Biography

b. 6 November 1929, Beckenham, Kent, England. Parker is a self-taught pianist with a great talent for solo ragtime and boogie woogie but who can fit easily into a band's rhythm section. In the early 50s he worked with Mick Mulligan and Humphrey Lyttelton playing the catchy boogie woogie on the latter's "Bad Penny Blues" hit in 1956. He later played with Monty Sunshine and Kenny Ball but also with Alexis Korner's Blues Incorporated to which he made an important contribution as the 60s blues boom got underway. His own bands at this time reflected his love of the music of Sidney Bechet and Eddie Condon. Latterly he has presented his own one-man show, worked regularly with vocalist Beryl Bryden and provided the backing for the vocal group Sweet Substitute.