Roy Parnell (1943-2006) - Earshot Jazz

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RCA Puppy, from page 16
the stereo. Everyone gone home or sleep.
Sneak a couple of albums onto the turntable.
Turn the volume real low.
Doo-wop groups were evolving into sophisticated
arrangements using orchestras
like Phil Spector did. Loved his “Shangra
La” by The Ronettes. Mary Wells’ “You
Beat Me To Punch” got to me. The Coasters
and The Contours were popular, even
more The Marvelettes and Martha & The
Vandellas. But Gary U.S. Bonds, LIVE
on American Bandstand, coming out of
Philly, was the first R&B performer to
get my immediate attention. Dug this
cat twisting away, swinging his arms as
he sang “About A Quarter To Eight”
with such a wonderful, convincing soulful
delivery. I mean I dug it. But it was
the music my mother played that took
anchor in my soul.
So… just like the little RCA puppy
with the spotted ear up against that huge
flowering brass speaker, I laid there right
up close against the screen cheeks of the
console. Yeah, Mom’s records were the
ones I wanted to listen to alone. Staring at
the album jacket covers of Gloria Lynne,
Etta Jones, Carmen McRae, Dakota Station,
Dinah Washington was the queen!
Nancy Wilson was hot, Esther Phillips,
Sarah Vaughn (her favorite!), June
Christie, Nina Simone, Ella Fitzgerald,
Anita O’ Day, Lena Horne, and (no one
intrigued and pulled me in like) Billie
Holiday, I was gazing upon the poets
who would slay me. Little did I know,
was maybe 11.
Lady Day was with me sometimes when
I was Spiderman in one of the trees in
our backyard. I was rescuing her. In a
high branch sometimes I’d sing a lyric
like “Easy Living” like Tarzan might if
he were Fred Astaire of the jungle. Try
Sara’s “September” low notes singing in
the tub… had a dog named Blue Gene…
after a Gene Ammons record long before
I saw Jug blow… and then came The Jazz
Messengers….
To be continued: – Paul Harding
Paul Harding is a poet, performance artist,
and director of education programs at
the Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle.
He is also a member of the Earshot Board
of Directors.
March 2006 • Earshot Jazz • 23