b. Robert Parker, 14th October 1930, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.A.
d. 19th January 2020, Roseland, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.A.
Robert Parker was born in Louisiana in 1930.
In 1966, he released his best known recording, 'Barefootin' for the Nola Record imprint.
Robert Parker was more than simply a vocalist.
He began his career as a saxophone player, performing with Professor Longhair (Henry Roeland Byrd) during 1949, featuring on his hit 'Mardi Gras In New Orleans', along with Longhair's 'Shuffling Hungarians' for the Star Talent Folk Series imprint.
Robert Parker was also an accomplished bandleader in his own right.
During the Fifties, he performed with many New Orleans based musicians, including Earl King, Fats Domino, Ernie K-Doe, Irma Thomas, Joe Tex, Huey 'Piano' Smith and Frankie Ford.
He signed as a solo act with Ace Records in 1958 and recorded his debut single, 'June Teen' b/w 'Lawdy Miss Clawdy', that same year.
mardi gras in new orleans - 1949 / all nite long - 1959
He then had a minor hit with the two part instrumental 'All Nite Long (Part 1)' b/w 'All Nite Long (Part 2)' for the Ron imprint in 1959.
The following year he recorded 'Walkin' b/w 'Across The Track', also for the Ron label.
Robert changed labels, relocating to the Imperial imprint for 'Mash Potatoes All Night Long', 'You're Looking Good' and 'Please Forgive Me'.
barefootin' - 1966 / soul kind of lovin' - 1966
In 1965 he signed for Nola Records, and had a hit with 'Barefootin' b/ 'Let's Go Baby! (Where The Action Is)' a year later.
Wardell Quezerque
The song was arranged and produced by Wardell Quezerque, and has been covered by the likes of Wilson Pickett, Rufus Thomas, Jimmy Buffett, Johnny Rivers and Pete Townshend (in 1986).
barefootin' (album 1966)
'Barefootin' reached number 2 on the U.S. R&B chart and number 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and also reached number 24 on the U.K. Singles Chart in August 1966.
He recorded 11 singles and one LP for NOLA between 1966 and 1968, though only 'Tip Toe' b/w 'Soul Kind Of Loving' made the charts, peaking at No. 48 R&B and No. 83 Pop.
Under the name of Robert Parker and The Wardell Quezerque Band, he recorded 'Funky Soul Train' in 1968.
In 1969, Robert changed label to Silver Fox Records (recording 'You Shakin' Things Up' b/w 'You See Me') and later relocated to the SSS International imprint in 1970, the principal label of Silver Fox's co-owner, Shelby Singleton.
At Silver Fox, Robert released the singles ''The Hiccup' and 'You See Me', before moving to the Head label for an updated version of 'Barefootin' in 1972 with the Jesse Gresham Plus 3.
1974 saw Robert at Island Records, where he remained for two years, releasing three singles, 'Get Ta Steppin', 'Give Me THe Country Side Of Life' and 'A Little Bit Of Something'.
He stopped recording in sides 1976, but continued to perform, however, and tour for many more years, in various venues, becoming hugely popular in the U.K.
In 2007, Robert was inducted into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame.
In 2009, he performed 'Barefootin' and 'Where the Action Is' at a 'Tribute to Wardell Quezerque' concert at Alice Tully Hall in the Lincoln Center, New York.
Robert passed away from natural causes in 2020 at his home in Roseland.
Albums:
Barefootin' (Nola Records 1966)
