Tom Parrott
Tom Parrott
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About Tom Parrott
Tom Parrott (aka Thom Parrott), ( born 1944 in Washington D.C), Thom attended Stetson University in DeLand, Florida circa 1963-64, where he was in a group called The Farlanders, but got his start as a noted musician after moving to New York City where Broadside Magazine published his politically inspired folk music in the mid-1960s. After appearing onstage at a 1967 Carnegie Hall concert at the invite of Pete Seeger he was signed by Moe Asch of Folkways, and appeared on 2 solo albums, and 2 compilations alongside fellow 60's folksingers including Janis Ian. He recorded troubadour tales in the distinct, if not derivative, soft folk 60's style using guitar, and harmonica with an electrictrified backing band. Parrott sang topical tales of the Vietnam war, psychedelicized disillusionment, drug addiction, child labor, slums, homelessness, and hard-travelin’ backed by an oft stellar backup band including musicians such as Eric Gale and Hugh McCracken. After building a reputation on the Greenwich Village coffeehouse circuit and through touring, the Folkways label released 2 acclaimed, but obscure, full length solo albums in 1968 Neon Princess followed by Many Windowed Night. His repertoire included popular Bob Dylan , Buffy Sainte-Marie and Pete Seeger covers. Thom Parrott (aka Tom Parrott) wrote the song "Pinkville Helicopter" about the My Lai massacre included on the Grammy nominated Smithsonian Folkways CD collection Best of Broadside. All Parrott's Folkways recordings are available as of 2013 via Smithsonian Folkways website order at http://www.folkways.si.edu/search/Tom-Parrott. He reportedly continues the folksong tradition today in his hometown of Albuquerque, New Mexico with the longest running songwriters showcase and open microphone at a local coffee house. His most recent recordings are available at http://CDBaby.com/thomparrott. Since the 1960's Parrott has taught music at the University of New Mexico, and been in an assortment of loosely defined rock, country, folk, reggae, jug and blues bands including backing Allen Ginsberg on guitar, and as an early member of the Southwest regional fave Watermelon Mountain Jug Band. Parrott's writing and performing have been described as sounding like Lightnin' Hopkins, Eric von Schmidt and John Prine. In regards to his style of playing, Thom likes to quote Big Bill Broonzy who, when asked to define "folk songs" replied "I reckon all songs are folk songs, I never heard no horses singing any."
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