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 51-52 of 52 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Brunswick DAL831 10-in. 6/15/1939 Beer drinkin' mama Light Crust Doughboys String band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, piano  
Vocalion 25318 10-in. 9/11/1939 Little rubber dolly Light Crust Doughboys String band, with male vocal duet instrumentalist, accordion  
(Results 51-52 of 52 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Parker, Knocky," accessed November 9, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/103195.

Parker, Knocky. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 9, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/103195.

"Parker, Knocky." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 9 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/103195

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