Jack Parnell
John Russell "Jack" Parnell ( born August 6, 1923 in London, † August 8, 2010 in Southwold, Suffolk ) was a British bandleader, composer and jazz musician.
Life and work
Parnell, who comes from a theatrical family, was given from the age of five, first piano lessons; He also had drum lessons for a year. He graduated from the Brighton and Hove Grammar School '. In 1939 he had his first public appearance in Scarborough. Then he played dance music in Cambridge before he did his military service in the Royal Air Force. There he was a member of the quintet of Buddy Featherstonhaugh in High Wycombe. During his military service he met Vic Lewis, with whom he directed the " Vic Lewis / Jack Parnell Jazzmen ". From 1944 to 1955 he was a member of the band of Ted Heath. He then formed a big band, which he increased this to 16 people in 1955.
In 1956 he was the musical director ATV television program; this position he held until 1981., where he led the orchestra, for example, the Muppet Show. During the 1970s, he formed the group "The Best of British Jazz" with Don Lusher, Kenny Baker, Tony Lee, Betty Smith and Tony Archer, which existed until 1985. In 1983, Parnell after Southwold, Suffolk, where he was active as a musician to the last.
Prizes and awards
During the 1940s and 1950s he was awarded the Melody Maker for seven consecutive years as the best drummer. Later he composed for television; for his music for Love Story, he received the Harriet Cohen Award. In 1973 he was the British musician, who won a Grammy for a program with Barbra Streisand, which was created for ATV.