Bobby Parker
Promotional photo from BobbyParkerblues.com
Born	August 31, 1937
Genre(s)	Blues music Blues rock
Label(s)	Black Top Records
Years active	1950's - 1990's
Official site	BobbyParkerblue.com

Bobby Parker (b. August 31, 1937) is a blues rock guitarist. He is best-known for his 1961 song, "Watch Your Step," a single for the V-Tone Records label that became a hit on British and U.S. R&B charts. August 31 is the 243rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (244th in leap years), with 122 days remaining. ... 1937 (MCMXXXVII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... Blues is a vocal and instrumental musical form which evolved from African American spirituals, shouts, work songs and chants and has its earliest stylistic roots in West Africa. ... Blues-rock, is a hybrid musical genre combining elements of the blues with rock and roll, with an emphasis on the electric guitar. ... 1950 (MCML) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... This article is about the year. ... August 31 is the 243rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (244th in leap years), with 122 days remaining. ... 1937 (MCMXXXVII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... Blues-rock, is a hybrid musical genre combining elements of the blues with rock and roll, with an emphasis on the electric guitar. ... Different kinds of guitars The guitar is a fretted and stringed musical instrument, used in a wide variety of musical styles, and is also widely known as a solo classical instrument. ... Motto: (traditional) In God We Trust (official, 1956–present) Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington, D.C. Largest city New York City Official language(s) None at the federal level; English de facto Government Federal Republic  - President George W. Bush (R)  - Vice President Dick Cheney (R) Independence - Declared - Recognized... Rhythm and blues (aka R&B or RnB) is a popular music genre combining jazz, gospel, and blues influences — first performed by African American artists. ...

Getting a start

Born in Lafayette, Louisiana, but raised in Los Angeles, California, Parker first aspired to a career in entertainment at a young age. By the 1950's, Parker had started working on electric guitar with several big name blues, R&B, and funk groups of the time with his first stint being with Otis Williams and the Charms. Over the next few years, he also played lead guitar with Bo Diddley (including an appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show), toured with Paul Williams, Sam Cooke, Jackie Wilson, Laverne Baker, Clyde McPhatter, and the Everly Brothers. In the waning years of the decade, he also toured with Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly and Little Richard. His first single recorded was done in 1958, while he was working primarly with Williams' band, and was titled "Blues Get Off My Shoulder". During that same year, he also preformed frequently at the Apollo Theater in Harlem. Lafayette is a city located on the Vermilion River in Lafayette Parish, in the U.S. state of Louisiana. ... Nickname: City of Angels Location within Los Angeles County in the state of California Coordinates: State California County Los Angeles County Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa Area    - City 1,290. ... Left: Rosa Hurricane, a heavy metal-style solid body guitar. ... Blues is a vocal and instrumental musical form which evolved from African American spirituals, shouts, work songs and chants and has its earliest stylistic roots in West Africa. ... Funk is a distinct style of music originated by African-Americans, e. ... Otis Williams (second from right), with the Temptations in 1967. ... Lead guitar refers to a role within a popular music band, especially a rock band, that provides melody or melodic material, as opposed to the rhythm of the rhythm guitar, bass, and drums. ... Bo Diddleys emphasis on rhythm largely influenced popular music, especially that of rock and roll in the 1960s. ... Ed Sullivan The Ed Sullivan Show was an American television variety show that ran from June 20, 1948 to June 6, 1971, and was hosted by former entertainment columnist Ed Sullivan. ... Paul Williams is the name of three popular music musicians: Paul Williams, songwriter for Carpenters and many others, as well as actor in movies and TV. Paul Williams, rhythm and blues saxophonist Paul Williams, one of the lead singers of the popular Motown act The Temptations Other Paul Williams: Paul... Sam Cooke (January 22, 1931 – December 11, 1964) was a popular and influential American gospel, R&B, soul, pop singer, songwriter, and entrepreneur. ... Jackie Wilson Jack Leroy Jackie Wilson (June 9, 1934–January 21, 1984) was an American soul and R&B singer born in Detroit, Michigan, where he became active in the music business. ... Clyde McPhatter (November 15, 1932 _ June 13, 1972) was an influential American R&B singer, born in Durham, North Carolina. ... Don (born February 1, 1937 in Brownie, a small coal-mining town (now defunct) near Central City, Muhlenberg County, Kentucky) and Phil Everly (born January 18, 1939 in Chicago, Illinois) are country-influenced rock and roll performers who had their greatest success in the 1950s. ... Charles Edward Anderson Chuck Berry (born October 18, 1926) is an American guitarist, singer, and song writer. ... Charles Hardin Holley (September 7, 1936 – February 3, 1959), better known as Buddy Holly, was an American singer, songwriter, and a pioneer of Rock and Roll. ... Little Richard (born Richard Wayne Penniman, December 5, 1932 in Macon, Georgia) is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist, an early pioneer of Rock n Roll, Penniman has influenced generations of R&B and Rock artists. ... Apollo Theater marquee, c. ... Harlem is a neighborhood of Manhattan in New York City, long known as a major black cultural and business center. ...

By the early 1960's, Parker had settled into living in the Washington, DC area and played at blues clubs there after having left Williams' band for good. He recorded the single "Watch Your Step" in 1961, a regional hit that was later covered by the Spencer Davis Group, Dr. Feelgood and Santana. Due to the success of the song, both in the United States and overseas, he toured England in 1968 and recorded his next hit, "It's Hard to be Fair". Aerial photo (looking NW) of the Washington Monument and the White House in Washington, DC. Washington, D.C., officially the District of Columbia (also known as D.C.; Washington; the Nations Capital; the District; and, historically, the Federal City) is the capital city and administrative district of the United... In pop music a cover version is a new rendition of a previously recorded song. ... The Spencer Davis Group was a mid-1960s British rock band founded by Spencer Davis (born 1942 in Swansea, Wales). ... Dr. Feelgood is a nickname given to physicians who overprescribe psychoactive medications. ... Santana during concert in Barcelona 2003 Carlos Santana (born July 20, 1947) is a famous Mexican rock and roll guitarist, originally from Autlan de Navarro, Jalisco. ...

DC and beyond

For the next two decades, Parker played almost exclusively in the DC area, leaving widespread success only to be venerated in the local blues scene. By the 1990's, Parker started to record again for a broader audience. He recorded his first official album, "Bent Out of Shape" the Black Top Records label in 1993, with a follow-up in 1995, "Shine Me Up". Parker, in 1993, also was the headliner for the Jersey Shore Jazz and Blues Festival.

Discography

Albums

• Bent Out of Shape - 1993 (Black Top Records)
• Shine Me Up - 1995 (Black Top Records)

Singles

• Blues Get Off My Shoulders - 1958
• Watch Your Step - 1961
• It's Hard to be Fair - 1968

References

• All Music Guide entry
• Bobby's Bio