Sonny Parker (musician)

Sonny Parker ( born May 5, 1925 in Youngstown (Ohio ); † February 7, 1957 in Pittsburgh) was an American rhythm and blues and jazz singer, dancer, songwriter and drummer.

Sonny Parker grew up in Chicago; his parents acted as vaudeville duo Butterbeans & Susie. After various jobs as a dancer and singer in the clubs of Chicago, he had his own band in 1948 with a commitment to the Cotton Club of Cincinnati; in his band also played King Kolax; with him, he took the end of the year in Los Angeles for Columbia. In 1949 he became a member of the orchestra of Lionel Hampton, where he remained in his remaining career and for hits such as " Drinkin 'Wine Spoo -Dee -O -Dee "; " I Almost Lost My Mind " and " Merry Christmas Baby " was responsible. He also acted in the musical film Lionel Hampton and His Orchestra (1949 ) and Hamptons shots this time. With it he also went 1953-1955 on several European tours.

Under his own name Parker published some 78's for labels like Aladdin Records (USA), Spire and Peacock Records ( as Big Maceo Merriweather " Worried Life Blues" and his own composition " She Sets My Soul On Fire", 1952), where musicians of Hampton orchestra participated. In May 1955 he suffered during a concert in Valenciennes intracerebral hemorrhage, from which he never recovered. He died in 1957.

Disco Graphical Notes

• Sonny Parker Complete 1948-1953 ( Blue Moon, compilation )
• Sonny Parker with Lionel Hampton 1949 - 1951 (EPM, compilation )