The Bobby Parris Band

Bobby Parris was born in Phoenix, AZ at a time when the R&B scene was exploding locally and nationally. As a child bobby was mentored by a blind man named L.B. Brown, who had been the keyboard player for Howlin wolf and Muddy Waters. L.B. Brown taught Bobby how to play and sing from his heart and to always make it “groove”.  He played with Mr. Brown at Phoenix café and made his first $12. At the age of 16 Bobby toured with an R&B band called “Haze Express” and got the chance to share the stage with groups like the Coasters, Archie Bell and the Drells, Lakeside Express and many others. Upon his return to Phoenix Bobby discovered a flourishing R&B scene in Phoenix and assembled a group with 3 former members of “Dyke and the Blazers” who at the time had a top 10 hit on the national R&B scene with “Funky Broadway” a song written about an infamous stretch of road in Phoenix right next to Bobby’s childhood home. The song was covered by both Wilson Pickett, and Sam & Dave. After several years with his new band Bobby turned to the Gospel scene and started a group called Gospel II which stayed together and played churches and the gospel scene for over 10 years. Gospel II opened for some of the biggest names in gospel including, the Mighty Clouds of Joy, Willie Neal, and the Lumsey Sisters. 

After playing with local jazz legend Patte’ Williams Bobby joined forces with legendary bluesman “Long John Hunter” and toured the world sharing the stage with names like War, Wolfman Washington and many more. After coming off the road bobby relocated to Nashville and worked with singer Essra Mohawk. The pairing culminated with an appearance at the annual Summer of Love show in San Francisco. Now with the 2008 release of “the bucket of blues” Bobby feels he has come full circle as a person and a performer and is ready to hit the stage as the star. Bobby has gathered what in his opinion are “the greatest musicians in the world for my sound” and the bucket of blues definitely reflects that. Bobby and the band have already begun work on the next CD tentatively titled “The Times”, according to Bobby “it’s gonna be HOT! “The Bucket of Blues”.