About Denis Parker

Denis Parker has been writing, teaching, playing and singing the blues for over fifty years. He grew up in London, England, part of the British blues boom of the 1960’s.

Before immigrating to Newfoundland from London, England in 1971, Denis recorded at London’s Abbey Road Studios for EMI/ Harvest in the late sixties. The resulting two albums by Panama Limited Jug Band were released world-wide and have recently been re-mastered and re-released on Cherry Red Records.

After fifty years, a lifetime of gigs, and a slew of recordings ranging from rock to acoustic blues, Denis still has the fire and is playing and singing better than ever.

Denis has toured throughout the province of NL, and at festivals across Canada and the US.

From 1996-2014, Denis served as Executive Director for the Music Industry Association of Newfoundland & Labrador. Tasked with writing programs, finding investment and developing and promoting the talent of Newfoundland & Labrador, Denis was presented with the prestigious ECMA Industry Builder Award in 1999.

Denis is hard at work writing and recording a solo full-length recording that is scheduled for a Spring 2018 release.

 

Denis’ recording highlights include:

  • 1969 – Panama Limited Jug Band – EMI/Harvest
  • 1970 – Indian Summer – Panama Ltd – EMI/Harvest
  • 1977 – TNT – Independent/Clode Sound
  • 1987 – Eagle Ridin’ Papa’s (with Roger Howse) – Independent
  • 1988 – Rollin’ and Tumblin’ (with Roger Howse) – Independent
  • 1999 – Snowman Blues – Independent/Denis Parker Music
  • 2014 – Modern Saints – Independent/Denis Parker Music

Denis has also received the following awards:

  • Apache Award for Blues Artist of the Year 1981
  • Apache Award for Blues Group of the Year 1981
  • MusicNL Award for Male Artist of the Year 1999
  • MusicNL Award for Blues Artist of the Year 1999
  • ECMA award for Industry Builder of the Year 1999
  • MusicNL Award for Jazz/Blues Artist of the Year 1997
  • Harvest Jazz & Blues Dutch Mason Award 2001
  • MusicNL Award for Jazz/Blues Recording of the Year 2015
  • Inducted to NL Jazz & Blues Hall of Fame 2018