The special business of music and recording
Originally from northeast Mississippi, Chris Parks, the owner of Cuz Studio in Merigold, has been in the Delta for twenty-five years.
After “a memorable visit” to Delta State when looking at colleges, Parks moved to Cleveland to attend school on a football scholarship in 2000.
While in school, Parks met his wife, and was a part of Delta State’s National Championship team. Although he has obtained both his Bachelor’s degree in Physical Education as well as a Master’s degree in Human Performance, he says he has yet to utilize either of his degrees.
Parks was taught how to play the guitar at a young age, and eventually utilized the skill to help support himself and his family.
“I traveled and played with a gospel group out of Memphis called George Dean and the Gospel Four,” says Parks.
Although he was consistently playing music, Parks says he always had an additional source of income.
One of the hardest lessons Parks ever learned was when his job ended with the gospel group. Parks retained many of the connections he made while performing. So, he decided to form Cuz Studio. Many people helped him facilitate this dream, and Parks says he is extremely grateful for their contributions.
Cuz Studio was first opened in November of 2008, but Parks sold the original space in Boyle and built a larger studio in Merigold roughly three years ago. With the new setup, he is able to have two engineers working simultaneously. The extra square footage also allowed him to start Minnie’s School of Music, which currently has four part-time instructors and seven students.
“We want to see our students become successful people, and eventually be able to give what they have learned back to somebody else,” says Parks. “We also just finished tracking a seven day project for Peyton Aldridge.”
According to Parks, he has many individuals who work with him in the business, including his music director, Rico Wilson, who is also a member of Cuz Band.
“We just try to make great, clean, and happy music,” says Parks, of his band. “We want everybody to have a great time—what we call ‘a night to remember’. I really think music brings people together, no matter the race, gender, religion, and we play all genres.”
Parks says his business also offers sound installation and sound reinforcements as well as lighting, which means they can set up for concerts and satisfy the needs of an entire production. They also have a rentable RV and 360 Mirror Booth.
Packages are available to rent the studio for recording, and they start at $40 per hour, with a minimum of three hours for each session. Anyone over the age twenty-one, with an engineer knowledgeable in Pro Tools or Logic Pro, can rent the space.
“I can tell you this journey gets hard, but we’re dedicated and committed to the Mississippi Delta,” says Parks.
For more information visit, cuzstudio.com.