PARKER, LEE

Homebase: Bremerton, WA / Tacoma, WA
Stats:
Misc Notes: Allyn Lee Parker was born in 1942, grew up in Gorst, and lived some while in the Aero trailer park on Belfair Valley Road. As a teenager he began offering other locals guitar lessons. In 1958 he formed the area’s first rock band, the Sharps, which often played dances at Perl's Dance Pavilion in Bremerton, as well as the dancehall on the Lemola Indian Reservation, and the Horseshoe Lake Dance Hall. In time, they would also play gigs in Tacoma and were one of the first white bands to gig at Seattle’s Birdland. Inspired by the Wailers’ success with their debut instrumental hit, “Tall Cool One,” in 1959, the Sharps recorded their own, “Double Clutch,” for Tacoma’s Star-Hi label. Later, Parker added a few former bandmates of young Jimmy Hendrix – Robert Green (piano), Anthony Atherton (sax), and Butch Snipes (guitar) -- to his band. Parker’s guitar skills were recognized and he was often asked to work as a substitute for various top local groups including the Wailers, Dave Lewis Combo, George Griffin Trio, Gallahads, Statics, Continentals, Centuries, the Bluenotes, the Reason Four, and the Joe Faker Band. Parker also sang on several solo pop singles. After getting his college degree, he married, raised a family, and worked as a substance abuse counselor. Married again, he lived for years in Vancouver, WA, before passing on in 2010.

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