Peter Parcek

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Peter Parcek
BornMiddletown, Connecticut, United States
GenresBlues rock
Occupation(s)Guitarist, singer, songwriter
InstrumentsGuitar, vocals
Years activeLate 1960s–present
Associated actsPinetop Perkins
WebsiteOfficial website

Peter Parcek is an American blues rock guitarist, singer, and songwriter. In 2021, Parcek's album, Mississippi Suitcase was nominated for a Blues Music Award in the 'Blues Rock Album' category. Parcek has released four albums since 2000, after spending time as Pinetop Perkins' bandleader. Buddy Guy once opined about Parcek, "You're as bad as Eric Clapton. And I know Eric Clapton."[1]

In his career, Parcek has been the opening act for other artists who include Buddy Guy, Grateful Dead, Koko Taylor, and Charlie Musselwhite.[2]

Life and career[]

Parcek was born in Middletown, Connecticut, United States.[2] He first became aware of blues music by listening to AM radio in the evening, when Southern radio station signals barely reached his bedroom in New England. He heard music by Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Albert Collins, and others, before his mother amassed sufficient Green Stamps to purchase her son a nylon-string guitar. Nevertheless, Parcek initially made more progress playing the harmonica than guitar, before his life changed in the mid-1960s.[3] In order to avoid the draft, and the real potential of being involved in the Vietnam War, his mother arranged through a family friend for Parcek to be transported to London, England.[4] The timing was fortuitous as interest was burgeoning in the British blues scene, and Parcek was able to see concerts, including those given in clubs and other venues by Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck and Peter Green.[5] Suitably inspired, in the late-1960s, Parcek undertook his own small-scale gigs, both playing the harmonica and singing. He joined a band whose highlight was supporting Pink Floyd at the Marquee Club. However, when his lack of a British work permit was discovered by the authorities, Parcek was forced to return to the States.[4]

Upon resettling Parcek took any chance to watch homegrown blues musicians in concert. These included Skip James, Albert King, Jimi Hendrix, and B.B. King, always trying to get a seat near to stage. Parcek later stated "I would sit as close as possible so I could see exactly what they were doing on the guitar. It was an amazing education." He relocated from Middletown to Boston, Massachusetts, and began to hone his guitar playing skills, by practicing up to 10 hours a day.[2][4] He worked during the day as a school counselor and instrument salesman, before joining a Boston-based blues outfit, Nine Below Zero (not the British band of the same name).[2][4][6] In the 1990s, Parcek became the guitarist and bandleader for Pinetop Perkins backing ensemble.[7]

In 2000, Parcek released his debut album, Evolution, on Lightnin' Records.[2] He was joined by guest appearances from Ronnie Earl and Al Kooper, helping to create a mixture of Parcek original songs with his interpretation of those written by Mose Allison and Freddie King.[2] The following year, Parcek teamed up with a singer-songwriter from Boston, Miki Singh, and they formed a blues influenced outfit, Dragonfly. They released a couple of albums; Edge of the World (2003)[8] and Blind (2006),[9] and toured both in, and outside, of North America. Parcek returned to his solo career and, in 2010, a decade after his solo debut Parcek issued, The Mathematics of Love.[2] One reviewer noted "This isn't your typical, run of the mill blues record." Al Kooper made his second appearance on a Parcek album, specifically on the instrumental reimagining of the Harlan Howard penned, "Busted."[6] In a style of his own, Parcek described his music 'soul guitar', a fusion of blues, gypsy-styled jazz, rock, funk, and shades of country.[2] He toured to promote the album and, the following year, released an EP, Pledging My Time.[2]

His next release was Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven (2017).[2] It was conceived in the grieving period after the death of Parcek's mother. Two songs, "Every Drop of Rain" and "Ashes to Ashes" were written in honour of her life. However, the opening cut was Parcek's version of the Peter Green-penned track, "The World Keep on Turning." The raw sound was created by the use of various effects units, which Parcek is prone to use often in his more recent work. The backing track used on recreation of "See That My Grave Is Kept Clean" had a non-traditional blues feel, by utilising a couple of record producer/drummer Marco Giovino's percussion loops and a single guitar. Parcek stated "I needed to give listeners a breath—something fun... So that's where some of the instrumentals came from. 'Shiver' is basically an homage to Albert Collins. 'Pat Hare'... is a tribute to him." The album was partly recorded in Nashville, Tennessee and another studio close to Parcek's Boston home.[3] Parcek later had an injury to his wrist which, for a time, threatened to curtail further activity.[7]

Mississippi Suitcase was released on September 4, 2020, via Lightnin' Records. As per his previous album, this collection was recorded in Nashville and Boston, and comprised 11 tracks, although only two of them were Parcek's originals. It was produced by Ducky Carlisle. The musicians included Spooner Oldham and Tom West (keyboards); Luther Dickinson and Ted Drozdowski (guitar); Mickey Raphael (harmonica); Marco Giovino and Tim Carman (drums); Dennis Crouch, Mark Hickox and Dominic Davis (bass guitar).[2][10] The album's tracks included Parcek trying his hand on versions of "Beyond Here Lies Nothin'," "Eleanor Rigby," and "Waiting for the Man."[7]

Parcek has a selection of guitars including a Fender Stratocaster, Fender Telecaster, Harmony Stratotone, several Gibsons, a Dean Resonator, an Epiphone Dot, a Tom Anderson Hollow-T, and an Xotic California XSC-2.[3]

Awards[]

Parcek was nominated for 'Best New Artist' at the 2011 Blues Music Awards.[11]

Parcek has twice been successful at the New England Music Awards, winning 'Blues Artist of the Year' and 'Blues Audience Guitarist of the Year'.[2]

Premier Guitar choose Mississippi Suitcase as one of the best albums of 2020.[10]

In 2021, Parcek's album, Mississippi Suitcase was nominated for a Blues Music Award in the 'Blues Rock Album' category. The ceremony is due to take place on June 6, 2021.[12]

Discography[]

Albums[]

Year Title Record label(s)
2000 Evolution Lightnin' Records
2010 The Mathematics of Love VizzTone Records / Red Star Records
2017 Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven Lightnin' Records
2020 Mississippi Suitcase Lightnin' Records

[13]

References[]

  1. ^ "Guitarist Singer Peter Parcek Returns with Signature Hard Electric Blues on Mississippi Suitcase : Album Review". Glidemagazine.com. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Peter Parcek | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
  3. ^ a b c "Peter Parcek: Earthy to Ethereal". Premierguitar.com. February 13, 2018. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
  4. ^ a b c d "About - Peter Parcek - Story". Peterparcekband.com. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
  5. ^ "Peter Parcek music". Musicians.allaboutjazz.com. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
  6. ^ a b "Peter Parcek". Iconfetch.com. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
  7. ^ a b c Gunther, Marty. "Peter Parcek – Mississippi Suitcase | Album Review". Bluesblastmagazine.com. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
  8. ^ "Edge of the World - Dragonfly | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
  9. ^ "Blind - Dragonfly | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
  10. ^ a b "Blues Guitarist - Peter Parcek - Boston". Peterparcekband.com. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
  11. ^ "Vizztone label group". Vizztone.com. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
  12. ^ McKay, Robin. "BLUES MUSIC AWARDS". Blues.org. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
  13. ^ "Peter Parcek | Album Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved April 5, 2021.

External links[]

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