Graham Parker | Artist

Graham Parker is an English singer-songwriter born 1950 in Hackney, East London. He is best known as the lead singer of British band Graham Parker & the Rumour. After several years of wandering the Continent, Parker returned to London in '72 determined to forge a career in music. He picked up smalls gigs and eventually met Dave Robinson, former manager of the Brinsley Schwarz band, who became his manager. Robinson had a small studio above the Hope & Anchor pub in Islington and began recording Parker. One of his demos "Nothin’s Gonna Pull Us Apart" was played on the Charlie Gillett show "Honky Tonk" on BBC London. It was heard by Nigel Grainge from Phonogram Records who called Gillett, leading to Parker being signed by Phonogram. Robinson went about recruiting musicians who would become the Rumour, and began recording Parker's debut album Howlin’ Wind in the winter of 1975, with Nick Lowe producing. Dave Robinson shortly after founded Stiff Records and included one Parker track "Back to Schooldays" on the compilation album, A Bunch of Stiff Records. Graham Parker & The Rumour formed In the summer of 1975, with Parker (vocals, guitar) joined by ex Brinsley Schwarz members Brinsley Schwarz (lead guitar) and Bob Andrews (keyboards), ex Ducks Deluxe guitarist Martin Belmont, plus Andrew Bodnar (bass) and Steve Goulding (drums). Howlin' Wind, was released to acclaim in April '76 and was rapidly followed by the stylistically similar Heat Treatment. A mixture of rock, ballads, and reggae-influenced numbers, these albums reflected Parker's early influences and contained the songs which formed the core of Parker's live shows: "Black Honey", "Soul Shoes", "Lady Doctor", "Fool's Gold", and his early signature tune "Don't Ask Me Questions", which hit the Top 40 in the UK Singles Chart. Parker preceded two other new wave English singer-songwriters Elvis Costello and Joe Jackson, with whom he is often compared. To-date Parker has released 27 studio albums including three with The Rumour, who also released several albums without Parker. Standout albums include Howlin' Wind, Heat Treatment, Squeezing Out Sparks, The Up Escalator and The Mona Lisa's Sister. The excellent Live at Marble Arch was initially issued as a bootleg but later released officially by Phonogram.

Artist Website: grahamparker.net

Featured Albums: Graham Parker

Related Artists: Nick Lowe, Brinsley Schwarz, Kippington Lodge, The Rumour