James Ervan Parker
Encyclopedia
James Ervan Parker is an American Singer-songwriter
and co-founder of the Huntsville, Alabama Sub-chapter of the Nashville Songwriters Association International
. Parker lives in Madison, Alabama
, his home since 1985.
in 1961. At the time Gilmer was dating Parker's sister.
The group recorded a single with Dot Records
which was produced by Tommy Allsup
(Buddy Holly's lead guitar player) in Odessa, Texas
. Parker wrote the A-Side, "Brenda (Don't Put Me Down)," and co-wrote the B-Side "(Secrets Of Love)". "Tommy had a very nice studio and was a real pro when it came to handling young musicians. Mark Creamer's Dad, Gordon, played some really cool flute on it."
's label. They released their first album "Everything But... by the Kitchen Cinq"
The group had only a regional fan base and in an effort to gain a new start for a national base their name was changed two more times. A single, "Dying Daffodil Incident" b/w "Does Anybody Know" (LHI 45-1201, 1967) was released under the name "A Handful." The group changed bass players and changed their name one more time to "Armageddon" and recorded one more album and then disbanded.
from 1980 to 1981.
's first single "I've Got a Feelin' (Somebody's Been Stealin')" (co-written with John Anderson and Michael Garvin) in 1978. The song received an ASCAP country song award. In the late 1970s Parker co-wrote "Chicken Truck
" which was recorded by John Anderson
in 1981 as the last song in a recording session. The song became a "B"-side release for the song "I Love You A Thousand Ways" by Lefty Frizzell
but Jerry House, a popular DJ in Nashville turned the single over and played the "B" side and the song took off.
Parker co-wrote the title track of John Anderson's 12th studio album, "Bigger Hands
," which was released in 2009 and peaked at number 53 on the Billboard Country Albums chart. The song was released as the second single from the album but did not chart.
Playhouse in Huntsville, Alabama
called Jim Parker’s Songwriter Series where he showcases the talent of songwriters from Los Angeles, Canada, Georgia, Nashville, TN, Muscle Shoals, AL, and surrounding areas. The dinner-theater type atmosphere is a monthly event where people can listen to songs from the people who wrote them and here the stories behind their songs.
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
and co-founder of the Huntsville, Alabama Sub-chapter of the Nashville Songwriters Association International
Nashville Songwriters Association International
The Nashville Songwriters Association International is a 501 not-for-profit trade organization that works to help songwriters in three ways: through legislative advocacy, through education and advice about the actual craft of songwriting, and through teaching about the music industry, and how to...
. Parker lives in Madison, Alabama
Madison, Alabama
As of the census of 2000, there were 29,329 people, 11,143 households, and 8,067 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,266.5 people per square mile . There were 12,121 housing units at an average density of 523.4 per square mile...
, his home since 1985.
Early career
Parker received his first guitar from Jimmy Gilmer of The FireballsThe Fireballs
The Fireballs, sometimes billed as Jimmy Gilmer and the Fireballs, is an American rock and roll group, particularly popular at the end of the 1950s and in the early 1960s...
in 1961. At the time Gilmer was dating Parker's sister.
The Illusions
In 1961 Jim Parker joined a music group that called themselves The Illusions:- Mark Gordon Creamer - vocals, guitar, keyboards, and harmonica
- James Ervan Parker - vocals and guitar
- Johnny Joe Stark - vocals and drums
- James Dallas Smith - vocals and bass
- Troy Dale Gardner (deceased) - vocals
The group recorded a single with Dot Records
Dot Records
Dot Records was an American record label and company that was active between 1950 and 1977. It was founded by Randy Wood. In Gallatin, Tennessee, Wood had earlier started a mail order record shop, known for its radio ads on WLAC in Nashville and its R&B air personality Bill "Hoss" Allen...
which was produced by Tommy Allsup
Tommy Allsup
Tommy Allsup is an American musician.He worked with entertainers such as Buddy Holly and Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys...
(Buddy Holly's lead guitar player) in Odessa, Texas
Odessa, Texas
Odessa is a city in and the county seat of Ector County, Texas, United States. It is located primarily in Ector County, although a small portion of the city extends into Midland County. Odessa's population was 99,940 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Odessa, Texas Metropolitan...
. Parker wrote the A-Side, "Brenda (Don't Put Me Down)," and co-wrote the B-Side "(Secrets Of Love)". "Tommy had a very nice studio and was a real pro when it came to handling young musicians. Mark Creamer's Dad, Gordon, played some really cool flute on it."
The Kitchen Cinq
The group continued to record in Amarillo under the Ruff label, produced by Ray Ruff. The group changed their name to "The Y'Alls" in 1964 and recorded a second single in 1966. In 1965 the group had moved to Los Angeles where they later changed their name to "The Kitchen Cinq" and worked under Lee HazlewoodLee Hazlewood
Lee Hazlewood , born Barton Lee Hazlewood was an American country and pop singer, songwriter, and record producer, most widely known for his work with guitarist Duane Eddy during the late 1950s and singer Nancy Sinatra in the 1960s.Hazlewood had a distinctive baritone voice that added an ominous...
's label. They released their first album "Everything But... by the Kitchen Cinq"
The group had only a regional fan base and in an effort to gain a new start for a national base their name was changed two more times. A single, "Dying Daffodil Incident" b/w "Does Anybody Know" (LHI 45-1201, 1967) was released under the name "A Handful." The group changed bass players and changed their name one more time to "Armageddon" and recorded one more album and then disbanded.
Them
Parker and Johnny Stark joined the last original member of the group "Them" -- bass player Alan Henderson—for the final lineup of the band that originally had included Van Morrison. A single album, "Them - In reality," was produced in 1971 and included five tracks co-written by Parker and Stark.Transition to Country music
Parker transitioned to country music in the mid 1970s and began to focus on song writing. He still performed and toured with Dave & SugarDave & Sugar
Dave & Sugar was a pop-styled country music trio that enjoyed its peak success in the mid- to late-1970s. It consisted of lead singer Dave Rowland and initially on backing vocalists, Vicki Hackeman and Jackie Frantz...
from 1980 to 1981.
Songwriting
Jim co-wrote John AndersonJohn Anderson (musician)
John David Anderson is an American country music artist with a successful career that has lasted more than 30 years...
's first single "I've Got a Feelin' (Somebody's Been Stealin')" (co-written with John Anderson and Michael Garvin) in 1978. The song received an ASCAP country song award. In the late 1970s Parker co-wrote "Chicken Truck
Chicken Truck
"Chicken Truck" is a single by American country music artist John Anderson. Released in 1981, it was the second single from album John Anderson 2. The song reached #8 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart. The song's b-side, "I Love You a Thousand Ways", charted at #54 in the U.S....
" which was recorded by John Anderson
John Anderson (musician)
John David Anderson is an American country music artist with a successful career that has lasted more than 30 years...
in 1981 as the last song in a recording session. The song became a "B"-side release for the song "I Love You A Thousand Ways" by Lefty Frizzell
Lefty Frizzell
Lefty Frizzell , born William Orville Frizzell, was an American country music singer and songwriter of the 1950s, and a proponent of honky tonk music. His relaxed style of singing was an influence on later stars Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson, Roy Orbison, George Jones and John Fogerty...
but Jerry House, a popular DJ in Nashville turned the single over and played the "B" side and the song took off.
Parker co-wrote the title track of John Anderson's 12th studio album, "Bigger Hands
Bigger Hands
Bigger Hands is the twentieth studio album of country music artist John Anderson. It was released in 2009 under the Country Crossing label...
," which was released in 2009 and peaked at number 53 on the Billboard Country Albums chart. The song was released as the second single from the album but did not chart.
Songwriter Series
Jim Parker is the creator and host of a show at the Von Braun CenterVon Braun Center
The Von Braun Center , known as the Von Braun Civic Center until 1997, is a multi-purpose indoor arena, meeting, and performing arts complex, with a maximum arena seating capacity of 10,000, located in Huntsville, Alabama...
Playhouse in Huntsville, Alabama
Huntsville, Alabama
Huntsville is a city located primarily in Madison County in the central part of the far northern region of the U.S. state of Alabama. Huntsville is the county seat of Madison County. The city extends west into neighboring Limestone County. Huntsville's population was 180,105 as of the 2010 Census....
called Jim Parker’s Songwriter Series where he showcases the talent of songwriters from Los Angeles, Canada, Georgia, Nashville, TN, Muscle Shoals, AL, and surrounding areas. The dinner-theater type atmosphere is a monthly event where people can listen to songs from the people who wrote them and here the stories behind their songs.