John Parr
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- For the first British Empire death of World War I, see John Parr (soldier).
John Parr (born November 18, 1954, in Worksop, Nottinghamshire) is an English musician. He achieved some success by having two hits in the 1980s.
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[edit] Biography
John Parr's first entrance in to music was when he was 12 years old and formed a band with two fellow schoolmates named The Silence. The band enjoyed considerable success. They eventually became professional and started to tour Europe.
[edit] Ponders End
When Parr left the band, he joined a group called Ponders End who were hailed as the 'best live act around' in Newcastle, along with Dire Straits. In the end they did not secure a record deal and the band's chapter in history was closed.
[edit] Working With Meat Loaf
Parr secured a publishing deal with Carlin Music in 1983 and in the same year Meat Loaf asked him to write some songs for his new album. That led to the fateful meeting with John Wolfe (manager of The Who). Foreseeing the initial demise of The Who, Wolfe was looking for a new venture and Parr seemed to be the one. 1984 saw Parr's first trip to America. He worked with Meat Loaf on Bad Attitude while Wolfe was putting finishing touches on Parr's solo Atlantic recording deal in New York.
[edit] Solo and 'The Business'
"Naughty Naughty" was Parr's first U.S. top 40 hit record. The song built his career very quickly by achieving top 3 positions on every rock radio station in America for up to 6 weeks. 1985 saw Parr on the road with his band "The Business" supporting Toto, and playing 10,000-seater venues across America. By the end of the tour, John had a call from one of the world's most successful producers, David Foster. He requested Parr to record "St. Elmo's Fire (Man in Motion)", a song Foster had written in honor of wheelchair athlete and activist Rick Hansen, and which was also to be the theme for the movie St. Elmo's Fire (a "Brat Pack" film unrelated to Hansen's exploits). The song became a Number one hit for Parr around the world and garnered many awards, including a Grammy nomination.
Parr later wrote "Under A Raging Moon" for Roger Daltry, a song that paid tribute to Keith Moon and told the story of The Who. The album became Roger Daltry's biggest solo success in America. Parr was soon singing with Marilyn Martin on the Kevin Bacon movie, Quicksilver. Parr wrote and produced further tracks for Martin's debut album, including the hit "Night Moves". After the success of Meat Loaf's album, Parr contributed to the next album with the smash duet hit "Rock & Roll Mercenaries". From there he began work with Albert Magnili (director of Purple Rain) on the movie American Anthem for which he wrote and performed the main theme "Two Hearts".
The Pepsi Company and Jack Calmes Satellite TV Corporation wanted to try something new - a gig from London beamed live across America, Japan & Australia on the college Satellite Network. Parr was the featured act, having done two similar shows (one from the Olympic Stadium in Los Angeles where the flame was lit for a special performance of "St. Elmo's Fire", and was beamed live for Japan, and the New Year Christmas Show from London). The show was a great success, reaching almost 50-million people and making broadcast history for the network.
Another dream came true for Parr in 1988 when he was offered to collaborate with one of the most successful record producers ever, Robert John "Mutt" Lange. Lange offered him to (co)produce an album for Romeo's Daughter.
However, after a relatively short period of chart success, John Parr faded into the annals of 1980s musical history, along with other one-hit wonders like Autograph. He did briefly regain the limelight in 2006 with the release of a dance remix of "St. Elmo's Fire", entitled "New Horizon". It was credited to John Parr vs. Tommyknockers and reached a modest number 43 in the UK Singles Chart.
[edit] Album discography
- 1984 John Parr
- 1986 Running the Endless Mile
