Sonny Parker

Willis "Sonny" Parker (May 5, 1925 or October 29, 1926 – February 7, 1957) was an American blues and jazz singer, dancer, and drummer.

Birth and Death Data: Born Youngstown (county seat of Mahoning County, Ohio, United States), Died February 7, 1957 (Pittsburgh (city and county seat in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States) )

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1948 - 1954

Roles Represented in DAHR: vocalist, drums, songwriter

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

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 28 records)

Company	Matrix No.	Size	First Recording Date	Title	Primary Performer	Description	Role
Columbia	HCO3446	10-in.	December 1948	Tossin' and turnin'	Sonny Parker	Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble	vocalist, instrumentalist, drums
Columbia	HCO3447	10-in.	December 1948	Lay right down and die	Sonny Parker	Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble	vocalist, instrumentalist, drums
Columbia	HCO3448	10-in.	December 1948	Gamblin' woman	Sonny Parker	Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble	vocalist, instrumentalist, drums
Columbia	HCO3449	10-in.	December 1948	[No information]	Sonny Parker		vocalist, instrumentalist, drums
Columbia	HCO3450	10-in.	December 1948	[No information]	Sonny Parker		vocalist, instrumentalist, drums
Columbia	HCO3451	10-in.	December 1948	You don't know about love	Sonny Parker	Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble	vocalist, instrumentalist, drums
Peacock	ACA 2084	10-in.	approximately 1952	Money ain't everything	Gladys Hampton's Blue Boys ; Sonny Parker		vocalist
Peacock	ACA 2085	10-in.	approximately 1952	Disgusted blues	Gladys Hampton's Blue Boys ; Sonny Parker		vocalist, songwriter
Peacock	ACA 2086	10-in.	approximately 1952	She sets my soul on fire	Gladys Hampton's Blue Boys ; Sonny Parker		vocalist, songwriter
Peacock	ACA 2087	10-in.	approximately 1952	Worried life blues	Gladys Hampton's Blue Boys ; Sonny Parker		vocalist
Decca	74727		1/27/1949	Chicken shack boogie	Lionel Hampton Sextet		vocalist
Decca	74728		1/27/1949	New Central Avenue breakdown	Lionel Hampton Sextet		vocalist
Decca	74729		1/27/1949	Benson boogie	Lionel Hampton Sextet		vocalist
Decca	74731		1/28/1949	Hamp's gumbo	Lionel Hampton Orchestra		vocalist
Decca	74853		4/26/1949	What's happening baby?	Lionel Hampton Orchestra		vocalist
Decca	74897		5/10/1949	The hucklebuck	Lionel Hampton Orchestra		vocalist
Decca	74898		5/10/1949	Baby, you're great	Lionel Hampton Orchestra		vocalist
Decca	74899		5/10/1949	Lavender coffin	Lionel Hampton Orchestra		vocalist
Decca	75637		12/29/1949	For you my love	Lionel Hampton Orchestra		vocalist
Decca	75665		1/5/1950	How you sound	Lionel Hampton Orchestra		vocalist
Decca	75666		1/5/1950	I almost lost my mind	Lionel Hampton Orchestra		vocalist
Decca	75745		1/25/1950	Sad feelin'	Lionel Hampton Orchestra		vocalist
Decca	75746		1/25/1950	Hamp's gumbo	Lionel Hampton Orchestra		vocalist
Decca	85786		1/29/1954	Jealous blues	Sonny Parker Orchestra		vocalist
Decca	85787		1/29/1954	I'm hungry	Sonny Parker Orchestra		vocalist

(Results 1-25 of 28 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Parker, Sonny," accessed December 27, 2025, http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/336488.

Parker, Sonny. (2025). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved December 27, 2025, from http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/336488.

"Parker, Sonny." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2025. Web. 27 December 2025.