John Parker is a "House Rockin" Blues Artist that will make you leave your seat and get up on your dancin' feet. His high energy style is something you won't soon forget.
Winner - 2008 Rock City Music "Blues Lifetime Achievement" Award
Winner - 2007 Rock City Music "Best Blues Band of the Year" Award
John Parker - "Self Titled" - Winner 2009 Blues Foundation's "Best Self Produced CD" Los Angeles Regional Competition.
It's playing on 154 Radio Stations and hit the "Roots Blues Top 50" Charts after just 8 DAYS of Airplay!! Buy it at Broadjam, CDBaby, Amazon, ITunes, Bandvillage, DigStation
2009-2010 Broadjam "Top 10" Music Charts:
"The Only Thing" - Top 10 Blues & Top 10 Blues Rock
"Walkin' Out On You" - Top 10 Blues Rock
"I'll Never Be Free" - Top 10 Country Blues
"Things Are Gonna Be Different" - Top 10 Country Blues
"When I Reach My Destination" - Top 10 Female Fan Picks
"I've Got The Blues Baby" and "When I Reach My Destination" chosen for "NCIS"- CBS/Paramount.
Latest News
My new songs still keep hitting the the Top 10 Charts!!!
Thanks so much to my fans and friends and all the fabulous Broadjam Reviewers out there for voting for the Kid!!
John Parker Biography
John Parker, known as "The Rockin' Bluesman", was born in Santa Cruz, California into a very colorful heritage. His grandparents were Spanish royalty from the De La Guerra family which founded Santa Barbara, his father was the NASCAR Driver of the Year for 1956 and his mother was also a race car driver. John had many tales about being strapped in the race car with his younger brother, both surrounded by pillows during the races. He started out life in the fast lane and continue to live it that way till the end - laughing and loving it all the way.
John fell into music at an early age and grew up loving the sounds of BB King, Django Reinhardt, Freddie King and Buddy Guy. He played his way across the country and he wound up in the Atlanta, Georgia music scene where he found his "Blues calling"and he stayed there for several years performing with many great artists including his good friends Tinsley Ellis and Doug James among others.
John finally moved back to the West Coast to play what he loved about Georgia the most - the Blues. He had the opportunity to perform with Chicago Bob Nelson, Big Joe Jackson, Butch Travette & the Alley Cats, the late Piano Red, Delbert McClinton and Doug Kershaw. He also opened for The Beach Boys, Juice Newton, Coco Montoya, Bobby Bear and Eric Burdon.
Back in California, John became very involved in the Film & Television Entertainment Industry, was elected President of the Santa Clarita Valley Blues Society in 2006 and became the leader and driving force behind 3 different bands of his own - Forced Call, The Parker-Jensen Band and finally The John Parker Blues Band.
He also discovered he had inoperable primary Liver Cancer but it never stopped John, it just made him more determined to live his life to the fullest. He even had a Liver transplant and was back on stage just 21 days later, held together with staples, gauze and tape in freezing cold weather, so he wouldn't disappoint his fans.
He is well known for his extensive work with charities and the American Cancer Society. He was chosen as an ACS Legislative Ambassador and worked very closely with the Organization and our Government. In 2006, he attended the "Celebration on the Hill" in Washington, DC and spoke before Congress in an effort to increase Cancer Research Funding. He was a 5 year Cancer Survivor because of the Liver Transplant and he also worked as an advocate to teach the public about Organ Donor Awareness.
He served as the Entertainment Chairman for the Santa Clarita Valley Relay For Life, which is one of the largest in California the 10th largest in the United States. John also performed at several other Relays in the state and helped raise more than $4.8 Million for American Cancer Society, Write 4 Hope, Ride Across America, Celebration On The Hill and Blues For The Cause.
John released his first CD "Off The Clock" in 2005 and has a new "Self Titled" CD which was released in June, 2008. The new CD is filled with very up tempo West Coast Blues and many of the songs have a strong message about the "fight" that he has been through.
John Parker "Self-Titled" CD
Lynn Wolverton-Parker - Running Monkey Music
John has always written songs that are funny, true to life and personal...and non are more personal than the ones he wrote for this CD.
"Self-Titled" was long in the making and is about his challenges, victories, courage and fears during a long battle with cancer. His music became his medicine, kept him going despite all odds and gave him the most happiness of anything in the world.
This new CD is his "mark on the world" and has inspired multitudes of people who know him and have heard it.
John Hits "Roots Blues Top 50"
John's new "Self-Titled" CD hit the "Roots Blues Top 50" charts for September, 2008 after only 8 days of Airplay!!
It is now playing on 135 Radio Stations Worldwide seems to be getting very good exposure.
The new CD showed up last week on several regional "Living Blues Top 25" Radio charts - stay tuned for more info.
New Song Hits "Top 10" Charts
"Things Are Gonna Be Different" hit the Blues - Country Top 10 Charts on June 28th, 2010.
"LA's Best Self Produced CD"
John Parker's new "Self Titled" won 1st Place in the Santa Clarita Valley Blues Society's 2008 "Los Angeles Regional Best Self Produced CD" Competition.
The CD then competed in 2009 Simi Finals of the Blues Foundation's "Best Self Produced CD" World Competition, where it was judged by Radio Station, Record Producers, Press and Record Labels at the International Blues Challenge.
John Honored in LA Music Awards
John received another very prestigious Honor at the 2008 Rock City Music Awards. He was awarded the "Blues Lifetime Achievement Award" and Rock City Music Magazine also printed a full page article about his life, music and accomplishments.
John Wins Rock City Music Award
During a very packed Awards Ceremony at BB King's Blues Club in Hollywood, John was presented with the coveted "Outstanding Blues Band of the Year" trophy during the 2007 Rock City Music Awards show.
"I Got The Blues Baby" on "NCIS"
CBS TV just licensed my song "I Got The Blues Baby" to appear on "Dagger", an upcoming episode of the popular TV series NCIS.
Two Songs in "Top 10" Charts!!!!
October 17, 2008
"The Price of Fame" just hit #4 on Broadjam's "Top 10" Blues Charts and #1 on Broadjam's "Top 10" Blues Rock Charts and "Walkin' Out On You" is right behind it as #4 in the Charts!
Thanks to everyone for the great reviews!!!
"Self Titled" on 144 FM Stations
The new CD is getting good airplay and great reviews on Radio stations around the World!
Thanks to all the DJs out there for playing my music and thanks to all my friends for requesting it.
"Southland Blues" CD Review
Excerpts from Jim Santella Review - Southland Blues Magazine, July 08
In "I'll Never Give Up, Parker says he'd only change one thing if he could live his life all over again - He'd find a cure for the Blues. Well, it's certain that music such as his does the job.
"I've Got The Blues Baby" swings with joy, while lyrics paint a picture of shared lowdown feelings.
Parker sings 'em clearly, convincingly and adds his "signature" swingin' rythmic touch to each selection on this CD.
Song picked by NCIS/CBS Studios
A deal was signed with CBS Studios to use my song, "When I Reach My Destination" on one of the Episodes of the Top 10 TV Series "NCIS" which will air on November 20, 2007.
Another "Broadjam Top 10" Hit
Broadjam News - Sept. 28th, 2008
John Parker's "Things Are Gonna Be Different" from the "Off The Clock" CD also hit the "Broadjam Top 10" Blues Rock Charts this month.
Thanks so much to all of you out there for the great reviews!!
Songs Hit Broadjam's Top 10!
Broadjam News - Feb. 13th 2007
John Parker's songs from his cd "Off The Clock" are doing very well on the Broadjam Top Ten Charts .... Two of his songs have repeatedly hit the "World Top 10" Blues Rock Charts.
"When I Reach My Destination" is currently rated No.1 Blues Gospel song in California and No.6 Blues Gospel song in the World Charts.
"The Only Thing" is still hanging in the top charts after hitting the "World Top 10" Blues Rock charts on several occasions. It is currently rated No.6 in California's Blues Rock Charts.
"City Nights" is No.7 in California Classic Rock Charts and No.14 in California Blues Rock Charts.
"Walkin' Out On You" is No.15 in California's Blues Rock Charts.
"Things Are Gonna Be Different" is No.16 in California's Blues Rock Charts.
Thanks to all our Reviewers at Broadjam!
Chicago Music Guide Top Pick
John was picked by the Chicago Music Guide as "Featured Blues Artist for 2007".
A Few Past Festivals & Events
Redondo Beach Pier Summer Concert Series
Santa Clarita Valley Blues Festival
Saugus Speedway with The Beach Boys & Juice Newton
Music For The Cause Festival
Write 4 Hope Blues Festival
Blues For The Cause Festival
Ride Across America
South Bay Navy Days
Calimigos Ranch Concerts
Lake Elizabeth Music Festival
Celebration on the Hill - Washington, DC
Ventura Art Walk
Orange County Cultural Fair
Sherman Oaks Street Festival
Beach Cities Summer Spectacular
Redondo Beach Katrina Benefit
Lousiana Lovesong Benefit
Salute To America Concert
San Clemente Fiesta
Santa Clarita Valley Relay For Life
Navy Days LA
King Harbor Luau
North Hollywood Relay For Life
Burbank Relay For Life
Music For The Cause Festival
Gulf States Rebuild Project
Beach Cities Relay for Life
Redondo Beach Yacht Club
Santa Monica Yacht Club
The Sunset Room
The White Lotus
The Happy Clam
B.B. King's Blues Club
The Coach House
Moe's Alley
The Sportsman's Lodge
Cafe Boogaloo
The Highlands Club
Cozy's Blues Club
Coach House
Arcadia Blues Club
Disneyland
Harvelles
Blue Cafe
Yesteryears
The Londoner
The Pearl Room
Reviews
COVERUNNER RADIO
Noel Diotte
www.coverunner.com
John Parker, Lead Guitar and Vocals for "John Parker & Forced Call", previously with Chicago Bob Nelson, Big Joe Jackson, Butch Travette & the Alley Cats and the late Piano Red, has a new Blues Band, a high energy Rock-Blues Band called "The John Parker Band". I've known Parker for years while he was crafting and performing his songs at late night blues jams in the South Bay. Now, I've watched his high energy guitar blues licks, his powerful "growling" vocals and now even more, he is gregarious and fun on stage as the lead-man. Considering all he's been thru with chemotherapy treatments and having just had a liver transplant just three weeks before getting back on stage. Talk about the blues! The joy of the Blues shows in his love for his music, his unbeatable faith of life and humor.
John's Keybord player, Steve Halter aka the "Lord of the Boards", has been a full time session player & arranger for over 20 years. As John says, "When its time for his solo, he just closes his eyes, feels the vibe and lets his soul take over." This certainly was evident during his performance on the stage. The physical movement of his work on the keyboard also makes for great energy for the whole band as well for great playing virtuosity.
THE EASY READER
Entertainment News, Barbara Ramsey-Duke
Popular Lead Guitarist and Blues Vocalist John Parker laid claim to the title of the "Hardest Working Man in Rock 'n Roll" last Saturday night when he and his band opened the Redondo Pier concert season with a two hour show.
Just three weeks earlier, Parker underwent a liver transplant. A set of metal clamps were keeping his guts from spilling out, literally, while, more figuratively, he belted out his bluesy "Walking Out On You".
"HOTTEST TRACKS I'VE HEARD IN YEARS"
George "Duffy" Duffield / "The Pearl Room", Redondo Beach
In a day when most of what you hear is techno-hi speed sampling, this is raw music, directed to the soul and with no holds barred. A pleasure to listen to and you'll find yourself playing it over and over. It is a "must buy" for any serious music lover. If you get the chance you need to check them out live. It's a bomb. After over 25 years in the music business, I know a hit when I hear it.
"THIS GUITAR IS INCREDIBLE"
Andy V., Rockin' Blues News
The "Off The Clock" cd sounds exactly like listening to John Parker & Forced Call at a big concert. I saw them perform in front of over 4,000 people and they were great. Listening to this cd gives me chills. What a great "live" sound it has!
"WHAT A GREAT BLEND OF ROCK AND BLUES"
Kyle Jones, Blues City Radio
A DJ friend of mine turned me on to John's cd and I was amazed when I gave it a listen....half rock, half blues and a great mix of both. This band is really entertaining and the music on this new cd shows how much heart and soul went into the production. Very good, guys! I hope another cd is soon in the works - I can't wait to hear it.
"I WAS COMPLETELY BLOWN AWAY"
Bluesorama Radio
Just caught these guys at a concert at the Redondo Beach Pier and I was completely blown away!! They're just bigger than life on stage and put on a really great show. I couldn't wait to get my hands on one of their cds to play it for the world. I hear a new cd is in the works for an early 2006 release and I know it will really be hot as well.