From:   "Dik de Heer" 
Date:  Sun Mar 3, 2002  2:27 am
Subject:  Born To Be With You : Junior Parker
 
(LITTLE) JUNIOR PARKER (By Shaun Mather)

Born Herman Parker, Jr., 3 March 1927, West Memphis, Arkansas
Died 18 November 1971, Blue Island, Illinois

Junior Parker was a blues singer with more of an r&b than soul feel. His
vocals were rich and smooth and bore a strong resemblance to his friend
Bobby Bland. As well as being a capable harmonica player, he was also a
gifted writer, with two of his rhythm tunes becoming future rockabilly
classics, Mystery Train (courtesy of Elvis) and Love My Baby (Hayden
Thompson). As a youngster he got to work with Sonny Boy Williamson and
Howlin' Wolf before coming to the attention of Ike Turner who arranged his
first release with Modern Records in 1952. He joined Sun Records in Memphis
the following year and scored with Feelin' Good, Love My Baby and Mystery
Train. He moved to Don Robey's Duke label and hit again with Next Time You
See Me and later on with Drivin' Wheel, In The Dark and Annie Get Your
Yo-Yo. He left the label in 1966 but following spells at Mercury, Blue Rock
and Capitol, he died tragically from a brain tumor. His catalogue has been
constantly covered by other artists and he was inducted into the Blues Hall
of Fame in 2001.

Recommended listening;
Legendary Sun Performers - Charly
Junior's Blues/The Duke Recordings, Vol. 1 - MCA