Junior Parker
Herman "Junior" Parker (May 27, 1932 – November 18, 1971) was an American Memphis blues singer and musician. He is best remembered for his unique voice, which has been described as "honeyed" and "velvet-smooth". He was posthumously inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 2001.
One music journalist noted, "For years Junior Parker deserted downhome harmonica blues for uptown blues-soul music".
Biography
Junior Parker was born in either Clarksdale, Mississippi, or West Memphis, Arkansas.
He sang in gospel groups as a child and, beginning in his teenage years, played on various blues circuits. His biggest influence as a harmonica player was Sonny Boy Williamson, with whom he worked before moving on to work for Howlin' Wolf in 1949. Around 1950 he was a member of an ad hoc Memphis group, the Beale Streeters, with Bobby 'Blue' Bland and B.B. King.
In 1951 he formed his own band, the Blue Flames, with the guitarist Pat Hare. Parker was discovered in 1952 by Ike Turner, who signed him to Modern Records. He put out one single on this record label, "You're My Angel." This brought him to the attention of Sam Phillips, and he and his band signed with Sun Records in 1953. There they produced three successful songs: "Feelin' Good" (which reached #5 on the US Billboard R&B chart), "Love My Baby," and "Mystery Train", later covered by Elvis Presley. For Presley's version of "Mystery Train", Scotty Moore borrowed the guitar riff from Parker's "Love My Baby", played by Pat Hare. "Love My Baby" and "Mystery Train" are considered important contributions to the rockabilly genre.
Podcasts:
Junior Parker
ALBUMS
- Ride with Me, Baby: The Singles 1952-1961 released: 2012
- The ABC Collection released: 1976
- Good Things Don't Happen Every Day released: 1972
- Blue Shadows Falling released: 1972
- Jimmy Mcgriff/Junior Parker released: 1971
- You Don't Have to Be Black to Love the Blues released: 1971
- The Dudes Doin' Business released: 1971
- The Outside Man released: 1970
- Blues Man released: 1969
- Honey-Drippin' Blues released: 1969
- The Best of Junior Parker released: 1967
- Like It Is released: 1967
- Baby Please released: 1967
- Driving Wheel released: 1961
- The COllection released:
- Love Ain't Nothin' But A Business Goin' On released:
Ride with Me, Baby: The Singles 1952-1961
Released 2012- You're My Angel
- Bad Women, Bad Whiskey
- Love My Baby
- Feelin' Good
- Fussin' and Fightin' Blues
- Love My Baby
- Mystery Train
- Feelin' Bad
- Dirty Friend Blues
- Can't Understand
- Please Baby Blues
- Sittin', Drinkin' and Thinkin'
- Sittin' at the Bar
- Sittin' at the Window
- Sittin', Drinkin' and Thinkin'
- Love My Baby (alternative take)
- Backtracking
- I Wanna Ramble
- Can You Tell Me, Baby
- Driving Me Mad
- There Better Be No Feet (In Them Shoes)
- I'm Tender
- Pretty Baby
- Mother-In-Law Blues
- That's My Baby
- My Dolly Bee
- Next Time You See Me
Born: 1932-05-27
Died: 1971-11-18
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Love Ain't Nothin' But a Business Goin' On
by: Junior ParkerLet me tell you how it will be
There's one for you and nineteen for me
'Cause I'm the taxman, yes, I'm the taxman
(That man is rough; now dig this)
Should five per cent appear too small
Just be thankful I don't take it all
(Taxman is something else, isn't he?)
'Cause I'm the taxman, yes, I'm the taxman
(Now dig this)
If you drive a truck, I'll tax the street
If you try to fix it, I'll tax your seat
If you get too cold, I'll tax the heat
If you take a walk (now this is awful). I'll tax your feet
'Cause I'm the taxman
This is awful
Now don't ask me what it's for
If you don't wanna pay, pay some more
'Cause I'm the taxman, yes, I'm the taxman
(Now dig this)
Now my advice for those who die
(This is awful)
Beware of the pennies on your eyes
'Cause I'm the taxman, yes, I'm the taxman
And you're working for me and no one but me
The taxman is rough
He come and get you any time he wanna
Do you believe he come and get your old lady?
That taxman is a blip
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