Graham Parker

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Biography

Graham Parker (born November 18, 1950 in London) is an English rock singer and songwriter. Beginning in the late 1960s and early 1970s, Graham Parker sang in small-time English bands such as the Black Rockers and Deep Cut Three while working in dead-end jobs at a glove factory and a petrol station. In 1975, he recorded a few demo tracks in London with Dave Robinson, who would shortly found Stiff Records and who connected Parker with his first backing band of note.

Graham Parker & The Rumour (with Brinsley Schwarz and Martin Belmont on guitar, Bob Andrews on keyboards, Andrew Bodnar on bass and Steve Goulding on drums) formed in the summer of 1975 and began doing the rounds of the British pub rock scene. Their first album, Howlin’ Wind, was released to acclaim in 1976 and rapidly followed by the stylistically similar Heat Treatment. A mixture of rock, ballads, and reggae-influenced numbers, these albums reflected Parker’s early influences (Motown, The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan) and contained the songs which formed the core of Parker’s live shows — “White 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. Like the pub rock scene he was loosely tied to, the singer’s class-conscious lyrics and passionate vocals signaled a renewal of rock music as punk rock began to flower in Britain.
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  • songfactslastfm

    On Friday, director, Judd Apatow, will introduce a whole new generation to Graham Parker and The Rumour's music in This Is 40. Parker takes Songfacts behind the scenes of this upcoming Hollywood blockbuster starring Paul Rudd, Leslie Mann and Jason Segel: http://www.songfacts.com/blog/interviews/graham_parker/

    19 Dec 2012 Reply

  • bumoncouch

    i guess il join the crowd here and say that hes the real deal and totally underrated. 'howlin' wind' is one of the most important albums of my life.

    16 Dec 2012 Reply

  • simontogo

    elvis costello?

    20 Jun 2012 Reply

  • ijkidd

    Saw him supporting Bob Dylan at Hammersmith Odeon in 1991, he blew Bob off the stage, and I didn't even know any of his songs. Then again, I didn't recognise any of Bobs either, they were indecipherable against the originals and couldn't make out a word he was singing.

    16 Apr 2012 Reply

  • jessieinthesky

    Songfacts recently sat down with Graham Parker. Enjoy the interview here: http://www.songfacts.com/blog/interviews/graham_parker/

    13 Apr 2012 Reply

  • IanCat87

    Why don't more people listen to him?

    23 Jun 2011 Reply

  • Waqikan

    Parker is definitely an under appreciated songwriter and performer. I've seen him a few times--once in the 70s with the Rumour and most recently in a small club solo. Both were excellent high energy performances, that latter with songs from his most recent albums.

    3 Feb 2011 Reply

  • Zarbini

    Agree with all of below, a truly underestimated British Artist/singer songwriter,his recent material is still full of energy,jnterest and emotive longing, not to say funny at times, listen to England 's latest clown on "Discovered America" album.

    13 Nov 2010 Reply

  • Cityitis

    Graham Parker deserves more credit.

    24 Oct 2010 Reply

  • robmin

    Too bad that most of the top tracks are from his great, older recordings. His more recent work is also excellent and worth discovering. He has grown up, like Ian Hunter, Dylan and Lou Reed. Clearly an artist that you listen to for the LONG haul.

    9 Aug 2010 Reply

  • dustingoffhome

    getting the Stiff boxset was like, the greatest thing that ever happened to me. Squeezing out Sparks + Live Sparks is GREAT.

    10 Jan 2010 Reply

  • davidboner

    I need to get some more of his stuff after hearing his tracks on the Stiff box set.

    6 Nov 2009 Reply

  • HenkeStrummer

    He deserved/deserves so much more. Many of his songs are as good as/better than some of Costellos best ones. I'll keep listening to mr Parker forever. Some of his songs mean so much to me. True love.

    15 Apr 2009 Reply

  • KeithJones

    Classic!

    15 Mar 2009 Reply

  • NienkeLiz

    My dad had a few LP's of this man, cool

    14 Aug 2008 Reply

  • syverud

    Temporary Beauty is an amazing song. Even better then local girls in my opinion.

    21 Jul 2007 Reply

  • warmjets

    Saw him at Brit's pub in Minneapolis last Sunday. I think he is one of the most underrated rock and roll artists of all time. With all due respect to Elvis Costello, he ain't got shit on Graham!

    18 Jul 2007 Reply

  • akindofblue

    loved the Poughkeepsie show

    30 May 2007 Reply

  • RCori

    http://www.last.fm/group/Steve+Forbert

    14 May 2007 Reply
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