him. I'm blown away when someone comes up and says how much they needed to hear a certain song. We love ministering together and are so thankful God gives us chances to do that."