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Junior Parker

 


Blues singer and musician Herman (or Herbert) “Junior” Parker was born in Coahoma County, Mississippi, on May 27, 1932. He moved with his family to West Memphis, Arkansas, in the 1940s. He sang in gospel groups as a child, and became interested in blues music in his teens. He is associated with Sonny Boy Williamson, Howlin’ Wolf, Bobby Bland and B B King, having worked in their bands, before forming his own band in 1951 and being discovered by Ike Turner in 1952. In 1953 he moved to Duke Records and stayed with them until 1966. He died in Blue Island, Illinois, on November 18, 1971 after brain tumour surgery. He leaves an extensive back catalogue of recordings.

Image: Public Domain

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