Maceo Parker
Maceo Parker performing at the 2002 Bonnaroo music festival in Manchester, Tennessee
Background information
Born	February 14, 1943 (1943-02-14) (age 65)
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. Events 842 - Charles the Bald and Louis the German swear the Oaths of Strasbourg in the French and German Year 1943 ( MCMXLIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Kinston is a city in Lenoir County, North Carolina, United States. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the A music genre is a categorical and typological construct that identifies musical sounds as belonging to a particular category and type of music that can be distinguished from other Funk is an American musical style that originated in the mid- to late-1960s when African American musicians blended Soul music, Soul Soul jazz was a development of Hard bop which incorporated strong influences from Blues, Gospel and Rhythm and blues in music for small A musical instrument is a device constructed or modified for the purpose of making Music. The saxophone (commonly referred to simply as sax) is a conical- bored transposing Musical instrument considered a member of the Woodwind The flute is a Musical instrument of the Woodwind family Unlike other woodwind instruments a flute is a Reedless wind instrument that produces its James Joseph Brown Jr (May 3 1933 – December 25 2006 commonly referred to as "The Godfather of Soul" the "King of Funk" and "The The JBs were James Brown 's band during the first half of the 1970s Parliament was an African American music band most prominent during the 1970s Prince Rogers Nelson (born June 7 1958 in Minneapolis, Minnesota) is an American musician Events 842 - Charles the Bald and Louis the German swear the Oaths of Strasbourg in the French and German Year 1943 ( MCMXLIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Funk is an American musical style that originated in the mid- to late-1960s when African American musicians blended Soul music, Soul Soul jazz was a development of Hard bop which incorporated strong influences from Blues, Gospel and Rhythm and blues in music for small The saxophone (commonly referred to simply as sax) is a conical- bored transposing Musical instrument considered a member of the Woodwind James Joseph Brown Jr (May 3 1933 – December 25 2006 commonly referred to as "The Godfather of Soul" the "King of Funk" and "The 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. The alto saxophone is a member of the Saxophone a family of Woodwind instruments invented by Adolphe Sax. The tenor saxophone is a medium-sized member of the Saxophone family a group of instruments invented by Adolphe Sax in the 1840s The baritone saxophone, often called " bari sax " (to avoid confusion with the Baritone horn, which is often referred to simply as "baritone" is 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. Bebop or bop is a form of Jazz characterized by fast Tempos and Improvisation based on Harmonic structure rather than Melody Julian Edwin "Cannonball" Adderley ( September 15 1928 – August 8 1975) was a Jazz alto saxophonist of Funk is an American musical style that originated in the mid- to late-1960s when African American musicians blended Soul music, Soul

Biography

Parker was born in Kinston, North Carolina in a musically-rich environment. Kinston is a city in Lenoir County, North Carolina, United States. North Carolina ( is a state located on the Atlantic Seaboard in the southeastern United States 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. Melvin Parker (born June 7, 1944, Kinston North Carolina) is a Drummer, brother of saxophonist Maceo Parker and was an important James Joseph Brown Jr (May 3 1933 – December 25 2006 commonly referred to as "The Godfather of Soul" the "King of Funk" and "The A drummer is a Musician who plays a Drum or drums particularly a Drum kit ("drum set" or "trap set" Marching percussion 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. The JBs were James Brown 's band during the first half of the 1970s 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. Fred Wesley (born July 4, 1943) is an American Jazz and Funk Trombonist, best known for his work with James Brown The bands Parliament and Funkadelic cannot be easily separated

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. De La Soul is a Grammy Award-winning hip hop group They are best known for their eclectic sampling and quirky surreal lyrics and their contributions to the evolution Buhloone Mindstate is De La Soul's third full-length album It was the last De La Soul album to be produced with Prince Paul. In the late 1990s, Parker began contributing semi-regularly to recordings by Prince and accompanying his band, the New Power Generation, on tour. Prince Rogers Nelson (born June 7 1958 in Minneapolis, Minnesota) is an American musician The New Power Generation (or NPG for short is the current backing group of musician Prince. 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. Jane's Addiction is an American Alternative rock band formed in Los Angeles California in 1985 Not to be confused with Pharrell Williams Perry Farrell (born Peretz Bernstein on March 29, 1959) is an American Kettle Whistle is a rarities compilation of Jane's Addiction recordings ranging from before their first album to recordings by the "Relapse" line-up of 1997

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. Prince Rogers Nelson (born June 7 1958 in Minneapolis, Minnesota) is an American musician

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. The Selmer Mark VI is a professional model Saxophone that is considered The Selmer Company 's best saxophone and is preferred by many jazz musicians

Discography

Solo albums

Select albums appeared on

Videos

External links

• Maceo Parker official website
• Maceo Parker at Allmusic