TRANSITIONS | Esteemed Drummer Melvin Parker, James Brown Drummer and Maceo Parker Sibling dead at 77

UK’s The Sun Newspaper reported the sad news today that legendary drummer, Melvin Parker who drummed on many of James Browns biggest hits died last Friday, December 3, 2021 in Baltimore, Maryland at the age of 77, a cause of death was not specified.

Parker, the brother of Sax Man Maceo Parker played on many noteworthy songs such as “Out of Sight”, “Papa’s Got A Brand New Bag” and “I Got You (I Feel Good)”.

His drumming style became an innovative part of Brown’s funk music in the late 1960s. Like many of Brown’s band members and for various reasons and often later returning only to leave again, Parker initially left the band in the mid-1960s after being drafted. 

Upon discarge from the Army, Parker rejoined Brown’s band in 1969 playing on the album, Sex Machine, but left again in 1970 to join his brother’s band, Maceo & All the King’s Men.

It is well-known in the industry about James Brown’s on again-off again, tumultuous relationships with Maceo and another esteemed horn man, Fred Hampton, but Melvin Parker’s relationship with Brown was also tumultuous at times. There was reportedly one incident where Parker allegedly pulled on a gun on Brown after the musician got into a confrontation with Parker’s brother, Maceo.

There are no reports on the nature of Parker’s relationship with Brown in his later years preceding his death at age 73 in a hospital in Atlanta in the early hours of Christmas Day 2006.

The news of Parker’s death was conveyed via an obituary released by the Parker’s surviving family, the funeral home later issued a statement “The Parker family is in the process of making arrangements for a final goodbye.” R.I.P. Mr. Parker.

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