b. Robert Lee Parker, 31st August 1937, Lafayette, Louisiana, U.S.A.
d. 1st November 2013, Bowie, Maryland, U.S.A.
Bobby hailed from Lafayette, Louisiana, but was raised in Los Angeles, California.
In the fifties he taught himself the electric guitar, and performed with several blues and R&B bands.
Bobby played lead guitar with Bo Diddley and performed with Paul Williams, Sam Cooke, Jackie Wilson, LaVerne Baker, Clyde McPhatter, and the Everly Brothers.
He later toured with Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly and Little Richard.
Bobby released his first 45 in 1958, a song called ‘Blues Get Off My Shoulder’.
He also performed at the Apollo Theater in Harlem.
‘Watch Your Step’ was released in 1961, and was covered by the Spencer Davis Group, Dr. Feelgood and Santana.
‘Watch Your Step’ was released in 1961 for the V-Tone Records imprint.
The song was covered by the Beatles in various concerts during 1961 and 1962.
In 2012, ‘Watch Your Step’ became Public Domain in Europe, due to the 50 year copyright law limit in the E.U.
In recent years Bobby performed almost exclusively in the D.C. area.
bent out of shape - 1993 / shine me up - 1995
His debut album was entitled ‘Bent Out of Shape’, for the Black Top Records label in 1993.
Two years alter he released ‘Shine Me Up’.
Bobby passed away in 2013. He was 76.
Albums:
Bent Out Of Shape (Black Top Records 1993)
Shine Me Up (BlackTop Records 1995)
