Album Notes

John Parker is a "House Rockin" Blues Artist that will make you leave your seat and get up on your dancin' feet. His high energy style is something you won't soon forget.

John, better known as "The Rockin' Bluesman", has made his mark on the LA music scene and has taken rock and blues lovers by the ears. Hot Rock and Blues only mildly describes what he has on the burner for his new "Self Titled" CD.

John was born in Santa Cruz, California into a very colorful heritage. His grandparents were Spanish royalty from the De La Guerra family which founded Santa Barbara, his father was the NASCAR Driver of the Year for 1956 and his mother was also a race car driver. John had many tales about being strapped in the race car with his younger brother, both surrounded by pillows during the races. He started out life in the fast lane and continue to live it that way till the end - laughing and loving it all the way.

John fell into music at an early age and grew up loving the sounds of BB King, Django Reinhardt, Freddie King and Buddy Guy. He played his way across the country and he wound up in the Atlanta, Georgia music scene where he found his "Blues calling"and he stayed there for several years performing with many great artists including his good friends Tinsley Ellis and Doug James among others.

John finally moved back to the West Coast to play what he loved about Georgia the most - the Blues. He had the opportunity to perform with Chicago Bob Nelson, Big Joe Jackson, Butch Travette & the Alley Cats, the late Piano Red, Delbert McClinton and Doug Kershaw. He also opened for The Beach Boys, Juice Newton, Coco Montoya, Bobby Bear and Eric Burdon.

Back in California, John became very involved in the Film & Television Entertainment Industry, was elected President of the Santa Clarita Valley Blues Society in 2006 and became the leader and driving force behind 3 different bands of his own - Forced Call, The Parker-Jensen Band and finally The John Parker Blues Band.

He also discovered he had inoperable primary Liver Cancer but it never stopped John, it just made him more determined to live his life to the fullest. He even had a Liver transplant and was back on stage just 21 days later, held together with staples, gauze and tape in freezing cold weather, so he wouldn't disappoint his fans.

He is well known for his extensive work with charities and the American Cancer Society. He was chosen as an ACS Legislative Ambassador and worked very closely with the Organization and our Government. In 2006, he attended the "Celebration on the Hill" in Washington, DC and spoke before Congress in an effort to increase Cancer Research Funding. He was a 5 year Cancer Survivor because of the Liver Transplant and he also worked as an advocate to teach the public about Organ Donor Awareness.

He served as the Entertainment Chairman for the Santa Clarita Valley Relay For Life, which is one of the largest in California the 10th largest in the United States. John also performed at several other Relays in the state and helped raise more than $4.8 Million for American Cancer Society, Write 4 Hope, Ride Across America, Celebration On The Hill and Blues For The Cause.

John released his first CD "Off The Clock" in 2005 and has a new "Self Titled" CD which was released in June, 2008. The new CD is filled with very up tempo West Coast Blues and many of the songs have a strong message about the "fight" that he has been through.



Press & Awards:

---"John Parker - Self Titled" CD just won the Regional "Best Self Produced CD" Competition and is headed to Memphis for the World Competition.

---It is now playing on 154 Radio Stations around the world and hit the "Roots Blues Top 50" Charts after just EIGHT DAYS of Airplay!!

---Winner of the 2008 Rock City Music Award for "Lifetime Acheievement in Blues"

---Winner of the 2007 Rock City Music Award for "Best Blues Band of the Year", BB Kings, Hollywood.

---John was Chicago Music Guide's 2007 "Featured Blues Artist".

---"When I Reach My Destination" from "Off The Clock" appeared on the CBS/Paramount Television Series "NCIS" in November of 2007.

---"I've Got The Blues Baby" from the "Self Titled" CD will appear on the upcoming "Dagger" episode of the CBS-TV Hit Drama "NCIS".

---"The Price of Fame" from "John Parker - Self Titled" is currently #1 in Broadjam's "Top 10 Blues Rock" Charts and #3 in the "Top 10 Blues" Charts

---"I'll Never Give Up from "Self Titled" is currently #9 in the "Top 10 Country Blues" Charts.

---Southland Blues Magazine, Rock City Music News, Easy Reader News, Santa Clarita Valley News have all done full page feature articles about John's life and his "Self Titled".

---"Leo's Bluesland", KCSB 91.9FM, did a live feature show on John and his music from his new "Self Titled" CD and his 2005 "Off The Clock" CD.



"John Parker - Self Titled" Artists:

John Parker - Lead Guitar & Vocals
Jeff Jensen - Rhythm Guitar
Bill Ruffino - Bass & Backing Vocals
Steve Halter - Keyboards, Piano, Organ
Chris Collier - Drums & Backing Vocals

Special Guests Artists:

Ralph Mueggler - Drums
Nate LaPointe - Guitar, Slide Guitar & Pedal Steel
Sherry Pruitt - Backing Vocals
Kyle Culkin - Guitar

(The inside CD cover lists individual musician credits for each song)



CD Reviews:

Excerpts from Peter "Blewzzman" Lauro
Published on Mary4Music.com and Assorted Blues Sites, Dec 08

---"I've Got The Blues" is a real smoker featuring some of John's best guitar work and some real hot piano  blues.  As on most tracks, the rhythm section's at it's peak"

---"There's nothing worse than having the Blues "Early In The Morning" but on the other hand, if ya gotta get up early in the morning, this one will have you doin' a calypso before you even have your coffee. Great percussion and backup vocals highlight this Island sounding tune"......

---"With the rest of the band in a real soft groove behind him, "Hopeless Romance " is all about the man, his vocals, his guitar, his thoughts and his emotions.  This is JOHN PARKER at his best.  I dare you to not hit replay at the end of this one"......

---"Do yourself a favor and check John's music out. This may very well be the most interesting CD I've heard all year."


Excerpts from Jim Santella Review
Published in Southland Blues Magazine, July 08

---"In "I'll Never Give Up, Parker says he'd only change one thing if he could live his life all over again - He'd find a cure for the Blues. Well, it's certain that music such as his does the job."

---"I've Got The Blues Baby" swings with joy, while lyrics paint a picture of shared lowdown feelings."

---"Parker sings 'em clearly, convincingly and adds his "signature" swingin' rythmic touch to each selection on this CD."


Excerpts from Lynn Wolverton-Parker - Running Monkey Music
Published in Southland Blues Magazine, July 08

---"John has always written songs that are funny, true to life and personal...and non are more personal than the ones he wrote for this CD. "Self-Titled" was long in the making and is about his challenges, victories, courage and fears. Thru five long years of battling a Liver Transplant and recurring Cancer, John's music became his medicine, kept him going through it all and gave him the most happiness of anything in the world. This new CD is his "mark on the world" and has inspired multitudes of people who know him and have heard it."

---"John actually put his finishing touches on "Self-Titled" just three days before he passed away and of course, he even did that with his own extraordinary style...he just looked up at the sky, got that huge grin on his face and was gone in a flash!!"