Russ Parr (born 1959 in California) is an American radio DJ,
film director,
[ writer, actor][ and television personality known for such television shows as '' Rock 'N' America''.]
Career
Parr began as a Production Services Director at ABC
ABC are the first three letters of the Latin script known as the alphabet.
ABC or abc may also refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Broadcasting
* American Broadcasting Company, a commercial U.S. TV broadcaster
** Disney–ABC Television ...
TV.
Russ was the morning DJ on KDAY
KDAY (93.5 FM, "93.5 KDAY") is a radio station that is licensed to Redondo Beach, California and serves the Greater Los Angeles area. The station is owned by Meruelo Media and airs a classic hip hop format. The station's studios are located in ...
doing imitations of Magic Johnson, Ronald Reagan and other celebrities. He also worked as a stand-up comic for eight years, performing his first show as an opening act for Joan Rivers in Santa Monica, California. Parr also found parts on a number of television shows including ''Martin Martin may refer to:
Places
* Martin City (disambiguation)
* Martin County (disambiguation)
* Martin Township (disambiguation)
Antarctica
* Martin Peninsula, Marie Byrd Land
* Port Martin, Adelie Land
* Point Martin, South Orkney Islands
Austr ...
'',[ '']The Jenny Jones Show
''The Jenny Jones Show'' is an American syndicated daytime tabloid talk show that was hosted by comedian/actress/singer Jenny Jones. It was produced by Quincy Jones-David Salzman Entertainment and Telepictures Productions and was distributed b ...
'', and ''Turnstyle'', and appeared in television commercials for Kodak
The Eastman Kodak Company (referred to simply as Kodak ) is an American public company that produces various products related to its historic basis in analogue photography. The company is headquartered in Rochester, New York, and is incorpor ...
and McDonald's
McDonald's Corporation is an American Multinational corporation, multinational fast food chain store, chain, founded in 1940 as a restaurant operated by Richard and Maurice McDonald, in San Bernardino, California, United States. They rechri ...
. Parr left KDAY
KDAY (93.5 FM, "93.5 KDAY") is a radio station that is licensed to Redondo Beach, California and serves the Greater Los Angeles area. The station is owned by Meruelo Media and airs a classic hip hop format. The station's studios are located in ...
(Hollywood) in 1989 and ended up working on KJMZ
KJMZ (97.9 FM) is a radio station broadcasting an urban contemporary format. The station is licensed to Cache, Oklahoma, and serves the Lawton area. KJMZ is owned by Mollman Media, Inc. Studios are located on Flower Mound Road in eastern Lawto ...
in Dallas, Texas
Dallas () is the third largest city in Texas and the largest city in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, the fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States at 7.5 million people. It is the largest city in and seat of Dallas County w ...
.
Before Parr began as a radio personality, however, he had a recording career under the pseudonym Bobby Jimmy. In the mid-1980s, he owned and ran his own recording label, Rapsur Records (an inversion of his name). On it he released records as Bobby Jimmy and the Critters. He scored a few hits, including "Roaches" (a parody of Timex Social Club
Timex Social Club is an American R&B group, formed in 1985 and best known for the 1986 hit single " Rumors".
History
Originally known as the Timex Crew, members included Marcus Thompson (founder), Gregory "Greg B" Thomas, Michael Marshall, Cr ...
's song "Rumors"); "We Like Ugly Women,"[ "One Glove" (a song satirizing Michael Jackson), and "Ugly Knuckle Butt," which still receives airplay on such outlets as the ]Doctor Demento
Barret Eugene Hansen (born April 2, 1941), known professionally as Dr. Demento, is an American radio broadcaster and record collector specializing in novelty songs, comedy, and strange or unusual recordings dating from the early days of phonograp ...
Show. Bobby Jimmy released three albums before fading into obscurity. Bobby Jimmy and The Critters was also credited on N.W.A
N.W.A (an abbreviation for Niggaz Wit Attitudes) was an American hip hop group whose members were among the earliest and most significant popularizers and controversial figures of the gangsta rap subgenre, and the group is widely considered ...
's first album ''N.W.A and the Posse
''N.W.A. and the Posse'' is a compilation album, re-releasing N.W.A and associated groups' underground rap songs from the Los Angeles area's rap scene on November 6, 1987.Roni Sarig, ''Third Coast: Outkast, Timbaland, and How Hip-hop Became a Sout ...
'' (1987), because Arabian Prince was a member of The Critters.
In 1989, he left Hollywood (where he was a morning host on Los Angeles' 1580 KDAY
KDAY (93.5 FM, "93.5 KDAY") is a radio station that is licensed to Redondo Beach, California and serves the Greater Los Angeles area. The station is owned by Meruelo Media and airs a classic hip hop format. The station's studios are located in ...
, the first all hip-hop radio station) for Dallas, Texas
Texas (, ; Spanish language, Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2 ...
, where he worked at KJMZ 100.3 JAMZ. He also launched FLAVA TV, which enabled him to direct, write, and act.
In 1996 he moved to Washington, D.C. and Radio One's 93.9 WKYS-FM
WKYS (93.9 FM) is a commercial radio station licensed to Washington, D.C. The station is owned by Urban One through licensee Urban One Licenses, LLC, and broadcasts an Urban Contemporary radio format. It is co-owned with WMMJ, WOL, WPRS-FM, a ...
, where he began the ''Russ Parr Morning Show with Olivia Foxx''. By Spring 1997 the show was number one in the D.C. radio market. In December 2002 Foxx left and the show went national. Georgia Foy, also known as Alfredas, Parr's former co-host in Texas, joined as Foxx's replacement.
Parr made his directing debut with the 2006 drama ''The Last Stand''.[ He directed the roast of ]John Witherspoon
John Witherspoon (February 5, 1723 – November 15, 1794) was a Scottish-American Presbyterian minister, educator, farmer, slaveholder, and a Founding Father of the United States. Witherspoon embraced the concepts of Scottish common sense reali ...
, as well as the comedies '' Love for Sale'',[ '' Something Like a Business'',][ '' 35 and Ticking'',][ and '']The Undershepherd
''The Undershepherd'' is a 2012 American drama film written and directed by Russ Parr and starring Isaiah Washington.
Two preacher friends clash as one is led by God and the other is led by Satan.
Cast
*Isaiah Washington as L.C.
*Bill Cobbs as ...
''.
Currently, Parr is the host of the ''Russ Parr Morning Show'', heard weekdays by more than 3.2 million listeners in 45 U.S. cities, and nationally syndicated by Reach Media
Reach or REACH may refer to:
Companies and organizations
* Reach plc, formerly Trinity Mirror, large British newspaper, magazine, and digital publisher
* Reach Canada, an NGO in Canada
* Reach Limited, an Asia Pacific cable network company
...
. He also hosts a weekend show, ''On Air with Russ Parr'', which can be heard on more than 40 radio stations. Aside from his radio gigs, Parr is also the co-host of the TV One dating show ''Get the Hook Up''.
References
External links
Official ''Russ Parr Morning Show'' Website
''Russ Parr Morning Show'' on American Urban Radio Networks
''On the Air with Russ Parr'' on American Urban Radio Networks
''The Last Stand – The Drama of Comedy'' A Russ Parr Film (Warner Home Video)
Russ Parr discusses ''The Last Stand'' on Reelblack TV
{{DEFAULTSORT:Parr, Russ
American people of Nigerien descent
American radio personalities
American television personalities
Urban One
TV One (American TV channel)
Radio personalities from Washington, D.C.
African-American film directors
American male television actors
American male film actors
Living people
1959 births
Film directors from Washington, D.C.