Vinx De'Jon Parrette

Vinx performed for the first time at Montreux Jazz Festival on July 9, 1978, after legendary musician Taj Mahal invited him to perform with him at Casino Montreux.{{Cite web |title=Concerts database |url=https://database.montreuxjazz.com/concerts-database |access-date=2023-09-12 |website=Montreux Jazz |language=en}}

Vinx was a member of the Austin, Texas funk & soul band Extreme Heat.{{Cite web |title=Extreme Heat {{!}} Band Members |url=https://extremeheataustin.com/band.html |access-date=2023-10-07 |website=extremeheataustin.com}}

The next time Vinx performed at Montreux Jazz Festival would be July 20, 1990, when he performed nine of his own songs: The songs were taken from Vinx's first album, Rooms in My Fatha's House which was released through Sting's record label [https://www.discogs.com/label/52368-PANG%C3%86A?page=1 Pangaea Records], and featured guest vocals and bass by Sting.{{cite web | url=https://www.sting.com/discography/album/108/Guest%20Appearances | title=Sting | Discography | VINX: Rooms in My Fatha's House }} Taj Mahal, Branford Marsalis, Sheryl Crow, and Herbie Hancock were also among the album's guest musicians. The actor Roscoe Lee Browne appears on "While the City Sleeps". Vinx's regular band, made up of percussionists and a vocalist, was dubbed the Barkin' Feet.{{Cite news |last=McShane |first=Larry |title=Ex-Athlete Is Out Making Tracks Again |work=Los Angeles Daily News via Associated Press |pages=L41}}

The following day, July 21, Vinx performed a second show at Montreux 1990 alongside Sting.

Almost a year later, on July 2, 1991 Vinx returned to Montreux Jazz Festival with Sting, as part of Sting's Soul Cages tour, performing backing vocals on 17 songs, before moving front of stage to perform vocals and percussion on four of his own songs in support of Rooms in My Fatha's House : "My Funny Valentine" (written by Richard Rogers & Lorenz Hart), "Temporary Love", "One Pearl", and "Don't Got To Be That Way". "Temporary Love" and "Don't Got To Be That Way."

Vinx's second album, I Love My Job was released on CD and cassette across Europe and the US in 1992.{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/master/854695-Vinx-I-Love-My-Job|title=Vinx - I Love My Job|date=December 15, 1992|access-date=December 15, 2024|website=Discogs.com}}

In 1992, Vinx's third Album, The Storyteller, was also released through Pangaea Records and featured his drum band, The Barking Feet, plus guest artists; Stevie Wonder, Cassandra Wilson, Omar, Ndugu Chancler, Billy Kent, Django Porter, Peter Usi Wegner, Mitchell Long, Luis Conte, George Howard, Harvey Mason, Greg Poree, Karen Briggs, Angel Figueroa, Bill Summers, Basil Fung, Fade and Beulah.{{Cite web |title=The Storyteller - Drummerszone |url=https://drummerszone.com/music/release/14917/the-storyteller |access-date=2024-05-21 |website=Drummerszone.com}}

On October 18 1996, Vinx opened for Carlos Santana at The Beacon Theater in New York City.{{Cite web |date=2022-08-09 |title=Musician Vinx performs when he opens for Carlos Santana at The Beacon... |url=https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/news-photo/musician-vinx-performs-when-he-opens-for-carlos-santana-at-news-photo/1413891951 |access-date=2024-05-21 |website=Getty Images |language=en-gb}}

On January 12, 1997, Vinx performed in Foxborough, MASSACHUSETTS, in 20-degree weather, during halftime of the AFC Championship Game between the Jacksonville Jaguars vs The New England Patriots. Al Pereira photographed Vinx in winter gloves trying to keep warm.{{Cite web |date=2021-10-17 |title=Musician Vinx performs in 20-degre weather during halftime of the AFC... |url=https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/news-photo/musician-vinx-performs-in-20-degre-weather-during-halftime-news-photo/1347144198 |access-date=2024-05-21 |website=Getty Images |language=en-gb}}

On July 15, 1997, Vinx again performed at the Montreux Jazz Festival, this time as part of his band Jungle Funk, formed with Living Colour band members Doug Wimbish and Will Calhoun. Jungle Funk performed to an audience of 4000 at Auditorium Stravinski.{{Cite web|url=https://www.montreuxjazzfestival.com/en/festival/the-stages/auditorium-stravinski/|title=Auditorium Stravinski|website=Montreux Jazz Festival|access-date=December 15, 2024}} Jungle Funk toured for many months, with dates including Drum Fest - Oopole, Poland in October 2013{{Cite AV media |url=https://drummerszone.com/news/article/--// |title=Drummerszone - Vincent "Vinx" De Jon Parrette - Jungle Funk October 2013 - Drum Fest - Oopole, Poland |access-date=2024-05-21 |via=drummerszone.com}} and the Millennium Stage at The Kennedy Center, on January 14, 2015{{Cite AV media |url=https://drummerszone.com/news/article/--// |title=Drummerszone - Vincent "Vinx" De Jon Parrette - Jungle Funk - Millennium Stage (January 14, 2015) |access-date=2024-05-21 |via=drummerszone.com}}

In 2004, Vinx wrote and recorded Digga Tunnah Dance with Lebo M for The Lion King 3 film and soundtrack. The album was released by Walt Disney Records in 2004.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTTEeIZ88FE |title=Digga Tunnah Dance |date=2017-02-07 |last=Lebo M - Topic |access-date=2024-05-21 |via=YouTube}}

Vinx founded a critically acclaimed songwriting/creativity workshop series called Songwriter Soul Kitchen.{{cite web |url=https://www.vinx.com/songwriter-soul-kitchen\ |title=vinx.com - Songwriter Soul Kitchen |website=www.vinx.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150227052752/http://www.vinx.com/songwriter-soul-kitchen |archive-date=2015-02-27}}

In February 2024, Vinx took his International Serenade Festival to Accra, Ghana, performing with backing from the Ghana Jazz Collective at +233 Jazz Bar & Grill. Other artists to perform at the Festival included Loretta E, Purple Haze, DeGate Zion and Shelley Nicole.{{Cite web |date=2024-02-01 |title=Vinx to stage Serenade Festival at +233 on Feb 3 |url=https://ghanaweekend.com/2024/02/01/vinx-to-stage-serenade-festival-at-233-on-feb-3/ |access-date=2024-05-21 |website=Ghana Weekend |language=en-US}}

Vinx was a top American college triple jump athlete, representing Kansas State. In 1980 he held the US indoor collegiate record at 17.03 meters.{{cite web | url=https://trackandfieldnews.com/collegiate-indoor-all-time-list-men/ | title=Collegiate Indoor All-Time List — Men|website=Trackandfieldnews.com}} This was a long enough jump to qualify him for the 1980 US Summer Olympic team in Moscow, but US President Carter boycotted the Olympics when the Soviet Union failed to withdraw its troops from Afghanistan.{{cite web | url=https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/carter-announces-olympic-boycott | title=President Carter announces Olympic boycott | March 21, 1980 |website=History.com}} Vinx's Olympic dreams were shattered, alongside the whole of the US Summer Olympic team.{{cite news | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2020/sports/1980-usa-olympic-boycott-team-carter/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200716200133/https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2020/sports/1980-usa-olympic-boycott-team-carter/ | archive-date=16 July 2020 | title=U.S. Boycott of 1980 Moscow Olympics still rankles athletes, an oral history - Washington Post | newspaper=The Washington Post }}

• Rooms in My Fatha's House (PANGAEA/I.R.S., 1991)
• I Love My Job (PANGAEA/I.R.S., 1991)
• The Storyteller (PANGAEA/I.R.S., 1992)

• Sting, The Soul Cages (A&M, 1990)
• Cassandra Wilson, Blue Light 'til Dawn (Blue Note 1993)
• Stevie Wonder, Conversation Peace (Motown, 1995)
• Crystal Waters, Crystal Waters (Mercury, 1997)

As writer

• Tom Jones - "Touch My Heart"
• Will Downing - "Don't Talk To Me like That"{{Cite web |title=Don't Talk to Me Like That - Will Downing: Song Lyrics, Music Videos & Concerts |url=https://www.shazam.com/song/1443935456/dont-talk-to-me-like-that |access-date=2024-05-21 |website=Shazam |language=en}}

• Jungle Funk

{{Reflist}}

• {{Official website|vinx.com}}

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Category:1957 births

Category:Living people

Category:American percussionists