A young girl steps out from the shadows of the backstage curtains. She is riddled with nerves and fright. She sang with her church and in choir but this was her first time stepping out on her own. Jasmine Parker took the center stage for the first time at her High School talent show with her cousin playing the piano and her family cheering her on.

“It was terrifying,” said Parker. “Right when they said I was next my stomach started kicking and my cousin calmed me down. I didn’t even have my eyes open, I was just holding the mic terrified.”

Singing If I don’t Got You, by Alicia Keys, Parker won the talent show. The humble beginning to her growing career in the music industry. Parker won that talent show, but her musical talent was one in a crowd, either in her church choir, in musical groups or as a background singer to her best friend Ralph Williams.

It wasn’t until 2015 that Parker decided to pursue a solo career as an adult. Her first show as a solo artist was the Hudson Valley Jesus Cares Tour with a few other friends. She started off singing background for Williams until he pushed her to find her own spotlight.

“I noticed her passion, talent and the overall love that comes with Jasmine and her gifts,” said Williams. “That only thing holding her back at the time was fear. I would not allow her to lose to fear anymore. After pushing her and challenging her, you’re seeing the beginning of her greatness.”

Parker’s friends and family were in the crowd, but there was one person physically absent, although she could still feel his presence.

When Parker was 27 she lost her father to liver cancer. She lost not only her father, but her best friend, and biggest supporter.

“He was the perfect imperfect person, he was everything I needed,” said Parker. “Growing up he was always there making things fun for me. Every time he heard a new song he would call me. We would just sit in a room for hours and listen to music together. Music was what brought us together.”

Within two and a half months of getting a stage four diagnosis he passed away surrounded by his children in 2014.

“Once we knew, it happened out of control and really fast,” said Parker. “I was there in the room when he took his last breathe and that’s something I hold with me. We were all sitting around him in his hospice bed, and all of a sudden his eyes popped open and he looked right at me. He was trying to talk but he couldn’t talk and then he took his last breath and that was it. March 3, 2014 was the worst day of my life.”

After her father passed away Parker began to pursue her a career as a solo artist. She released her first song in 2015 called Better Days, written by Williams. The song was written for Parker from her point of view at the time.

“Better Days was perfect,” said Parker. “It kind of fit the mold with how I am with life and it helped me get through.”

Although her father is not around to witness her pursuit of a solo career, Parker knows he will always be with her spiritually. She recalls a promise he made to her as a child that gets her through the toughest parts of her grief.

With the song You Are Not Alone by Michael Jackson playing in the background, she danced with her father. He leaned down and said to her “As long as I’m alive you’ll never be alone.”

“That is one of those things I’ll keep with me forever,” said Parker. “You know I keep pushing so hard hoping that he’ll pop up one day and come see it. I guess I’m doing it because he loved music and he would’ve loved it. I know he’s not around physically, but he’s definitely around spiritually. I feel him all the time.”

Rather than letting her grief bottle up and take over, Parker channeled all her energy into her career and helping others in the community. She is working on original music, looking to release four or five songs by July.

At Blacc Vanilla Cafe, Parker is everyone’s favorite barista. The moment a person walks through the door, they are greeted with a bright smile and cheerful conversation. Singing is just one part of her that brings a smile to people’s faces.

“Before I hired her to work at Blacc Vanilla I would go to her previous coffee shop and watch her engage with people,” said Melanie Collins, owner of Blacc Vanilla. “It was fascinating to see she knew every person by name, if nothing else I wanted to be friends with her. She’s a movement on her won. She captivates people in a way I’ve never seen. I can’t imagine this brand without her, I could hire another barista, but I could never hire another Jasmine.”

Jasmine’s ability to touch people goes beyond her signing. She works with the youth to steer them in the right direction, watching over them like a big sister to keep them out of trouble.

“I am looking to spread a positive message across, that no matter what you’re dealing with no matter what you’re going through it will always get better,” said Parker. “My goal is the youth. A lot of youth around here are troubled and they don’t have parents or anyone to put them in the right path. My goal is that they see a good example and that they can come to me for help if they ever need anything.”

The future for Parker is to continue growing her budding career and make a lasting impact in her community. Her company M’VORE Entertainment where she is Co-CEO with Ralph Williams hosts events, and dance, voice and acting classes.

Parker and Williams host events like Indie Underground, where they invite unknown artists to showcase their talent.

“We started it here [in Newburgh] because we wanted people to know what is here,” said Parker. “It’s all about networking and making things happen. The goal is to build on each other. We are all here and we are all the same, let’s do it together. There’s room for everybody.”

It is undecided when the next Indie Underground will take place, Parker and Williams are working to find a venue large enough to hold the growing support they received for the event.