Maceo Parker
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Maceo Parker | |
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 Maceo Parker performing at the 2002 Bonnaroo music festival in Manchester, Tennessee
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| Background information | |
| Born | February 14, 1943 |
| Origin | Kinston, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Genre(s) | Funk, soul jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, band leader |
| Instrument(s) | Saxophone, flute |
| Years active | 1964–present |
| Associated acts | James Brown, Maceo & All the King's Men, Maceo & the Macks, The J.B.'s, Parliament, Prince |
| Website | www.maceo.com |
Maceo (pronounced may'-see-oh) Parker (born February 14, 1943) is a noted American funk and soul jazz saxophonist, best known for his work with James Brown in the 1960s. Parker was a prominent soloist on many of Brown's hit recordings, and a key part of his band, playing alto, tenor and baritone saxophones. Parker's rhythmic and rapid playing style draws on the earlier innovations of be-bopper Charlie Parker (no relation), and Cannonball Adderley, mixed with Brown's own innovations in funk music.
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[edit] Biography
Parker was born in Kinston, North Carolina in a musically-rich environment. His mother and father sang in a church and both his brothers are accomplished musicians (drums and trombones).
He and his brother, Melvin Parker, joined James Brown in 1964; in his book, Brown says that he originally wanted Melvin as his drummer, but agreed to take Maceo under his wing as part of the deal.[citation needed] Parker, his brother Melvin, and a few of Brown's band members left to found Maceo & All the King's Men which toured for two years. In 1973, Parker returned to James Brown's band the J.B.'s. He also charted a single "Parrty - Part I" (#71 pop singles) with Maceo & the Macks that year. In 1975, Parker and some of Brown's band members, including Fred Wesley, left to join George Clinton's band Parliament-Funkadelic.
Parker once again joined James Brown from 1984 to 1988. In the 1990s, Parker finally established a successful solo career. He has released seven solo records and plays 250 tour dates per year. His average play time on stage is more than two and a half hours.
In 1993, Parker made guest appearances on rap group De La Soul's album Buhloone Mindstate. In the late 1990s, Parker began contributing semi-regularly to recordings by Prince and accompanying his band, the New Power Generation, on tour. He also played on the Jane's Addiction track "My Cat's Name Is Maceo" (named after him, or Perry Farrell's cat, or both), for their 1997 compilation album Kettle Whistle.
His current touring band includes bassist Rodney Skeet Curtis and trombonist Greg Boyer, formerly of Parliament-Funkadelic. They have been billed as "The greatest little funk orchestra on earth" or the "Million dollar support band".
Recently performed in his hometown Kinston, North Carolina, at the local NAACP building. Parker is currently in Prince's backing band The NPG, and has been since 1999.
His gear consists of a Selmer Mark VI (alto) Saxophone together with a Selmer Brilhart 'Ebolin' #5 mouthpiece to create the funky sound he's famous for.
[edit] Discography
[edit] Solo albums
| Year | Artist | Album | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | Maceo & All the King's Men | Doin' Their Own Thing | House of the Fox / Charly Records |
| 1974 | Maceo | Us | People / P-Vine |
| 1975 | Maceo & All the King's Men | Funky Music Machine | El Cello |
| 1989 | Maceo Parker | For All the King's Men | 4th & Broadway |
| 1990 | Maceo Parker | Roots Revisited | Verve / Minor Music |
| 1991 | Maceo Parker | Mo' Roots | Verve / Minor Music |
| 1992 | Maceo Parker | Life on Planet Groove | Verve / Minor Music |
| 1993 | Maceo Parker | Southern Exposure | Jive/Novus / Minor Music |
| 1994 | Maceo Parker | Maceo (Soundtrack) | Minor Music |
| 1998 | Maceo Parker | Funk Overload | What Are Records? / ESC |
| 2000 | Maceo Parker | Dial: M-A-C-E-O | What Are Records? / ESC |
| 2003 | Maceo Parker | Made by Maceo | What Are Records? / ESC |
| 2004 | Maceo Parker | My First Name Is Maceo | Minor Music |
| 2005 | Maceo Parker | School's In! | BHM Productions |
| 2007 | Maceo Parker | Roots & Grooves | Intuition (SunnyMoon) |
[edit] Select albums appeared on
| Year | Artist | Album | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 | James Brown | Out of Sight | PolyGram |
| 1969 | James Brown | Say It Loud, I'm Black and I'm Proud | Polydor / Umgd |
| 1970 | James Brown | Sex Machine | Polydor / Umgd |
| 1972 | James Brown | Get on the Good Foot | PolyGram |
| 1973 | James Brown | Payback | Polydor / Umgd |
| 1974 | James Brown | Hell | Polydor / Umgd |
| 1975 | James Brown | Reality | PolyGram |
| 1976 | Bootsy Collins | Stretchin' Out in Bootsy's Rubber Band | Warner Bros. |
| 1976 | Parliament | The Clones of Dr. Funkenstein | Island / Mercury |
| 1976 | Parliament | Mothership Connection | Island / Mercury |
| 1977 | Bootsy Collins | Ahh... The Name Is Bootsy, Baby! | Warner Bros. |
| 1977 | Parliament | Live: P-Funk Earth Tour | Island / Mercury |
| 1977 | Parliament | Funkentelechy Vs. the Placebo Syndrome | Island / Mercury |
| 1977 | Fred Wesley | A Blow for Me, A Toot for You | Atlantic |
| 1978 | Parliament | Motor Booty Affair | Island / Mercury |
| 1978 | Bernie Worrell | All the Woo in the World | Arista |
| 1979 | Bootsy Collins | This Boot Is Made for Fonk-N | Warner Bros. |
| 1979 | Parliament | Gloryhallastoopid | MCA |
| 1980 | Bootsy Collins | Ultra Wave | Warner Bros. |
| 1980 | Parliament | Trombipulation | PolyGram |
| 1983 | P-Funk All Stars | Urban Dancefloor Guerillas | Sony |
| 1983 | George Clinton | You Shouldn't-Nuf Bit Fish | Capitol |
| 1985 | George Clinton | Some of My Best Jokes Are Friends | Capitol |
| 1985 | Red Hot Chili Peppers | Freaky Styley | Capitol |
| 1986 | James Brown | Gravity | Volcano |
| 1986 | James Brown | James In the Jungle Groove | Polydor / Umgd |
| 1987 | Micro Wave | Cookin' from the Inside Out!!! | Columbia |
| 1987 | Yvonne Jackson | I'm Trouble | Ichiban |
| 1988 | James Brown | James Brown's Funky People, Pt. 2 | Polydor / Umgd |
| 1988 | Bootsy Collins | What's Bootsy Doin'? | Sony |
| 1988 | Keith Richards | Talk Is Cheap | EMI |
| 1989 | Criminal Element Orchestra | Locked Up | Atlantic |
| 1990 | Various Artists | Gramavision 10th Anniversary Sampler | Gramavision |
| 1990 | Deee-Lite | World Clique | Elektra / Wea |
| 1990 | Living Colour | Time's Up | Sony |
| 1990 | P-Funk All Stars | Live at the Beverly Theatre in Hollywood | Westbound |
| 1990 | Fred Wesley | New Friends | PolyGram |
| 1990 | Rev. Billy C. Wirtz | Backslider's Tractor Pull | HighTone |
| 1991 | James Brown | Messing with the Blues | PolyGram |
| 1991 | Material | The Third Power | Axiom |
| 1991 | Bernie Worrell | Funk of Ages | Rhino |
| 1991 | Kenny Neal | Walking on Fire | Alligator |
| 1991 | Various Artists | House Party 2 | MCA |
| 1992 | Bachir Attar | The Next Dream | CMP |
| 1992 | 10,000 Maniacs | Our Time in Eden | Elektra / Wea |
| 1992 | Deee-Lite | Infinity Within | Elektra / Wea |
| 1993 | Various Artists | The Best Jazz Is Played with Verve | PolyGram |
| 1993 | George Clinton | "P" Is the Funk | AEM |
| 1993 | Candy Dulfer | Sax-A-Go-Go | Sony |
| 1993 | Color Me Badd | Time and Chance | Warner Bros. |
| 1993 | Bernie Worrell | Blacktronic Science | Gramavision |
| 1993 | Bryan Ferry | Taxi | Warner Bros. |
| 1993 | Various Artists | Manifestation: Axiom Collection II | PolyGram |
| 1993 | James Brown | Soul Pride: The Instrumentals (1960-1969) | PolyGram |
| 1993 | De La Soul | Buhloone Mindstate | Rhino |
| 1993 | Hans Theessink | Call Me | Deluge |
| 1993 | Dave Koz | Lucky Man | Capitol |
| 1993 | George Clinton | Plush Funk | Aem |
| 1993 | Bernie Worrell | Blacktronic Science | Gramavision |
| 1994 | Bootsy Collins | Blasters of the Universe | Rykodisc |
| 1994 | Pedro Abrunhosa | Viagens | PolyGram |
| 1994 | Bryan Ferry | Mamouna | Virgin |
| 1994 | The JB Horns | I Like It Like That | Soulciety |
| 1995 | Parliament | The Best of Parliament: Give Up the Funk | PolyGram |
| 1995 | Fred Wesley | Say Blow by Blow Backwards | Aem |
| 1995 | Larry Goldings | Whatever It Takes | Warner Bros. |
| 1995 | Various Artists | Back to Basics, Vol. 2 | Instinct |
| 1996 | James Brown | Foundations Of Funk: A Brand New Bag | Polydor / Umgd |
| 1996 | Various Artists | Little Magic in a Noisy World | Act |
| 1996 | Various Artists | A Celebration of Blues: The New Breed | Celeb. of Blues |
| 1997 | Various Artists | Booming on Pluto: Electro for Droids | Ambient |
| 1997 | Kenny Neal | Deluxe Edition | Alligator |
| 1997 | Phil Upchurch | Whatever Happened to the Blues | Go Jazz |
| 1997 | Various Artists | Blues, Boogie, Rhythm, and More Blues | Koch |
| 1999 | Prince | Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic | NPG |
| 2001 | Dave Matthews Band | Live in Chicago 12.19.98 | RCA |
| 2001 | Prince | Rave In2 The Joy Fantastic | NPG |
| 2002 | Prince | One Nite Alone... Live! | NPG |
| 2003 | Prince & the NPG | C-Note | NPG |
| 2004 | Prince | Musicology | NPG / Columbia |
| 2006 | Prince | 3121 | NPG / Universal |
| 2007 | Prince | Planet Earth | NPG / Columbia |
[edit] Videos
| Year | Artist | Album | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Maceo Parker | Roots Revisited | Arthaus Musik |
| 2003 | Prince | Live at the Aladdin Las Vegas | NPG Music Club |
| 2004 | Maceo Parker | My First Name Is Maceo | Minor Music |
[edit] External links
- Maceo Parker official website
- Maceo Parker at Allmusic
