When Chris Parker was an aspiring young drummer, he figured that if he could play with Miles Davis, Aretha Franklin, and Ray Charles, well, he’d have accomplished something truly special in his career. To be sure, it was a tall order for some white kid from Upstate New York. But all three legendary artists, you see, were big influences on Parker. Had not Duke Ellington and Thelonious Monk passed away, they too would have been on the list, for they too had left their mark on him. As it turned out, Parker got to record with Miles. The LP was The Man With The Horn. He also got to record with Aretha Franklin on La Diva. And a few months ago, on the Radio City Music Hall stage, he backed up the great Ray Charles. We’re sitting in Parker’s New York City loft talking about how very fortunate he’s been […]

October 1985 Issue