English singer-songwriter Graham Parker’s career on the music circuit has been an over 50 years strong relationship, having been active from the 1970s, touring all over the globe and playing at some of the best venues and festivals on the rock scene.
Best known as the lead singer for his band Graham Parker & the Rumour, the 70-year-old has reached career-high chart success with singles ‘Hold Back the Night’ and ‘(Let Me Get) Sweet on You’ hitting number 24 on the UK charts in 1977 and album The Up Escalator positioning at number 11 in 1980.
2021, however, sees the 20th anniversary of Parker’s 2001 album Deepcut To Nowhere and having been raised in the local area, CommunityAd caught up with Graham who took us back to his finest career moments, voiced his opinions on the current and future status of the music industry and his greatest memories of living in Deepcut…
Who were your greatest musical influences growing up and do you remember your first interaction with music?
It all started when The Beatles and The Rolling Stones arrived, just in time for us 13-year-old kids. That’s when we knew we had our own music.
The first real exposure to music would have been from the old wireless set where I’d mostly hear Bing Crosby, Doris Day and all the American greats.
When did you realise you had the talent to be a successful musician?
I only had an inkling of that in earlier years but by the time I was 23 I was writing what became my first album (Howlin’ Wind) and then I knew I was off and running.
What work are you most proud of throughout your musical career?
I’ve been quite prolific and it’s hard to pin that down, but I’d say Howlin’ Wind was special and my last album, Cloud Symbols is important to me.
Do you have a top 5 of music venues/festivals you have performed at?
Both the Hammersmith Odeon and the Hammersmith Palais have been favourites and too many American venues to name.
The best festival was Blackbushe with Bob Dylan headlining in 1978.
How do you think the music industry will fare in the next 10-15 years after the fallout from COVID-19?
CDs will vanish, vinyl will have a niche appeal and streaming will be the predominant form until something we cannot yet imagine replaces it. Music will of course flourish but in monetary worth, few acts will be able to make a living out of it as I have.
If you could only listen to three albums for the remainder of your life, what albums would you choose?
Impossible concept! I’ll pretend these three will be enough:
Sticky Fingers – The Rolling Stones, Astral Weeks – Van Morrison, and Sailin’ Shoes – Little Feat.
What influenced you to write the album Deepcut to Nowhere?
It’s a wide-ranging album influenced by complex ideas. It was written and recorded in America and I still don’t know why I gave it that title.
What are your greatest memories of living in Deepcut?
The freedom I had to walk out of my parent’s house even at a very young age and explore the abundant woodlands all around me.
Can you tell us any future work you have lined up?
A twice rescheduled US solo tour, now due October/November but nothing other than that right now.