Charles Truck

Charles Valdez "Truck" Parham (January 25, 1911 – June 5, 2002) was an American jazz double-bassist.

Parham was born in Chicago and was first a professional sportsman: he was a boxer and played football with the Chicago Negro All Stars. He played drums before settling on bass, and studied under Walter Page. He was part of Zack Whyte's band in 1932-34, playing primarily in Cincinnati, but was mostly a singer and valet for the band, the latter activity giving rise to his nickname. After returning to Chicago, he played with Zutty Singleton, Roy Eldridge (1936–38), Art Tatum, and Bob Shoffner in the 1930s. In 1940 he joined Earl Hines's orchestra, where he remained for two years; in 1942 he was hired by Jimmie Lunceford and played with him until 1947.

Parham continued to play revival gigs with Muggsy Spanier (1950–55), Herbie Fields (1956–57), Hines again, and Louie Bellson. He spent much of the 1960s working with Art Hodes, and played in numerous Dixieland jazz groups later in his career. Parham never recorded as a leader, though he recorded profusely as a sideman. He continued playing into the 2000s, being a member of Franz Jackson's band in 2000. Parham died in Chicago on June 5, 2002.

Birth and Death Data: Born January 25, 1911 (Chicago), Died June 5, 2002

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1940 - 1954

Roles Represented in DAHR: string bass

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

Recordings (Results 51-62 of 62 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Decca 86750 9/3/1954 My wild Irish Rose Muggsy Spanier and his Jazz Band instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca L 3063 10-in. 6/26/1942 Strictly instrumental Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca L 3064 10-in. 6/26/1942 Easy street Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca L 3065 10-in. 6/26/1942 Knock me a kiss-2 Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca L 3066 10-in. 6/26/1942 Keep smiling, keep laughin'-1 Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca L 3096 10-in. 7/14/1942 I dream a lot about you-2 Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca L 3097 10-in. 7/14/1942 Easy street Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca L 3098 10-in. 7/14/1942 I'm lonesome and so blue Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca L 3906 10-in. 8/9/1945 Baby are you kiddin' Delta Rhythm Boys ; Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca L 3907 10-in. 8/9/1945 Where's the melody Delta Rhythm Boys ; Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca L 3908 10-in. 8/9/1945 The honeydripper Delta Rhythm Boys ; Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca L 3909 10-in. 8/9/1945 I've got the Caroline blues Delta Rhythm Boys ; Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra instrumentalist, string bass  
(Results 51-62 of 62 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Parham, Truck," accessed May 10, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/336407.

Parham, Truck. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved May 10, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/336407.

"Parham, Truck." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 10 May 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/336407

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