HENRY PARKER
SINGER – SONGWRITER – SESSION PLAYER – TOURING MUSICIAN
Singer-songwriter/guitarist Henry Parker is a rising force in the music industry and an undeniable talent. The British guitarist has already performed and written/recorded with legends like Kinky Freidman, PP Arnold, Colin Blunstone and Yusuf/Cat Stevens; and written and released many of his own songs. Some garnering significant radio airplay.
Hailing from the farmlands of rural Oxfordshire, England, with a love for rock and roll and roots music, Parker taught himself guitar at the age of 13. His impressive natural abilities convinced his parents to send him to a summer rock music camp run by famed producer Mike Hurst (The Springfields). Hurst liked what he saw in Parker’s potential, hiring him (while only 15) to play with the likes of seasoned musicians Ray Fenwick, Clem Cattini and Colin Farley. Within a year, Parker was receiving multiple offers to work with a wide variety big-name artists, and top-shelf talent from throughout the decades.
Growing up in the country, working on his family’s farm gave Parker a strong work ethic; and while only 17 he recorded his first album with Hurst, co-writing and producing.
Soon after, Parker was working with English producers Kevin Armstrong and Kenny Jones — who have worked with David Bowie, Iggy Pop, and Morrissey. Parker and Hurst had success with their song “All You Really Gotta Do,” receiving airplay on BBC Radio 2 and featuring in an episode of EastEnders. Parker then released another single “Red Fox,” which gained significant airplay on BBC Radio 2 and received rave reviews, including a 5-star review in The Daily Express.
Rising in the UK music scene, Parker put together a band in 2013, and was invited to open for rock heavyweights Argent, The Zombies and Marillion. Having met upcoming Nashville-based Americana singer Margo Price when their bands gigged together in London, the two struck up a friendship, leading to him working in Nashville with Price and many others; including songwriter Fred Koller (John Hiatt, Shel Silverstein). He then worked on music demos for artists with Universal UK in England under the tutelage of talent representative, Matt Haynes.
In 2015, Parker's London based band The27 was a tight knit 3-part harmony group. The band allowed Parker to expand his musical sensibilities and provided him another outlet for recording and performing. The27 found success with their material and their impressive 60s-style harmonies, they gigged around the thriving London scene, produced heavily-streamed recordings and videos to still more rave reviews and press coverage; with one reviewer describing Parker as “a guitar virtuoso.” The band's last show in 2018 was a sold-out Christmas charity concert headlined by British icon Tony Christie and others at the iconic Royal Albert Hall.
Parker pursued new opportunities in California, including an invitation to record at Jackson Browne’s GrooveMasters studio in Santa Monica. Joining forces with producer/songwriter Neil Cabana, who he’d worked with in The27, Parker embarked on a slew of new recordings. He was then recruited by Los Angeles singer-songwriter Phil Cody to play with Kinky Friedman for a few shows on the West Coast. A tour with Friedman and Cody was planned, until the COVID-19 pandemic prevented performances from happening. With the pandemic pausing live performances in America, Parker returned to England. This lead to his opportunity to write, record and play with artists like PP Arnold, Shakin Stevens, Colin Blunstone and Yusuf/Cat Stevens.
Having already put together an impressive musical resume, Parker clearly has a bright future. Parker himself feels that he’s just getting started; he is “excited to really focus on my songwriting, promote my music and co-write with other songwriters.”
ENDORSMENTS
“I love his singing, playing and songs” – Jim Keltner
“A beautiful player” Yusuf/Cat Stevens
“Monster player and a truly great writer” – Leland Sklar
“Of all the artists I’ve produced, discovered or worked with over my life, Cat (Stevens) and Henry really stand out as the two I’m most proud of” – Mike Hurst
“The boy just has it” – Clem Cattini
“Really the most tasteful player about” – Mike d’Abo