Knocky Parker

Knocky Parker (August 8, 1918, Palmer, Texas – September 3, 1986, Los Angeles, California), born John William Parker, II, was an American jazz pianist. He played primarily ragtime and Dixieland jazz. A native of Texas, Parker played in the Western swing bands The Wanderers (1935) and the Light Crust Doughboys (1937–39) before serving in the military during World War II. After the war he worked with Zutty Singleton and Albert Nicholas. He became an English professor at Kentucky Wesleyan College and the University of South Florida. On the side, he played piano with Tony Parenti, Omer Simeon and Doc Evans. He recorded albums for Euphonic, GHB, Jazzology, London, Progressive, Paradox, Audiophile and Texstar. At Audiophile, he was one of the first to record all known ragtime pieces by Scott Joplin, excluding "The Silver Swan", which was not discovered at that point. In 1984, he was nominated for a Grammy Award with Big Joe Turner for Big Joe Turner with Knocky Parker and His Houserockers.

Birth and Death Data: Born August 8, 1918 (Palmer), Died September 3, 1986 (Los Angeles)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1937 - 1941

Roles Represented in DAHR: piano, accordion

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings

Company	Matrix No.	Size	First Recording Date	Title	Primary Performer	Description	Role
Victor	BS-022304	10-in.	4/9/1938	Like you	Bill Boyd ; Cowboy Ramblers	Instrumental ensemble, with female vocal solo	instrumentalist, accordion, piano
Victor	BS-022305	10-in.	4/9/1938	Annie Laurie	Bill Boyd ; Cowboy Ramblers	Instrumental ensemble, with female vocal solo	instrumentalist, accordion, piano
Victor	BS-022306	10-in.	4/9/1938	I'm jealous of the twinkle in your eye	Bill Boyd ; Cowboy Ramblers ; Curly Perrin	Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo	instrumentalist, accordion, piano
Victor	BS-022307	10-in.	4/9/1938	Someone in heaven is thinking of you	Bill Boyd ; Cowboy Ramblers	Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal duet	instrumentalist, accordion, piano
Victor	BS-022308	10-in.	4/9/1938	Song of the waterfall	Bill Boyd ; Cowboy Ramblers	Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo	instrumentalist, accordion, piano
Victor	BS-022309	10-in.	4/9/1938	Don't drop a slug in the slot	Bill Boyd ; Cowboy Ramblers	Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal duet	instrumentalist, accordion, piano
Victor	BS-022310	10-in.	4/9/1938	When my dreams come true	Bill Boyd ; Cowboy Ramblers	Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal duet	instrumentalist, accordion, piano
Victor	BS-022311	10-in.	4/9/1938	Riding on the old ferris wheel	Bill Boyd ; Cowboy Ramblers	Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo	instrumentalist, accordion, piano
Victor	BS-022312	10-in.	4/9/1938	I'm in love with you, honey	Bill Boyd ; Cowboy Ramblers	Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo	instrumentalist, accordion, piano
Victor	BS-022313	10-in.	4/9/1938	You're just about right	Bill Boyd ; Cowboy Ramblers	Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo	instrumentalist, accordion, piano
Victor	BS-022314	10-in.	4/9/1938	Broadway mama	Bill Boyd ; Cowboy Ramblers	Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo	instrumentalist, accordion, piano
Victor	BS-022315	10-in.	4/9/1938	Blues when it rains	Bill Boyd ; Cowboy Ramblers	Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal duet	instrumentalist, accordion, piano
Victor	BS-022316	10-in.	4/9/1938	Tableau clog dance	Bill Boyd ; Cowboy Ramblers	Instrumental ensemble	instrumentalist, accordion, piano
Victor	BS-022317	10-in.	4/9/1938	Pedestal clog dance	Bill Boyd ; Cowboy Ramblers	Instrumental ensemble	instrumentalist, accordion, piano
Victor	BS-022318	10-in.	4/9/1938	Boyd's tin roof blues	Bill Boyd ; Cowboy Ramblers	Instrumental ensemble	instrumentalist, accordion, piano
Victor	BS-022319	10-in.	4/9/1938	Home in Indiana	Bill Boyd ; Cowboy Ramblers	Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo	instrumentalist, accordion, piano
Victor	BS-022320	10-in.	4/9/1938	I've got those Oklahoma blues	Bill Boyd ; Cowboy Ramblers	Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo	instrumentalist, accordion, piano
Victor	BS-022321	10-in.	4/9/1938	Jig	Bill Boyd ; Cowboy Ramblers	Instrumental ensemble	instrumentalist, accordion, piano
Victor	BS-028801	10-in.	10/30/1938	My baby loves me, I know	Bill Boyd ; Cowboy Ramblers	String band, with male vocal solo	instrumentalist, piano
Victor	BS-028802	10-in.	10/30/1938	New Spanish two-step	Bill Boyd ; Cowboy Ramblers	String band	instrumentalist, piano
Victor	BS-028803	10-in.	10/30/1938	Spanish fandango	Bill Boyd ; Cowboy Ramblers	String band	instrumentalist, piano
Victor	BS-028804	10-in.	10/30/1938	I love my baby	Bill Boyd ; Cowboy Ramblers	String band, with male vocal solo	instrumentalist, piano
Victor	BS-028805	10-in.	10/30/1938	Singing and swinging for me	Bill Boyd ; Cowboy Ramblers	String band, with male vocal solo	instrumentalist, piano
Victor	BS-028806	10-in.	10/30/1938	Tom-cat rag	Bill Boyd ; Cowboy Ramblers	String band, with male vocal solo and vocal ensemble	instrumentalist, piano
Victor	BS-028807	10-in.	10/30/1938	Here comes Pappy	Bill Boyd ; Cowboy Ramblers	String band, with male vocal solo and vocal ensemble	instrumentalist, piano
Victor	BS-028808	10-in.	10/30/1938	One thing at a time	Bill Boyd ; Cowboy Ramblers	String band, with male vocal solo	instrumentalist, piano
Victor	BS-028809	10-in.	10/30/1938	Weeping blues	Bill Boyd ; Cowboy Ramblers	String band	instrumentalist, piano
Victor	BS-028810	10-in.	10/30/1938	Boyd's Kelly waltz	Bill Boyd ; Cowboy Ramblers	String band	instrumentalist, piano
Victor	BS-028811	10-in.	10/30/1938	Never let you cry over me	Bill Boyd ; Cowboy Ramblers	String band, with male vocal solo	instrumentalist, piano
Victor	BS-028812	10-in.	10/30/1938	La golondrina	Bill Boyd ; Cowboy Ramblers	String band	instrumentalist, piano
Victor	BS-028813	10-in.	10/30/1938	Troubles	Bill Boyd ; Cowboy Ramblers	String band, with male vocal solo	instrumentalist, piano
Victor	BS-028814	10-in.	10/30/1938	I got the blues for mammy	Bill Boyd ; Cowboy Ramblers	String band, with male vocal duet	instrumentalist, piano
Victor	BS-028815	10-in.	10/30/1938	I want to go back	Bill Boyd ; Cowboy Ramblers	String band, with male vocal solo	instrumentalist, piano
Victor	BS-028816	10-in.	10/30/1938	Mill blues	Bill Boyd ; Cowboy Ramblers	String band	instrumentalist, piano
Victor	BS-063074	10-in.	4/9/1941	Flower of Texas	Bill Boyd ; Cowboy Ramblers	String band	instrumentalist, piano
Victor	BS-063075	10-in.	4/9/1941	I'll be back in a year, little darlin'	Bill Boyd ; Cowboy Ramblers	String band, with male vocal duet	instrumentalist, piano
Victor	BS-063076	10-in.	4/9/1941	Jitter bug jive	Bill Boyd ; Cowboy Ramblers	String band, with male vocal solo and vocal ensemble	instrumentalist, piano
Victor	BS-063077	10-in.	4/9/1941	I can't forget (no matter how I try)	Bill Boyd ; Cowboy Ramblers	String band, with male vocal solo	instrumentalist, piano
Victor	BS-063078	10-in.	4/9/1941	They go goo-goo-ga-ga goofy over gobs	Bill Boyd ; Cowboy Ramblers	String band, with male vocal solo	instrumentalist, piano
Victor	BS-063079	10-in.	4/9/1941	I guess you don't care any more	Bill Boyd ; Cowboy Ramblers	String band, with male vocal duet	instrumentalist, piano
Victor	BS-063084	10-in.	4/10/1941	Swing steel, swing	Bill Boyd ; Cowboy Ramblers	String band	instrumentalist, piano
Victor	BS-063085	10-in.	4/10/1941	Sweethearts or strangers	Bill Boyd ; Cowboy Ramblers	String band, with male vocal solo	instrumentalist, piano
Victor	BS-063086	10-in.	4/10/1941	Don't let the barrel go dry	Bill Boyd ; Cowboy Ramblers	String band, with vocal ensemble	instrumentalist, piano
Victor	BS-063087	10-in.	4/10/1941	Now I feel the way you do	Bill Boyd ; Cowboy Ramblers	String band, with male vocal solo	instrumentalist, piano
Victor	BS-063088	10-in.	4/10/1941	No dice	Bill Boyd ; Cowboy Ramblers	String band, with male vocal solo	instrumentalist, piano
Victor	BS-063089	10-in.	4/10/1941	Hold on to that thing	Bill Boyd ; Cowboy Ramblers	String band, with male vocal duet	instrumentalist, piano
Brunswick	DAL540	10-in.	5/14/1938	The hills of old Wyomin'	Light Crust Doughboys	String band, with male vocal solo	instrumentalist, piano
Brunswick	DAL388	10-in.	6/20/1937	The eyes of Texas	Light Crust Doughboys	String band, with group vocal	instrumentalist, piano
Brunswick	DAL389	10-in.	6/20/1937	Washington and Lee swing	Light Crust Doughboys	String band	instrumentalist, piano, accordion
Brunswick	DAL830	10-in.	6/15/1939	Oh baby blues (you won't have no mama at all)	Light Crust Doughboys	String band, with male vocal solo	instrumentalist, piano
Brunswick	DAL831	10-in.	6/15/1939	Beer drinkin' mama	Light Crust Doughboys	String band, with male vocal solo	instrumentalist, piano
Vocalion	25318	10-in.	9/11/1939	Little rubber dolly	Light Crust Doughboys	String band, with male vocal duet	instrumentalist, accordion

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Parker, Knocky," accessed November 19, 2024, https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/103195.

Parker, Knocky. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 19, 2024, from https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/103195.

"Parker, Knocky." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 19 November 2024.