Jack Parnell
Encyclopedia
John Russell Parnell was an English
bandleader
and musician
.
.
During the 1940s and 1950s, he was voted best drummer in the Melody Maker
poll for seven years in succession. He composed many television themes, including The Golden Shot
, Family Fortunes
and Love Story (for which he won the Harriet Cohen Award). He was also the musical director for The Benny Hill Show
.
He was also a frequent judge on the British talent show
, New Faces
.
He was appointed musical director
for ATV
in 1956, a post he held until 1981, and served as the 'real' conductor for The Muppet Show
orchestra for the entire series.
He was jailed for three months for a drink-driving accident in 1979, hitting a motorcyclist who lost a leg. After this he moved from Surrey in disgrace and shortly after his wife divorced him.
In the 1970s he had formed the group The Best of British Jazz with Don Lusher
, Kenny Baker
, Tony Lee
, Betty Smith and Tony Archer, which performed until 1985. The group was active from 1985 to December 1999, releasing two CDs: The Best of British Vol 1 (CDSIV 6146) and The Best of British Jazz Live (MER 99100CD).
Jack Parnell had three sons (including Ric Parnell
who, among many other credits, played drummer Mick Shrimpton in the movie This Is Spinal Tap
).
Parnell died in Southwold, from the effects of cancer
on 8 August 2010, at the age of 87.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
bandleader
Bandleader
A bandleader is the leader of a band of musicians. The term is most commonly, though not exclusively, used with a group that plays popular music as a small combo or a big band, such as one which plays jazz, blues, rhythm and blues or rock and roll music....
and musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
.
Biography
Parnell was born into a theatrical family in LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
During the 1940s and 1950s, he was voted best drummer in the Melody Maker
Melody Maker
Melody Maker, published in the United Kingdom, was, according to its publisher IPC Media, the world's oldest weekly music newspaper. It was founded in 1926 as a magazine targeted at musicians; in 2000 it was merged into "long-standing rival" New Musical Express.-1950s–1960s:Originally the Melody...
poll for seven years in succession. He composed many television themes, including The Golden Shot
The Golden Shot
The Golden Shot is a British television game show produced by ATV for ITV between 1 July 1967 and 13 April 1975, based on the German TV show Der goldene Schuss. It is most commonly associated with host Bob Monkhouse, though, three other presenters also hosted the show during its lifetime...
, Family Fortunes
Family Fortunes
Family Fortunes is a British game show, based on the American game show Family Feud. The programme ran on ITV from 6 January 1980 to 6 December 2002 before being revived by the same channel in 2006 under the title of All Star Family Fortunes...
and Love Story (for which he won the Harriet Cohen Award). He was also the musical director for The Benny Hill Show
The Benny Hill Show
The Benny Hill Show is a British comedy television show starring Benny Hill.There were various incarnations of the show between 1951 and 1991, and it aired in over 140 countries. The show is generally sketch-based with heavy use of slapstick, mime, parody and double-entendre...
.
He was also a frequent judge on the British talent show
Talent show
A talent show is an event where participants perform their talent or talents of acting, singing, dancing, acrobatics, drumming, martial arts, playing an instrument, and other activities to showcase a unique form of talent, sometimes for a reward, trophy or prize...
, New Faces
New Faces
New Faces was a British television talent show popular in the 1970s and 1980s, presented originally by Derek Hobson. It was produced by ATV Network Limited for the ITV Network. The first run of the show was from 29 September 1973 to 2 April 1978 and was recorded at the ATV Centre, Birmingham...
.
He was appointed musical director
Music director
A music director may be the director of an orchestra, the director of music for a film, the director of music at a radio station, the head of the music department in a school, the co-ordinator of the musical ensembles in a university or college , the head bandmaster of a military band, the head...
for ATV
Associated TeleVision
Associated Television, often referred to as ATV, was a British television company, holder of various licences to broadcast on the ITV network from 24 September 1955 until 00:34 on 1 January 1982...
in 1956, a post he held until 1981, and served as the 'real' conductor for The Muppet Show
The Muppet Show
The Muppet Show is a British television programme produced by American puppeteer Jim Henson and featuring Muppets. After two pilot episodes were produced in 1974 and 1975, the show premiered on 5 September 1976 and five series were produced until 15 March 1981, lasting 120 episodes...
orchestra for the entire series.
He was jailed for three months for a drink-driving accident in 1979, hitting a motorcyclist who lost a leg. After this he moved from Surrey in disgrace and shortly after his wife divorced him.
In the 1970s he had formed the group The Best of British Jazz with Don Lusher
Don Lusher
Don Lusher OBE was a jazz and big band trombonist best known for his association with the Ted Heath Big Band...
, Kenny Baker
Kenny Baker (trumpeter)
Kenny Baker was born on 1 March 1921 in Withernsea, East Riding of Yorkshire and died 7 December 1999. He was an accomplished player of jazz trumpet, cornet and flugelhorn, and a composer.-Biography:...
, Tony Lee
Tony Lee (pianist)
Tony Lee was a British jazz pianist who played with the likes of Tommy Whittle, Tom Jones, Dusty Springfield, Barney Kessel, Sonny Stitt, Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis, Terry Smith, Tubby Hayes, Dick Morrissey and legendary UK drummer Phil Seamen.He appeared on at least two recordings with Seamen - Phil...
, Betty Smith and Tony Archer, which performed until 1985. The group was active from 1985 to December 1999, releasing two CDs: The Best of British Vol 1 (CDSIV 6146) and The Best of British Jazz Live (MER 99100CD).
Jack Parnell had three sons (including Ric Parnell
Ric Parnell
Richard "Ric" J. Parnell is an English rock drummer. Although notable for his work in the band Atomic Rooster, he probably best known for his role as the ill-fated drummer Mick Shrimpton in the film This is Spinal Tap....
who, among many other credits, played drummer Mick Shrimpton in the movie This Is Spinal Tap
This Is Spinal Tap
This Is Spinal Tap is an American 1984 rock musical mockumentary directed by Rob Reiner about the fictional heavy metal band Spinal Tap...
).
Parnell died in Southwold, from the effects of cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
on 8 August 2010, at the age of 87.
External links
- "Jack Parnell – master of many trades" article by Louis Barfe at Sounds On.
- The Jack Parnell Orchestra big band line-ups from 1951 to 1958 at jazzprofessional.com.
- Jack Parnell's entry in the Muppet Wiki