John Parr (born 18 November 1954, Worksop, England) is an English musician. He achieved success in having two Top 40 hits in the 1980s.
Biography
Parr's first entrance in to music was when he was 12 years old and formed a band with two fellow schoolmates named The Silence. The band enjoyed considerable success. They eventually became professional and started to tour Europe.
Ponders End
When Parr left the band, he joined a group called Ponders End who were hailed as the 'best live act around' in Newcastle, along with Dire Straits. In the end they did not secure a recording contract and the band's chapter in history was closed.
Work with Meat Loaf
Parr secured a publishing deal with Carlin Music in 1983 and in the same year Meat Loaf asked him to write some songs for his new album. That led to the fateful meeting with John Wolfe (manager of The Who). Foreseeing the initial demise of The Who, Wolfe was looking for a new venture and Parr seemed to be the one. 1984 saw Parr's first trip to America. He worked with Meat Loaf on Bad Attitude while Wolfe was putting finishing touches on Parr's solo Atlantic recording deal in New York.
Solo and 'The Business'
"Naughty Naughty" was Parr's first U.S. Top 40 hit record, hitting No. 23 and No. 6 on the Mainstream Rock chart. 1985 saw Parr on the road with his band "The Business" supporting Toto, and playing 10,000-seater venues across America. By the end of the tour, John had a call from one of the world's most successful record producers, David Foster. He requested Parr to record a song for the film "St Elmo's Fire". Parr and Foster wrote a song in honor of wheelchair athlete and activist Rick Hansen, the song was called "St. Elmo's Fire (Man in Motion)" which also became the theme for the film St. Elmo's Fire (a "Brat Pack" film unrelated to Hansen's life or achievements). The song became a number one hit for Parr around the world and garnered many awards, including a Grammy nomination.
Parr later wrote "Under A Raging Moon" for Roger Daltrey, a song that paid tribute to Keith Moon and told the story of The Who. The album became Daltrey's biggest solo success in America. Parr was soon singing with Marilyn Martin on the song "Through the Night", from the Quicksilver soundtrack (1986). Parr wrote and produced further tracks for Martin's debut album, including the hit "Night Moves". A year after,wrote and sang the songs "The Minute I Saw You", from Three Men and a Baby soundtrack, and the power ballad "Running Away With You", from The Running Man soundtrack (this song was re-released on "Man With a Vision" album, with the title "Restless Heart"). After the success of Meat Loaf's album, Parr contributed to the next album with the smash duet hit "Rock & Roll Mercenaries". From there he began work with Albert Magnoli (director of Purple Rain) on the movie American Anthem for which he wrote and performed the main theme "Two Hearts".
The Pepsi Company and Jack Calmes Satellite TV Corporation wanted to try something new - a gig from London beamed live across America, Japan & Australia on the college Satellite Network. Parr was the featured act, having done two similar shows (one from the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum where the flame was lit for a special performance of "St. Elmo's Fire", and was beamed live for Japan, and the New Year Christmas Show from London). The show was a great success, reaching almost 50-million people and making broadcast history for the network.
Another dream came true for Parr in 1988 when he was offered the opportunity to collaborate with one of the most successful record producers ever, Robert John "Mutt" Lange; (co)producing an album for Romeo's Daughter.
2000s
However, after a relatively short period of chart success, Parr faded into the annals of 1980s musical history. He did briefly regain the limelight in 2006 with the release of a dance remix of "St. Elmo's Fire", entitled "New Horizon".
In 2007, Parr joined Canadian pop-rock artist Bryan Adams on his tour.
On 26 March 2007, Parr released "Walking Out of the Darkness", a tribute to Doncaster Rovers F.C. ahead of the club's appearance in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy final at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium on 1 April 2007.
In May 2007 Parr returned to Canada to perform at the Man in Motion 20th anniversary. Parr's song "St Elmo's Fire (Man in Motion)" was wheelchair athlete Rick Hansen's anthem, helping him wheel 25,000 miles around the globe and raising awareness and money for spinal research. To date the Rick Hansen foundation has raised $200 million and helped build the world's leading research center ICORD in Vancouver.
In June 2007 Parr wrote and recorded the main title for Sony Pictures The Brothers Solomon, directed by Bob Odenkirk. In July 2007 Parr and his band opened for Bryan Adams at the Keepmoat Stadium in Parr's home town. Twenty years earlier, Parr joined Adams in his home town where they played to 75,000 at the Canadian Exhibition Center in Vancouver.
In June 2008, John Parr was a special guest for the U.S. rock band Journey on their UK tour.
Personal life
Parr's son, Ben is an actor who has enjoyed limited success - his best known role so far came as stripper Freddie in British soap Hollyoaks. His first appearance was in the episode aired on 4th January 2007, however after only a few weeks his character was written out of the script.
John Parr currently resides in Sykehouse, Doncaster, South Yorkshire. He is married with two sons.
Discography
Albums
In the 1980s, he also made several guest appearances with Saxon.
Singles
References
- ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 417. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
