Knocky Parker

Knocky Parker (August 8, 1918, Palmer, Texas – September 3, 1986, Los Angeles, California), born John William Parker, II, was an American jazz pianist. He played primarily ragtime and Dixieland jazz.

A native of Texas, Parker played in the Western swing bands The Wanderers (1935) and the Light Crust Doughboys (1937–39) before serving in the military during World War II.

After the war he worked with Zutty Singleton and Albert Nicholas. He became an English professor at Kentucky Wesleyan College and the University of South Florida. On the side, he played piano with Tony Parenti, Omer Simeon and Doc Evans. He recorded albums for Euphonic, GHB, Jazzology, London, Progressive, Paradox, Audiophile and Texstar. At Audiophile, he was one of the first to record all known ragtime pieces by Scott Joplin, excluding "The Silver Swan", which was not discovered at that point.

In 1984, he was nominated for a Grammy Award with Big Joe Turner for Big Joe Turner with Knocky Parker and His Houserockers.

Birth and Death Data: Born August 8, 1918 (Palmer), Died September 3, 1986 (Los Angeles)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1937 - 1941

Roles Represented in DAHR: piano, accordion

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 26-50 of 52 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BS-028808 10-in. 10/30/1938 One thing at a time Bill Boyd ; Cowboy Ramblers String band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-028809 10-in. 10/30/1938 Weeping blues Bill Boyd ; Cowboy Ramblers String band instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-028810 10-in. 10/30/1938 Boyd's Kelly waltz Bill Boyd ; Cowboy Ramblers String band instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-028811 10-in. 10/30/1938 Never let you cry over me Bill Boyd ; Cowboy Ramblers String band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-028812 10-in. 10/30/1938 La golondrina Bill Boyd ; Cowboy Ramblers String band instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-028813 10-in. 10/30/1938 Troubles Bill Boyd ; Cowboy Ramblers String band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-028814 10-in. 10/30/1938 I got the blues for mammy Bill Boyd ; Cowboy Ramblers String band, with male vocal duet instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-028815 10-in. 10/30/1938 I want to go back Bill Boyd ; Cowboy Ramblers String band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-028816 10-in. 10/30/1938 Mill blues Bill Boyd ; Cowboy Ramblers String band instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-063074 10-in. 4/9/1941 Flower of Texas Bill Boyd ; Cowboy Ramblers String band instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-063075 10-in. 4/9/1941 I'll be back in a year, little darlin' Bill Boyd ; Cowboy Ramblers String band, with male vocal duet instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-063076 10-in. 4/9/1941 Jitter bug jive Bill Boyd ; Cowboy Ramblers String band, with male vocal solo and vocal ensemble instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-063077 10-in. 4/9/1941 I can't forget (no matter how I try) Bill Boyd ; Cowboy Ramblers String band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-063078 10-in. 4/9/1941 They go goo-goo-ga-ga goofy over gobs Bill Boyd ; Cowboy Ramblers String band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-063079 10-in. 4/9/1941 I guess you don't care any more Bill Boyd ; Cowboy Ramblers String band, with male vocal duet instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-063084 10-in. 4/10/1941 Swing steel, swing Bill Boyd ; Cowboy Ramblers String band instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-063085 10-in. 4/10/1941 Sweethearts or strangers Bill Boyd ; Cowboy Ramblers String band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-063086 10-in. 4/10/1941 Don't let the barrel go dry Bill Boyd ; Cowboy Ramblers String band, with vocal ensemble instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-063087 10-in. 4/10/1941 Now I feel the way you do Bill Boyd ; Cowboy Ramblers String band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-063088 10-in. 4/10/1941 No dice Bill Boyd ; Cowboy Ramblers String band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-063089 10-in. 4/10/1941 Hold on to that thing Bill Boyd ; Cowboy Ramblers String band, with male vocal duet instrumentalist, piano  
Brunswick DAL540 10-in. 5/14/1938 The hills of old Wyomin' Light Crust Doughboys String band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, piano  
Brunswick DAL388 10-in. 6/20/1937 The eyes of Texas Light Crust Doughboys String band, with group vocal instrumentalist, piano  
Brunswick DAL389 10-in. 6/20/1937 Washington and Lee swing Light Crust Doughboys String band instrumentalist, piano, accordion  
Brunswick DAL830 10-in. 6/15/1939 Oh baby blues (you won't have no mama at all) Light Crust Doughboys String band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, piano  
(Results 26-50 of 52 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Parker, Knocky," accessed April 25, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103195.

Parker, Knocky. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 25, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103195.

"Parker, Knocky." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 25 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103195

External Sources

Wikipedia: Knocky Parker

Allmusic: Knocky Parker

Grove: Knocky Parker

Linked Open Data Sources

LCNAR: Parker, Knocky, 1918-1986 - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n81072533

Wikidata: Knocky Parker - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q1777364

VIAF: http://viaf.org/viaf/21005889

MusicBrainz: Knocky Parker - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/5e9e0e17-40d5-4e75-8bce-67978b31f750

ISNI: 0000 0000 2445 9618 - http://www.isni.org/isni/0000000024459618

FAST: http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1970105

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