Ian James Parker (born 13 December 1976)
is an English singer-songwriter and guitarist in the genre of blues music.
Early life
Born in
Birmingham
Birmingham ( ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, city and metropolitan borough in the metropolitan county of West Midlands (county), West Midlands in England. It is the second-largest city in the United Kingdom with a population of 1. ...
, England, Parker was brought up in nearby
Stourbridge
Stourbridge is a market town in the Metropolitan Borough of Dudley in the West Midlands, England, situated on the River Stour. Historically in Worcestershire, it was the centre of British glass making during the Industrial Revolution. The ...
. He started playing the guitar as an eight year old and eight years later started a short-lived band called "Strange Brew" with two schoolfriends.
After Strange Brew, he joined a blues band, "Blue Horizon". At the same time he was attending the
University of Derby
, mottoeng = Experience is the best teacher
, established = 1851 – Teacher Training College1992 – gained university status
, type = Public
, chancellor = William Cavendish, Ea ...
, graduating with a degree in psychology.
Career
Moving back to Stourbridge, Parker started a new band, "Monty Turnball" with Morg' Morgan on keyboards, and two other local musicians with Parker on lead vocals and
Stratocaster
The Fender Stratocaster, colloquially known as the Strat, is a model of electric guitar designed from 1952 into 1954 by Leo Fender, Bill Carson, George Fullerton, and Freddie Tavares. The Fender Musical Instruments Corporation has continuously ...
electric guitar. Morgan would continue in Parker's bands until 2010 when he gave up full-time performing to become a music teacher. Later, bass player Chris Lomas and drummer Tony Bayliss joined the band which was renamed "Parker's Alibi" in 1999.
They became known in both the UK and Europe after becoming regulars on the European blues club circuits before disbanding in early 2002. Later that year, he formed "The Ian Parker Band" comprising Parker, Morgan, Amadeo on bass and Andy Edwards on drums (later replaced by Wayne Proctor).
In 2003, he signed to
Ruf Records
Ruf Records is a German independent record label, which was founded in 1994 by Luther Allison’s manager, Thomas Ruf, to promote Allison's career.
The motto of the blues label is "Where Blues Crosses Over". The company's office is located in ...
which made him known in the United States as well as Europe following a recommendation from
Walter Trout
Walter Trout (born March 6, 1951 in Ocean City, New Jersey, United States) is an American blues guitarist, singer and songwriter.
Biography
Trout's career began on the Jersey coast scene of the late 1960s and early 1970s. He then decided to rel ...
who then took him on a European tour.
He has also played with
Eric Clapton,
Jeff Beck, and
Peter Green. The majority of Parker's music and lyrics are self composed with an original style.
Andy Snipper of Music News considered that Parker " ... may be the great lost British soul singer".
He has had long tours of Europe and the United States, such as the "Unique and Intimate Tour" in 2009/10 which included a set at the Bayfront Festival in
Duluth, Minnesota
, settlement_type = City
, nicknames = Twin Ports (with Superior), Zenith City
, motto =
, image_skyline =
, image_caption = Clockwise from top: urban Duluth skyline; Minnesota ...
.
In March 2004, he appeared on the German live music TV show, ''
Rockpalast
''Rockpalast'' (''Rock Palace'') is a German music television show that broadcasts live on German television station Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR). ''Rockpalast'' started in 1974 and continues to this day. Hundreds of rock, heavy metal and jazz ...
'', and a live DVD of his performance was released in June 2005, entitled ''Whilst The Wind'' (Ruf3007).
Discography
Studio albums
* ''Inside'' (2003)
* ''Where I Belong'' (2007)
* ''Demons And Doubters EP'' (2009)
* ''Politik Blues'' (2015)
*''Spoonful of Gold for Old Willie''
Live albums
* ''Lost & Found'' (2003)
* ''...Whilst the Wind'' (2005)
* ''The Official Bootleg'' (2008)
* ''The Bare Bones'' (2011)
Single
* "Your Love Is My Home" (2007)
DVD
* ''…Whilst the Wind (Live)'' (2005)
Projects
* CD: ''Blues Caravan Pilgrimage'' (2005)
* DVD: ''Blues Caravan – The New Generation (Live)'' (2006)
* CD: ''Kinver - The Stone House'' (2013)
Awards and honours
*In August 2006, in Dordrecht, The Netherlands, he received the Arrow Big Rivers Festival Award for 'Most Impressive Artist'.
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Parker, Ian
English blues guitarists
English blues singers
English male guitarists
English male singer-songwriters
English rock singers
Musicians from Birmingham, West Midlands
People from Stourbridge
Living people
1976 births