Junior Parker, also known as Little Junior Parker or
"Mr Blues" (May 27, 1932* –November 18, 1971) was a successful and
influential Memphis blues singer and musician. He is best remembered for his
unique voice which has been described as "honeyed," and
"velvet-smooth". He was posthumously inducted 
into the Blues Hall of
Fame in 2001.
into the Blues Hall of
Fame in 2001.
Junior Parker was born in West Memphis, Arkansas as Herman Parker, Jr. He sang in gospel groups as a
child, and played on the various blues circuits beginning in his teenage years.
His biggest influence as a harmonica player was Sonny Boy Williamson, with whom
he worked before moving on to work for Howlin' Wolf in 1949. Around 1950 he was
a member of Memphis's ad hoc group, the Beale Streeters, with Bobby 'Blue'
Bland and B.B. King.
Little Jr. Parker, standing (far left), Bobby 'Blue' Bland, kneeling (far left), Pat Hare, standing (far right). South Carolina, 1952.
In 1951 he formed his own band, the Blue Flames, with guitarist Auburn 'Pat' Hare. Parker was discovered in 1952 by Ike Turner,
who
signed him to Modern Records. He put out one single on this record label,
"You're My Angel." This brought him to the attention of Sam Phillips,
and he and his band signed onto Sun Records in 1953. There they produced three
successful songs: "Feelin' Good" (which reached # 5 on the Billboard
R&B charts), "Love My Baby," and "Mystery Train" ,with
Floyd Murphy (Matt "Guitar" Murphy's brother) on guitar, later
covered by Elvis Presley.For Presley's version of "Mystery Train",
Scotty Moore borrowed the guitar riff from Parker's "Love My Baby".
Little Jr. Parker, standing (far left), Bobby 'Blue' Bland, kneeling (far left), Pat Hare, standing (far right). South Carolina, 1952.
In 1951 he formed his own band, the Blue Flames, with guitarist Auburn 'Pat' Hare. Parker was discovered in 1952 by Ike Turner,
who
signed him to Modern Records. He put out one single on this record label,
"You're My Angel." This brought him to the attention of Sam Phillips,
and he and his band signed onto Sun Records in 1953. There they produced three
successful songs: "Feelin' Good" (which reached # 5 on the Billboard
R&B charts), "Love My Baby," and "Mystery Train" ,with
Floyd Murphy (Matt "Guitar" Murphy's brother) on guitar, later
covered by Elvis Presley.For Presley's version of "Mystery Train",
Scotty Moore borrowed the guitar riff from Parker's "Love My Baby". 
Later in 1953, Parker toured with Bobby Bland and Johnny
Ace, and also joined Duke Records. Parker and Bland headed the highly
successful Blues Consolidated Revue, which became a staple part of the southern
blues circuit. He continued to have a string of hits on the R&B chart,
including the smooth "Next Time You See Me"; re-makes of Roosevelt
Sykes' songs, "Sweet Home Chicago" and "Driving Wheel";
Guitar Slim's "The Things That I Used to Do"; Don Robey's
"Mother-in-Law Blues"; and his own "Stand by Me."
Little Junior Parker, Elvis Presley, Bobby Blue Bland at the WDIA Goodwill Revue December 7, 1957.
Little Junior Parker, Elvis Presley, Bobby Blue Bland at the WDIA Goodwill Revue December 7, 1957.
His success was limited after he left the Duke label in
1966. He recorded for various labels, including Mercury, Blue Rock, Minit, and
Capitol.
Parker died on November 18, 1971, aged 39, in Blue Island,
IL during surgery for a brain tumor. (info Wikipedia)
*(There
is some disagreement over the details of Parker's birth, but most reliable
sources now indicate that he was born in March, 1932 at Eastover Plantation
near Bobo, Coahoma County, Mississippi. He moved with his mother to West
Memphis, Arkansas, during the 1940s. Other birth dates in 1927 or 1932 have
been suggested)
Before he passed he sailed into the 1970's in promising
fashion cutting a pair of terrific albums; You Don't Have To Be Black To Love
The Blues circa 1970/1971 for Groove Merchant and I Tell Stories Sad And True
for United Artists which was released in 1972. 
