Junior Parker

(May 27, 1932-November 18, 1971) was a Memphis blues singer and musician. Junior Parker was born in Clarksdale, Mississippi as Herman Parker, Jr. He played on the various blues circuits beginning in his teenage years, playing with artists like Sonny Boy Williamson (his mentor) and Howlin' Wolf. Parker was discovered by Ike Turner in 1952, who signed him to Modern Records. He put out one single on this record label, "You're My Angel." He and his band, The Blue Flames, signed onto Sun Records in 1953, and produced three successful songs: "Feelin' Good", "Love My Baby," and "Mystery Train" (later covered by Elvis Presley). Parker had periodic success over the next decade: Remakes of Roosevelt Sykes' songs, "Driving Wheel" and "Sweet Home Chicago"; Guitar Slim's The Things That I Used to Do; Don Robey's "Mother-in-Law Blues"; and his own "Stand by Me." His success was limited after he left the employment of his label in the late 1960s. He died of a brain tumor in 1971.