Maceo Parker

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Maceo Parker
Parker performing at the 2002 Bonnaroo Music Festival in Manchester, Tennessee.
Background information
Born	February 14, 1943 (1943-02-14) (age 66)
Origin	Kinston, North Carolina, USA
Genres	Funk, soul jazz, P-Funk
Occupations	Musician, band leader
Instruments	Saxophone, flute, vocals
Years active	1964–present
Labels	Verve Records What Are Records?,Heads Up Minor Music
Associated acts	James Brown, Maceo & All the King's Men, Maceo & the Macks, The J.B.'s, Parliament, Prince, Horny Horns
Website	www.maceo.com

Maceo Parker (IPA: [ˈmeɪsiːoʊ]) (born February 14, 1943) is an American funk and soul jazz saxophonist, best known for his work with James Brown in the 1960s, as well as Parliament-Funkadelic in the 1970s. Parker was a prominent soloist on many of Brown's hit recordings, and a key part of his band, playing alto, tenor and baritone saxophones. He is by now probably as well known for his own shows, as he has toured continuously under his own name since the early 1990s and has built up a fan base on this touring alone. Parker's unique rhythmic and rapid playing style is influenced by Cannonball Adderley, David "Fathead" Newman, and mixed with Brown's own innovations in funk music.

Maceo Parker playing a Western Concert Flute at Jazz Cafe (london) 22/05/2009

Maceo Parker is the distinguised and immediately distinguishable saxophone sound behind most of the great Funk songs ever recorded; his name is synonymous with Funky Music, his pedigree impeccable.

Parker was born in Kinston, North Carolina. His father played piano and drums; his mother and father both sang in church. His brother Melvin played drums and his brother Kellis trombone.^[1]

He and his brother, Melvin, joined James Brown in 1964; in his book, Brown says that he originally wanted Melvin as his drummer, but agreed to take Maceo under his wing as part of the deal^[2]Parker, his brother Melvin, and a few of Brown's band members left to found Maceo & All the King's Men which toured for two years.

In 1974, Parker returned to James Brown. He also charted a single "Parrty - Part I" (#71 pop singles) with Maceo & the Macks that year. In 1975, Parker and some of Brown's band members, including Fred Wesley, left to join George Clinton's band Parliament-Funkadelic.Parker once again re-joined James Brown from 1984 to 1988.

In the 1990s, Parker began his successful solo career which is ongoing to this day. He has released ten solo records and has been playing 100 to 150 tour dates per year. His average play time on stage is more than two and a half hours.

In 1993, Parker made guest appearances on hip hop group De La Soul's album Buhloone Mindstate. In the late 1990s, Parker began contributing semi-regularly to recordings by Prince and accompanying his band, the New Power Generation, on tour. He also played on the Jane's Addiction track "My Cat's Name Is Maceo", for their 1997 compilation album Kettle Whistle.

In 1998, Parker performed as a guest on "What Would You Say" on a Dave Matthews Band concert which also became one of their live albums, Live in Chicago 12.19.98.

In 2007, Parker supported Prince during his stint of 21 nights at the O2 arena.

His current touring band includes bassist Rodney Skeet Curtis formerly of Parliament-Funkadelic, Bruno Speight (guitar) and Jamal Thomas (drums) formerly of SOS Band, Ron Tooley (trumpet) whose illustrious bio includes James Brown, Maynard Ferguson, and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, Dennis Rollins (trombone) one of the UK's finest jazz musicians, Martha High (vocals) of the James Brown show. They have been billed as "The greatest little funk orchestra on earth" or the "Million dollar support band".

His latest album Roots & Grooves with the WDR Big Band is a tribute to Ray Charles whom Parker cites as one of his most important influences. The album has received huge critical acclaim, particularly in the US, and won a Jammie for best Jazz Album in 2009.

His gear consists of a Selmer Mark VI (alto) saxophone together with a Brilhart 'Ebolin' #3 mouthpiece.

Discography

Solo albums

Select albums appeared on

Videos

References

External links

• Maceo Parker official website
• Maceo Parker at Allmusic
• Shake Everything You've Got at YouTube