Chris Parker (musician)

Christopher Parker (born 1950) is an American jazz/jazz fusion drummer.

Early life
Born in Chicago and raised in New York City, Parker is the oldest of five sons born to Dorothy Daniels and artist Robert Andrew Parker, all but one of whom went on to play drums professionally.

During his childhood, his father, himself an amateur jazz drummer, attached wooden blocks to the hi-hat and bass drum pedals, so that Parker's feet could reach the pedals to play the drums along with records. His father introduced him to the music of Thelonious Monk, Miles Davis, Leadbelly, Ray Charles, Woody Herman, Count Basie, Lionel Hampton, Bix Beiderbecke, Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington. As a teenager, however, Parker began seeing the appeal of rock and roll and R&B, as he practiced with friends and listened to drummers like Roger Hawkins, D. J. Fontana and Al Jackson, Jr., as well as New Orleans icons such as Earl Palmer, Smokey Johnson and James Black.

Simultaneously pursuing his interest in art, Parker attended the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture and subsequently received a scholarship to New York City's School of Visual Arts. It was while there that Parker's decisive pivot to music occurred, in the form of a "Drummer wanted" ad in Rolling Stone Magazine, which, in turn, led him to Woodstock, New York, where he joined a band called Holy Moses. Although the band survived scarcely long enough to record one album, Parker opted to remain in Woodstock, working at local venues with music icons such as Paul Butterfield's Better Days, Bonnie Raitt, Tim Hardin, Rick Danko, Mike Bloomfield and Merl Saunders.

Musical career
Four years later he played in a band called Encyclopedia of Soul, which later on became known as Stuff, with bassist Gordon Edwards, guitarists Cornell Dupree and Eric Gale, and keyboardist Richard Tee. Later on, in the same band, he shared his drum with another rising star, Steve Gadd. It was during this period that Parker co-founded the Brecker Brothers, led by Michael and Randy Brecker and featuring Buzzy Feiten, David Sanborn, Don Grolnick, Steve Khan, and Will Lee. Parker toured and recorded three albums with the group, and over the years has performed and recorded with artists such as James Brown, Miles Davis, Aretha Franklin, Ashford & Simpson, Patti Austin, Cher, Michael Bolton, Quincy Jones, Freddie Hubbard and Salt n' Pepa.

In 1986, Parker was invited to be a part of Saturday Night Live and served there six years. In 1988, he became a member of Bob Dylan's touring band, which included G.E. Smith, later SNL's music director. Parker played on Donald Fagen's Kamakiriad album, which was nominated for (but did not win) the 1993 Grammy Award for Album of the Year.

Discography
With Joe Beck With Stephen Bishop With Bonnie Raitt With Sinéad O'Connor With Cher With Candi Staton With Aretha Franklin With Melanie With Michael Bolton With Bruce Cockburn With Robert Palmer With Judy Collins With Melba Moore With Natalie Cole With Phoebe Snow With Loudon Wainwright III With Chaka Khan With Irene Cara With Teddy Pendergrass With Art Garfunkel With Elvis Costello With Barry Manilow With Donald Fagen With Michael Franks With Patricia Kaas With Laura Nyro With Maria Muldaur With Mark Murphy
 * Beck (Kudu, 1975)
 * Red Cab to Manhattan (Warner Bros. Records, 1980)
 * Give It Up (Warner Bros. Records, 1972)
 * Am I Not Your Girl? (Chrysalis Records, 1992)
 * Cher (Geffen, 1987)
 * Chance (Warner Bros. Records, 1979)
 * La Diva (Atlantic Records, 1979)
 * Phonogenic – Not Just Another Pretty Face (Midsong International, 1978)
 * The Hunger (Columbia Records, 1987)
 * Soul Provider (Columbia Records, 1989)
 * Dart to the Heart (True North Records, 1994)
 * Double Fun (Island Records, 1978)
 * Home Again (Elektra Records, 1984)
 * Melba '76 (Buddah Records, 1976)
 * Stardust (Elektra Records, 1996)
 * Never Letting Go (Sony, 1977)
 * History (Charisma Records, 1992)
 * CK (Warner Bros. Records, 1988)
 * Anyone Can See (Network Records, 1982)
 * TP (Philadelphia International, 1980)
 * Songs from a Parent to a Child (Columbia Records, 1997)
 * Painted from Memory (Mercury Records, 1998)
 * Barry Manilow II (Arista Records, 1974)
 * Kamakiriad (Reprise Records, 1993)
 * Passionfruit (Warner Bros. Records, 1983)
 * Skin Dive (Warner Bros. Records, 1985)
 * The Camera Never Lies (Warner Bros. Records, 1987)
 * Abandoned Garden (Warner Bros. Records, 1995)
 * Dans ma chair (Columbia Records, 1997)
 * Smile (Columbia Records, 1976)
 * Maria Muldaur (Reprise Records, 1973)


 * What a Way to Go (Muse Records, 1990)

With Jackie Lomax With Don McLean With Taeko Ohnuki
 * Livin' For Lovin' (Capitol Records, 1976)
 * Don McLean (United Artists Records, 1972)
 * Sunshower (PANAM, 1977)