Patty Parker
Patty Parker is an American singer, drummer, producer, and co-owner of independent record label, Comstock Records. In the mid-1970s she and her future husband, Frank Fara (Fafara) toured the Nevada casino circuit in their traveling Country music show, The Frank Fara Show featuring Patty Parker. Parker sang background vocals and was one of the only female drummers touring. In 1978, Parker and Fara launched Comstock Records and experienced immediate success with their first artist, Alex Fraser, whose single peaked at #9 on the Canadian Country music charts. Parker was one of the first full-time female music producers in Nashville[1] and her success caught the attention of Billboard, Cashbox, Music Row Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, CNN and many local newspapers across Canada and the United States.
Early life[edit]
Patty Parker grew up Shawnee, Kansas, just outside of Kansas City, Missouri. Patty's father, Will Yeats, was the music director of a Baptist church and Patty grew up singing harmonies in her church choir. In college she earned her bachelor's degree in music education from John Brown University and toured the U.S. with the school's vocal gospel ensemble, the Harmonaires. After college, Parker worked as a music teacher in the Shawnee Mission School District and helped “arrange the sounds” for various school productions. After three years of teaching, Parker moved to California to pursue her dream of becoming a singer/performer.[1][2][3]
The Frank Fara Show featuring Patty Parker[edit]
In California, Parker worked as a secretary for a construction company until she met songwriter and former teen idol from Phoenix, Arizona, Frank Fara. After playing a jam session with each other, the two decided to continue working together. With two other musicians (Paul Marshall/bass, Keith Johnson/lead guitar), they put together a country music road show. Fara wrote the songs and was the lead singer; Parker sang backup vocals and played the drums. The show was originally named The Frank Fara Show, but when audiences reacted enthusiastically to Parker's performances, they renamed the show, The Frank Fara Show featuring Patty Parker.
For five years, their show toured the Nevada casino circuit and venues across the U.S. and Canada. While on tour, Parker and Fara visited local radio stations to share their latest singles and to create relationships with disc jockeys. Eventually Parker and Fara decided to record a studio-produced album. While doing so, Parker discovered she enjoyed working in the studio more than she enjoyed touring.[2][4]
Co-founder, producer, and vice president of Comstock Records[edit]
In 1978, Parker and husband, Fara, transitioned out of their traveling road show and into the record business. The team launched Comstock Records, and had an immediate charting hit with Canadian artist Alex Fraser. His (and their) first single, Four States to Go, reached #9 on the Canadian Country music charts. Parker and Fara soon discovered that artists from around the world were interested in recording authentic-sounding Country music songs. While the headquarters for Comstock Records was located in Shawnee, Kansas, Parker produced and recorded their music in top recording studios in Nashville, Tennessee.[5] She worked with Nashville session musicians such as Tony Migliore, Ralph Childs, Sonny Garrish, Clyde Brooks, Mike Severs, and Don Roth, to provide artists with the authentic Nashville sound.[6] In addition, Parker provided audio tapes and wrote lyrics phonetically to teach artists the country-western way of enunciating. Parker produced artists from many countries across the world including Australia, Canada, Croatia, Ireland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Belgium, the US, and elsewhere.[7][8][9]
In 1988, Comstock moved to Scottdale, Arizona, but continued to record in Nashville. Parker and Fara also formed the subsidiary label, Paylode Records,[10] for adult contemporary and Pop music. They also created two publishing companies, White Cat (ASCAP)[11] and Rocky Bell (BMI).[1][12]
Awards and recognition[edit]
In 1985 Comstock artists were nominated for 10 Canadian Country Music Awards, including one for record company of the year.[13][14] In 1986 five of Comstock records made the Cashbox Top 100.[5] In 1989, Parker was named “Music Row’s Favorite Independent Female Record Producer” by Music Row magazine. Many of Comstock's artists achieved charting success and received Country music awards in their own countries. In 1998, Comstock Records was named Indie Record Label of the Year by the European Country Music Association (ECMA). Parker's success captured the attention of Billboard, Cashbox, The Wall Street Journal, CNN, and local newspapers and news stations across North America.[15]
Legacy[edit]
Many of Parker's recordings and much of Comstock's catalog now reside with independent record label, Fervor Records, which has placed many of their songs in TV and film.
Partial discography[edit]
As producer[edit]
| Artist | Record label | Album | Format | Cat # | Country | Release date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Steeles | Comstock Records | Faith/My Happiness | 7" | 1630 | US | 1976 |
| Alex Fraser | Midnight Star/Devils Oval | 7", Single, Promo, 45 RPM | COM 1634 | US | 1979 | |
| Alla Dee Franklin | Garage Sale | 7", Single, Promo | COM 1636 | US | 1979 | |
| The O'Roark Brothers | Long Time Comin' | LP, Album | COM 980 | US | 1982 | |
| Long Time Comin' | 7", Single, Promo | COM 1641 | US | 1980 | ||
| Under the Double Nickel | 7", Single, Promo | COM 1647 | US | 1980 | ||
| Ray Lansbery | Heartache Remover | 7", Vinyl, 45 RPM | COM 1655 | US | 1981 | |
| Bob Jones | Woman Unsatisfied/She's Not A Fallen Angel | 7", Single | COM 1671 | US | 1981 | |
| Don TeBeaux | A Park of Mee | LP, Album | COM-982 | US | 1982 | |
| Christmas Without You/To Love My Woman More | 7", Single, Vinyl, 45 RPM | COM 1694 | US | 1982 | ||
| Put Me In My Place/ A Part of Me | 7", Single, 45 RPM,Vinyl | COM 1735 | US | 1984 | ||
| Buddi Day | Lovin' Time of Night | 7", Single, Vinyl | COM 1684 | US | 1982 | |
| The Last Desperado | 7", Single, Vinyl | COM 1696 | US | 1982 | ||
| Debbie Martin | Moments of Love/The Price I Pay (For Loving You Again) | 7", Single, Vinyl, 45 RPM | COM 1675 | US | 1982 | |
| Bill Hersh | Babysittin' With The Blues/Curly's Theme | 7", Vinyl, 45 RPM | COM 1710 | US | 1983 | |
| Don Malena | New Shade of Blue | 7" Single, Vinyl, 45 RPM | COM 1753 | US | 1984 | |
| I've Been Down | 7", Single, Vinyl, 45 RPM | COM 1762 | US | 1984 | ||
| I'm Not Tough Enough (To Fall in Love Again) | 7", Single, Vinyl, 45 RPM | COM 1775 | 1985 | |||
| Lightning | 7", Single, Vinyl, 45 RPM | COM 1784 | US | 1985 | ||
| One More Night | 7', Single | COM 1793 | 1985 | |||
| Lee Mahony | Freedom is Only Another Word For Lonely/One Good Turn | 7", Vinyl | COM 1727 A | US | 1983 | |
| Reg Watkins & Lori Kristin | Oklahoma Memory | 7", Vinyl, 45 RPM | COM-1704 B | US | 1983 | |
| Stop and Think It Over | 7" | COM 1734 | US | 1983 | ||
| Anne Lord | Endlessly | 7" | COM 1717 | 1983 | ||
| Stars in My Eyes | 1985 | |||||
| Blue Rain | COM 1923 | 1989 | ||||
| Peter Chipman | For All Those Years/ She Can Survive | 7", Vinyl, 45 RPM | COM 1781 | US & Canada | 1984 | |
| Pegasus | More Than a Friend/Last Chance Saloon | 7", Vinyl, 45 RPM | COM 1773 | US | 1985 | |
| Sherry Ann | Don't Waste Your Love On Her Tonight | 7", Vinyl, Single | COM 1792 | US | 1985 | |
| Billie J. Helmkay | Nothing Could Ever Be the Same | 1985 | ||||
| Alibi | Til The Fire's Burned Out | 7", Vinyl, 45 RPM | COM 1813 | US | 1986 | |
| No Doubts | CD, Album | COM 1884 | Canada | unknown | ||
| Priscilla Wright | Words On The Wire | Vinyl, 7", 45 RPM, Single | COM 1801 | US | 1986 | |
| God Bless You Baby | 7", Single | COM 1983 | US | 1990 | ||
| Rick Harrelson | Lovin' You Like This | Vinyl, 7" | COM 1827 | US | 1986 | |
| Rae Palmer | Call Me Up | Vinyl, 7" | COM 1830 | US | 1986 | |
| RJ McClintock | When Two Hearts Speak (You Just Can't Stop The Feeling) | 7" | COM 1836 | US | 1987 | |
| Fred Brown | Please Handle With Care | 7" | COM 1870 | US | 1987 | |
| Johnny Ramone | Where Did I Go Right | 7", Single | COM 1911 | US | 1988 | |
| James Edward Holmes | I Got Your Memory on the Line | 7", Single | COM 1920-A | US | 1989 | |
| John Lindsey | Am I The Only One | COM1922 | 1989 | |||
| Rodney Young | Bad Habits | 7", Single | COM 1985 | US | 1990 | |
| The Crosby's | Hit & Run | 7", Single | COM 1980 | US | 1990 | |
| Thomas E Thomas | The Mighty Buffalo | Vinyl, 7", 45 RPM, Limited Edition, Stereo | COM 2038 | US | 1990 | |
| Jess Owen | Remember Me | Vinyl, 7", 45 RPM | NR-1992-A | US | 1990 | |
| Stoker Brothers | Dance a Little Closer/Dance a Little Closer | COM 1981 | 1990 | |||
| Love On The Run | Vinyl, 7", Single, Promo | COM 2027 | US | 1991 | ||
| The Roberts Sisters | Daddy Was A Lawman | 7", Single | COM 2008 | US | 1991 | |
| Ray Dean James | When All the Trains Are Gone | 7", Single | COM 2011 | US | 1991 | |
| Debbie Baker | Send Me A Picture | Vinyl, 7", 45 RPM, Single | COM 2014 | US | 1991 | |
| Jodie Sinclair | I Can't Help Feelin' Crazy | Vinyl, 7", 45 RPM, Single | COM 2016 | US | 1991 | |
| White Canyon | Our Love's Not Perfect | 7", Single | COM 2017 | US | 1991 | |
| Jeff Southern | Highway to Heaven | 7", Single | COM 2019 | US | 1991 | |
| Colin Clark | The Price For Loving You | 7", Single | COM 2021 | US | 1991 | |
| Boogie Woogie Thang | Vinyl, 7", Single | COM 2093 | US | 1993 | ||
| Dusty Martin | Ain't Nothin Been The Same | Vinyl, 7", 45 RPM | COM 2103 | US | 1993 | |
| Horst Krush | Portrait of a Cowboy | 7", Single | COM 2022 | US | 1991 | |
| Jess Owen | Big Boys Don't Cry | 7", Single | COM 2023 | US | 1991 | |
| Double Gage | Car Singer | Vinyl, 7", 45 RPM | COM 2058 | US | 1992 | |
| Gregg Weaver | The Stars Disappear With The Rising Sun | Vinyl, 7", Single | COM 2091 | US | 1993 | |
| Claudia | I Can Tell | Vinyl, 7", Single | COM 2092 | US | 1993 | |
| Arizona Trilogy (Patty Parker vocals) | Song of the Grand Canyon | CD, Single | COM-716-CDS | US | 1994 | |
| Abby & Johnny | Crossing the Pond | CD, Album, Comp. Stereo | COM-1001-CD | US | 1994 | |
| Cindy Stines | Watch and Pray | CD, Single | COM1013-CDS | Europe | 1995 | |
| Christopher Lee Clayton | Livin'Alone Together/The Folks Across the Street | CD, Single | COM 1022-CDS | US | 1996 | |
| Various Artists | Comstock Records International Country Music Sampler Summer 1996 | COM SM96 | 1996 | |||
| Howdy | Still Straight | CD, Album | COM 3141 | US | 1999 | |
| Frank Fara (Fafara) | Charming Billy, Billy The Kid | Single | 2006 | |||
| Songs of the Untamed West | US | 2008 | ||||
| Custer's Last Command | Single | US | 2010 | |||
| Tombstone Legacy | Single | US | 2014 | |||
| Ride with Pancho Villa | Single | US | 2014 | |||
| Patty Parker | La Noche Buena, It's Christmas Eve | Single | US | 2005 | ||
| Southwestern Serenade | CD | US | 2007 | |||
| Song of the Grand Canyon | Single | US | 2010 | |||
| Hotel Saguaro | Single | US | 2014 | |||
| Scheibee & Foosen | News For You | CD, Album, Super Jewel Case | SFCR-092708-CD | US | 2009 | |
| Rick Greysun | Jesus Came With Music/I Just Cry Unto You Lord | 7", Single | COM-1639 | US | unknown | |
| Gary Kirkland | Heartful of Love/Are You From Dixie | 7" | COM 1858 | unknown |
As performing artist[edit]
| Artist | Record label | Album title | Format | CAT # | Country | Release date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frank Fara/Patty Parker | Comstock Records | Frank Fara/Patty Parker | LP | COM 977 | US | 1977 |
| Arizona Trilogy (Patty Parker vocals) | Comstock Records | Song of the Grand Canyon | CD, Single | COM-716-CDS | US | 1994 |
| Patty Parker | Comstock Records | La Noche Buena, It's Christmas Eve | Single | US | 2005 | |
| Southwestern Serenade | CD | US | 2007 | |||
| Song of the Grand Canyon | Single | US | 2010 | |||
| Hotel Saguaro | Single | US | 2014 | |||
| Fervor Records | Help You Find a Way | 4xFile, MP3, EP, 256 | US | 2016 |
Film and TV[edit]
| Artist | Song | Show title | Channel | Program type | Episode | Release date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Billie J. Helmkay | "You"re Spreading My Hurt Around" | Red Oaks | Amazon | TV | 205 | 11/11/16 |
| Bob Jones | "Woman Unsatisfied" | Claws | TNT | TV | 105 | 7/17/17 |
| Bob Jones | "Woman Unsatisfied" | The Americans | FX | TV | 504 | 3/28/17 |
| Bobbie Bowlin | "Trying to Be An Outlaw" | Red Oaks | Amazon | TV | 306 | 10/20/17 |
| Debbie Martin | "Moments of Love" | King of the Road | Viceland | TV | 203 | 5/9/17 |
| Gale Wahl | "The Hard Times All Over Again" | Channel Zero | SyFy | TV | 102 | 10/18/16 |
| Gina Samuels | "Lonely Hearts Lover" | Red Oaks | Amazon | TV | 207 | 11/11/16 |
| Kathy Tate | "I Am Your Lady" | Get Hard | na | Film | 2015 | |
| Mitch Clark | "Close Your Eyes and Count to Ten" | Red Oaks | Amazon | TV | 205 | 11/11/16 |
| Mitch Clark | "Close Your Eyes and Count to Ten" | The Americans | FX | TV | 304 | 11/11/16 |
| Patty Parker | "Help You Find a Way" | Preacher | AMC | TV | 105 | 6/26/16 |
| Ray Lansberry | "Heartache Remover" | Claws | TNT | TV | 107 | 7/23/17 |
| Susan Doll | "Be My Cowboy Tonight" | Preacher | AMC | TV | 107 | 7/10/16 |
| Susan Doll | "Be My Cowboy Tonight" | Channel Zero | SyFy | TV | 101 | 10/11/16 |
References[edit]
- ^ a b c Walker, Cecilia (September 8, 1989). "Row File: Patty Parker". Music Row. p. 23.
- ^ a b Breckenridge, D.P. (January–February 1983). "Silent Partners in the Music Business". Missouri Life. p. 21.
- ^ Kuroff, Barbara Norton (1983). "Record Companies: Close Up: Patty Parker, Producer". Songwriter's Market. Writer's Digest Books.
- ^ a b "Comstock Records". Discogs. Retrieved 2018-01-31.
- ^ a b Hansen, Valerie (October 18, 1986). "The Indies: Where They're Coming From and Where They're Going". Cash Box.
- ^ "Producer Spotlight: Patty Parker". Indie Bullet. September 16, 1989. p. 38A.
- ^ Morrison, Jim (May 1994). "Eurotwang in Nashville". American Way. p. 46.
- ^ Ortega, Bob (September 10, 1993). "A Studio is Teaching a Twang or Two To Foreign Crooners". The Wall Street Journal. p. 1.
- ^ "COUNTRY FROM THE OLD COUNTRYFOR CROONERS FROM THE CONTINENT, THE ROAD TO NASHVILLE RUNS THROUGH ARIZONA". Phoenix New Times. 1993-02-10. Retrieved 2018-01-31.
- ^ "Paylode Records". Discogs. Retrieved 2018-01-31.
- ^ ACE. "ACE Repertory". www.ascap.com. Retrieved 2018-01-31.
- ^ "BMI | Repertoire Search". repertoire.bmi.com. Retrieved 2018-01-31.
- ^ Morris, Edward (April 5, 1986). "Indie Label Looks Northward to Capitalize on Canadian Support". Billboard.
- ^ "Comstock's Search for Gold". Country Music News. October 1986.
- ^ Mulholland, Dave (November 10, 1984). "Hanford's Gliding Soprano Graces Refreshing Love Songs". The Citizen, Ottawa. p. C7.
- ^ "Frank Fara (2) / Patty Parker - Frank Fara / Patty Parker". Discogs. Retrieved 2018-01-31.
- ^ "Patty Parker". Discogs. Retrieved 2018-01-31.
- ^ "Music from Red Oaks". Tunefind. Retrieved 2018-01-24.
- ^ "Music from Claws". Tunefind. Retrieved 2018-01-24.
- ^ "Music from The Americans". Tunefind. Retrieved 2018-01-24.
- ^ "Music from Get Hard (2015)". Tunefind. Retrieved 2018-01-24.
- ^ "Music from Preacher S1E05". Tunefind. Retrieved 2018-01-24.