- Jack Parnell
John Russell 'Jack' Parnell (born
6 August 1923 ) is an Englishbandleader andmusician .Parnell was born into a theatrical family in
London . His fatherRuss Carr was a music hall artist, before becoming a theatrical agent. His uncleVal Parnell wasgeneral manager of theLondon Palladium .Parnell was educated at Brighton and Hove Grammar School and studied piano from the age of five and drums for a year with
Max Abrams . He made his debut, playing the drums for a concert party on the front at Scarborough in 1939. He then worked in aballroom inCambridge , before serving with the RAF for three years. He played in a five-piece line-up led by saxophonistBuddy Featherstonhaugh atBomber Command headquarters inHigh Wycombe . While he was in the RAF, he metVic Lewis and together they formed the "Vic Lewis/Jack Parnell Jazzmen". He worked with the Ted Heath Band (1944-1951). He formed his own 12-piece line-up in 1951 and a 16-piece line-up in 1955.During the 1940s and 1950s, he was voted best drummer in the "
Melody Maker " poll for seven years in succession. He composed many television themes, including "The Golden Shot", "Family Fortunes" and "Love Story" (for which he won the Harriet Cohen Award). In 1973, he became the first British musician to win an Academy Award, for theBarbra Streisand television special produced for ATV.He was appointed
musical director for ATV in 1956, a post he held until 1981, and served as the 'real' conductor for "The Muppet Show " orchestra for the entire series.In the 1970s he formed the group [http://www.donlusher.com/site/pages/british.html The Best of British Jazz] with
Don Lusher , Kenny Baker, Tony Lee,Betty Smith andTony Archer , which performed until 1985. The group had an incarnation from 1985 to December 1999, releasing two CDs: "The Best of British Vol 1" (CDSIV 6146) and "The Best of British Jazz Live" (MER 99100CD).Jack Parnell has three sons and two daughters and in 1983 moved to
Southwold ,Suffolk . He likes the music of Bach and playinggolf , but unfortunately no longer plays drums.External links
* [http://www.transdiffusion.org/emc/soundson/jack_parnell.php "Jack Parnell – master of many trades"] article by Louis Barfe at Sounds On.
* [http://www.jazzprofessional.com/big_band_profiles/Parnell.htm The Jack Parnell Orchestra] big band line-ups from 1951-1958 at jazzprofessional.com.
* [http://muppet.wikia.com/wiki/Jack_Parnell Jack Parnell's entry in the Muppet Wiki]
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