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{{short description|English musician}} {{Short description|English musician (born 1952)}}
{{Other people}} {{Other people}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2014}} {{Use British English|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2013}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{BLP sources|date=March 2009}}
{{Infobox musical artist {{Infobox musical artist
|image = John Parr 2011 Acoustic Festival of Great Britain.jpg | image = John Parr 2011 Acoustic Festival of Great Britain.jpg
| name = John Parr | name = John Parr
| caption = Parr performing in 2011 | caption = Parr performing in 2011
| image_size = | image_size = 232
| background = solo_singer | background = solo_singer
| birth_name = John Stephen Parr | birth_name = John Stephen Parr
| alias = | alias =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1952|11|18|df=yes}}<ref>, Findmypast.co.uk</ref> | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1952|11|18|df=yes}}<ref>, Findmypast.co.uk</ref>
|birth_place = ], ], England | birth_place = ], ], England
| death_date = | death_date =
| origin = ], England | origin = ], England
| instrument = Vocals, guitar, bass guitar, piano, keyboards | instruments = {{hlist|Vocals|guitar|bass guitar|piano|keyboards}}
| genre = ] | genre = ]
| occupation = Singer-songwriter, musician | occupations = {{hlist|Singer-songwriter|musician}}
| years_active = 1964–present | years_active = 1964–present
| label = | label =
⚫ | website = {{url|http://www.johnparr.net/}}
| associated_acts =
⚫ | website =
}} }}


'''John Stephen Parr''' (born 18 November 1952) is an English musician, singer, and songwriter, best known for his 1985 single "]", charting at number one in the US and number six in the UK, and for his 1984 US number-six rock single "]".<ref name="Inc.1986">{{cite magazine |author=Linda Moleski |title=John Parr, a man in motion, has new LP|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tiQEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA34|date=27 December 1986|magazine=Billboard|page=34|issn=0006-2510}}</ref> He has written and performed ten major motion-picture theme songs, including '']'' and '']''. Parr has sold over 10 million albums and was nominated for a Grammy award for "St. Elmo's Fire" in 1985.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=http://newsfeed.time.com/2012/01/11/john-parr-updates-st-elmos-fire-theme-song-for-tim-tebow/|title=John Parr Updates St. Elmo's Fire Theme Song for Tim Tebow|first=Glen|last=Levy|magazine=Time |date=11 January 2012 |publisher=Newsfeed.time.com|access-date=7 November 2019}}</ref> '''John Stephen Parr''' (born 18 November 1952) is an English musician, singer, and songwriter, best known for his 1985 single "]", charting at No.1 in the US and No.6 in the UK, and for his 1984 US No.6 rock single "]".<ref name="Inc.1986">{{cite magazine |author=Linda Moleski |title=John Parr, a man in motion, has new LP|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tiQEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA34|date=27 December 1986|magazine=Billboard|page=34|issn=0006-2510}}</ref> He has written and performed ten major motion picture theme songs, including the themes for '']'' and '']''. Parr was nominated for a Grammy award for "St. Elmo's Fire" in 1985.<ref name="tebow">{{Cite magazine|url=https://newsfeed.time.com/2012/01/11/john-parr-updates-st-elmos-fire-theme-song-for-tim-tebow/|title=John Parr Updates St. Elmo's Fire Theme Song for Tim Tebow|first=Glen|last=Levy|magazine=Time |date=11 January 2012 |publisher=]|access-date=7 November 2019}}</ref>


==Biography== ==Career==
⚫ "Naughty Naughty" was Parr's first US ] hit record, reaching No.23 on the ] in 1985. In 1985, Parr toured with his band "The Business" supporting ], his first show with Toto at Carowinds Paladium (]), and playing 10,000-seat venues across America.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.scunthorpetelegraph.co.uk/Rocker-John-s-ready-Parr-ty-Westwoodside/story-20449007-detail/story.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140122074145/http://www.scunthorpetelegraph.co.uk/Rocker-John-s-ready-Parr-ty-Westwoodside/story-20449007-detail/story.html|url-status=dead|title=St Elmo's Fire musician John Parr performing in Westwoodside this weekend|archive-date=22 January 2014}}</ref> By the end of the tour, ] asked Parr to record a song for the film ''St. Elmo's Fire''. Parr and Foster wrote "]" in honour of wheelchair athlete and activist ]; it became the theme to '']''<ref name="LarkinHR">{{cite book|title=The Virgin Encyclopedia of Heavy Rock |title-link=Encyclopedia of Popular Music |editor=Colin Larkin |editor-link=Colin Larkin (writer) |publisher=Virgin Books |date=1999|edition=First|isbn=0-7535-0257-7|page=340}}</ref> (a "]" film unrelated to Hansen's life or achievements).<ref name="bulletin">{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Q7koAAAAIBAJ&sjid=vYYDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5536,253871 |title=Rocker Parr propelled by hot 'St. Elmo's Fire' |first=Dennis |last=Hunt |publisher=The Bulletin |date=30 August 1985 |access-date=2 October 2010}}</ref>
Parr was born in ], England, in 1952. He first entered the music scene when he was 12 years old and formed a band with two fellow schoolmates, which they named The Silence. The band achieved some success. They eventually became professional and started to tour Europe. He then joined a band named Bitter Suite, who were a success in the ]s in Yorkshire, he then formed a ] with musicians from other working men's club bands, and named the band Ponders End, a band that set a new precedent for the bands in the north.


Parr later wrote "]" with ] for ],<ref name="bulletin"/> a song that paid tribute to ] and told the story of ].
===Work with Meat Loaf===
Parr secured a publishing deal with ] in 1983 and in the same year ] asked him to write some songs for his new album. It led to a fateful meeting with John Wolff, who was tour manager for ]. Foreseeing the initial demise of the Who, Wolff was looking for a new venture and considered Parr to be a suitable partner. Parr first visited America in 1984 and worked with Meat Loaf on '']''. Meanwhile, Wolff secured Parr's solo ] recording deal with Ahmet Ertegun in New York.


⚫ Parr was soon singing with ] on the song "Through the Night", from the '']'' soundtrack (1986). Parr wrote and produced further tracks for Martin's ], including the hit "]". A year later, he wrote and sang the title songs "The Minute I Saw You", from '']'' soundtrack, and the power ballad "]" (a.k.a. "Running Away with You (Restless Heart)"), from '']'' soundtrack (this song was re-released on the album '']''). After the success of ]'s album, Parr contributed to the next album with the hit duet "]".<ref name="LarkinHR"/>
===Solo and 'The Business'===
⚫ "Naughty Naughty" was Parr's first U.S. ] hit record, reaching No. 23 on the ] in 1985. In 1985, Parr toured with his band "The Business" supporting ], his first show with Toto at Carowinds Paladium (]), and playing 10,000-seat venues across America.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.scunthorpetelegraph.co.uk/Rocker-John-s-ready-Parr-ty-Westwoodside/story-20449007-detail/story.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140122074145/http://www.scunthorpetelegraph.co.uk/Rocker-John-s-ready-Parr-ty-Westwoodside/story-20449007-detail/story.html|url-status=dead|title=St Elmo's Fire musician John Parr performing in Westwoodside this weekend|archive-date=22 January 2014}}</ref> By the end of the tour, ] asked Parr to record a song for the film ''St. Elmo's Fire''. Parr and Foster wrote "]" in honour of wheelchair athlete and activist ]; it became the theme to '']''<ref name="LarkinHR">{{cite book|title=]|editor=]|publisher=]|date=1999|edition=First|isbn=0-7535-0257-7|page=340}}</ref> (a "]" film unrelated to Hansen's life or achievements).<ref name="bulletin">{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Q7koAAAAIBAJ&sjid=vYYDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5536,253871 |title=Rocker Parr propelled by hot 'St. Elmo's Fire' |first=Dennis |last=Hunt |publisher=The Bulletin |date=30 August 1985 |access-date=2 October 2010}}</ref> The song became a No. 1 hit for Parr around the world and garnered many awards, including a ] nomination. The song was tipped to take the Academy Award for best original song, but was not allowed onto the short list as, with Parr saying the song was written about Hansen and not the movie, it did not meet the Academy's criteria.{{Citation needed|date=April 2021}} Parr went on to tour with ]<ref name="bulletin"/> on the ] and also with ] and ]. In his charity work with the David Foster foundation, Parr has shared the stage and the sports field with stars including ], ], ], ], and ].


⚫ On 20 July 2007, Parr and his band opened for ] at the ] in Parr's home town ].<ref>. '']''. Retrieved 14 November 2012</ref>
Parr later wrote "]" with ] for ],<ref name="bulletin"/> a song that paid tribute to ] and told the story of the Who. The album became Daltrey's biggest solo success in America. Parr's last concert in the U.S. was a duet of the song with Daltrey at ]: joining them on stage were ], ], ] and ]. John Entwistle had wanted to include the song in the set at ] but was outvoted by the band. He went on to record the song himself.


In 2012, Parr released a revised version of "St. Elmo's Fire" entitled "]'s Fire". It included the following lyrics: "You know I’m out there/Down on one knee/A prisoner/And I'm tryin' to break free".<ref name="tebow" />
⚫ Parr was soon singing with ] on the song "Through the Night", from the '']'' soundtrack (1986). Parr wrote and produced further tracks for Martin's ], including the hit "]". A year after, he wrote and sang the title songs "The Minute I Saw You", from '']'' soundtrack, and the power ballad "]" (a.k.a. "Running Away With You (Restless Heart)"), from '']'' soundtrack (this song was re-released on the '']'' album). After the success of ]'s album, Parr contributed to the next album with the hit duet "]".<ref name="LarkinHR"/> From there, he began work with ] (director of '']'') on the film '']'', for which he wrote and performed the main theme "]". Parr's other film credits include "Naughty Naughty" from the cult horror film '']'' and "]" from the ] movie ''Flight of the Spruce Goose''. He has also written songs for ], ], ], ], ] and ].

The ] Company and ] Satellite TV Corporation wanted to try something new: a gig from London beamed live across America, Japan and Australia. Parr was the featured act, having done two similar shows (one from the ], where the flame was lit for a special performance of "St. Elmo's Fire", and was beamed live to Japan, and the New Year Christmas Show from ]). The show was a success, reaching almost 50 million people and making broadcast history for the network. That same year Parr was signed by US clothing designer "Chams De Baron" to promote their sports leisure range, and featured in fashion magazines followed, and a US-wide poster campaign used Parr's image on America's major city buses for the summer. Later that year, Parr co-presented the UK leg of the ] with ].

In 1988, Parr was offered the opportunity to collaborate with ] by co-producing an album for ].

In 1989, Parr played the lead role in the soundtrack album for '']'', an epic rock opera written by ] and ]. Parr performed with the ] alongside ], ], ] and ].

Parr is also known for co-writing "The Best (A Man Can Get)", the theme used in a series of highly successful ] razor commercials from the 1980s onwards, also spawning the company's chief slogan. A solo acoustic version appears on the album ''Letter to America''.

===2000s===
After ten years out of the music business, Parr returned in 2006. An unconnected ] ] of "St. Elmo's Fire", entitled "New Horizon", hit the Top 40 that same year.

In 2007, Parr joined ] on his ].

On 26 March 2007, Parr released "Walking Out of the Darkness", a tribute to ] ahead of the club's appearance in the ] final at ]'s ] on 1 April 2007.

In May 2007, Parr returned to Canada to perform at the Man in Motion 20th anniversary. Parr's song "St Elmo's Fire (Man in Motion)" was wheelchair athlete Rick Hansen's anthem, helping him wheel 40,000 kilometres (25,000 miles) around the globe and raising awareness and money for spinal research. To date, the Rick Hansen foundation has raised $200 million and helped build a research centre, ICORD, in ].

In June 2007, Parr wrote and recorded the main title for Sony Pictures, '']'', directed by ].

⚫ On 20 July 2007, Parr and his band opened for ] at the ] in Parr's home town ].<ref>. '']''. Retrieved 14 November 2012</ref> Twenty years earlier, Parr joined Adams in his home town where they played to 75,000 at the Canadian Exhibition Centre in Vancouver.

In June 2008, Parr was a special guest for the U.S. rock band ] on their UK tour.

In May 2011, Parr performed an acoustic set as a special guest of ] on his UK tour.

Parr released a double album titled ''Letter to America'' on 1 June 2011, and subsequently toured in America.

On 11 October 2011, Parr was a guest on ] show, '']'', where he sang a special rendition of "St. Elmo's Fire", replacing the words with ] quarterback ]. A reworking of the song's lyrics, sung by Parr and titled "Tim Tebow's Fire", went viral on YouTube: as of 13 January 2012 it had received over 19,000,000 views. The video was uploaded by Denver Fox Network affiliate, ].

Throughout 2012, Parr toured America as ambassador for the ] playing concerts and benefits for American servicemen and women. That same year, he wrote and produced a new studio album ''The Mission''. The funds went to the USO, ] and Military Families charities. Parr's quest is to raise funds and awareness of the welfare of military personnel as they return home from active duty and transition back into civilian life.

In 2014, Parr reunited with the Who, ], ] and other rock musicians for ]' Rock & Horsepower concert to raise money and awareness for prostate cancer. Back at his studio "Somewhere in Yorkshire" he joined forces with ] producer ], who along with ] and ], collaborated on the forthcoming ] album. At ], Parr joined producer ], ] (Spiders From Mars), ] (]) and many members of the original Bowie band to perform in the "Man Who Sold the World" concert. Parr continued his work with the military playing concerts and fund raisers for ]. Christmas 2014 saw the release of "Ring Out The Bells", a charity single produced by David Mackay, which featured Charlie Norman and the children of St Catherine's School along with guest performances by Parr and Meatloaf duetist ]. The proceeds went to the ].

2015 saw Parr on the road doing international and UK shows with ], Kenney Jones and ]. He also wrote and recorded "Man of Steel" for the late rugby league footballer; ].

In 2016, the ] (Oscars) included the launch of ]'s ] campaign featuring Parr and "St Elmo's Fire" as the theme tune.

After a year of travel in 2017, in 2018 Parr returned to the studio to begin work on his seventh album and to do some shows close to his heart, namely the ] Tracks of My Years show with ], The Story Behind the Song for the BBC '']'' anchored by ] and ]'s 40th Anniversary tour, culminating at the ] and later as special guest for Jeff Beck.

==Family life==
One of Parr's sons, Ben, is an actor who is best known for the role of Freddie in the soap '']''. His first appearance was in the episode broadcast on 4 January 2007.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thestar.co.uk/news/Actor-Ben-sparks-TV-fame.1952029.jp |title=Actor Ben sparks TV fame with strip scene| work=Sheffield Star |publisher=Johnston Press Digital Publishing |date=2 January 2007 |access-date=2 October 2010}}</ref> He also appeared in the ] drama '']''.


==Discography== ==Discography==
Line 98: Line 52:
===Singles=== ===Singles===
{| class="wikitable" {| class="wikitable"
|-
! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Year ! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Year
! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Title
! scope="col" colspan="4" | Peak chart positions | colspan="4" |'''Peak chart positions'''
! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Album ! rowspan="2" scope="col" | Album
|- |-
! scope="col" style="width:2.8em;font-size:90%;"| ] ! scope="col" style="width:2.8em;font-size:90%;" | ]<br /><ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums">{{cite book
⚫ ! scope="col" style="width:2.8em;font-size:90%;"| ]
⚫ ! scope="col" style="width:2.8em;font-size:90%;"| ]<br><ref name=aus>{{cite book|last=Kent|first=David|author-link=David Kent (historian)|title=Australian Chart Book 1970–1992|edition=illustrated|publisher=Australian Chart Book|location=St Ives, N.S.W.|year=1993|isbn=0-646-11917-6|page=229}}</ref>
⚫ ! scope="col" style="width:2.8em;font-size:90%;"| ]<br><ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums">{{cite book
| first= David | first= David
| last= Roberts | last= Roberts
Line 117: Line 67:
| isbn= 1-904994-10-5 | isbn= 1-904994-10-5
| page= 417}}</ref> | page= 417}}</ref>
⚫ ! scope="col" style="width:2.8em;font-size:90%;" | ]
⚫ ! scope="col" style="width:2.8em;font-size:90%;"| ]
⚫ ! scope="col" style="width:2.8em;font-size:90%;"| ]<br /><ref name=aus>{{cite book|last=Kent|first=David|author-link=David Kent (historian)|title=Australian Chart Book 1970–1992|edition=illustrated|publisher=Australian Chart Book|location=St Ives, N.S.W.|year=1993|isbn=0-646-11917-6|page=229}}</ref>
|- |-
|1984 |1984
| "]" | "]"
| style="text-align:center;"|23 | style="text-align:center;" |58
⚫ | style="text-align:center;" |23
| style="text-align:center;"|6 | style="text-align:center;"|6
| style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|—
⚫ | style="text-align:center;"|58
| rowspan="2"|''John Parr'' | rowspan="2"|''John Parr''
|- |-
| rowspan="3"|1985 | rowspan="3"|1985
| "]" | "]"
| style="text-align:center;"|73 | style="text-align:center;" |—
⚫ | style="text-align:center;" |73
| style="text-align:center;"|28 | style="text-align:center;"|28
⚫ | style="text-align:center;"|—
| style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|—
|- |-
| "]" | "]"
| style="text-align:center;"|1 | style="text-align:center;" |6
⚫ | style="text-align:center;" |1
| style="text-align:center;"|2 | style="text-align:center;"|2
| style="text-align:center;"|4 | style="text-align:center;"|4
⚫ | style="text-align:center;"|6
| ] | ]
|- |-
| "]" | "]"
| style="text-align:center;"|89 | style="text-align:center;" |—
| style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;" |89
| style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|—
| style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|—
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| rowspan="6"|1986 | rowspan="6"|1986
| "Don't Leave Your Mark on Me" | "Don't Leave Your Mark on Me"
| style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;" |—
| style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;" |—
| style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|—
| style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|—
|- |-
| "]" <small>(with ])</small> | "]" <small>(with ])</small>
⚫ | style="text-align:center;" |31
⚫ | style="text-align:center;" |—
| style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|—
| style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|—
⚫ | style="text-align:center;"|—
⚫ | style="text-align:center;"|31
| '']'' | '']''
|- |-
| "]" | "]"
| style="text-align:center;"|88 | style="text-align:center;" |—
| style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;" |88
| style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|—
| style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|—
Line 169: Line 122:
|- |-
| "]" | "]"
⚫ | style="text-align:center;" |104<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.ukmix.org/forum/chart-discussion/chart-analysis/11007390-uk-singles-charts-1986-including-chart-panel-sales |title=Gallup Top 200 Singles |magazine=Gallup |date=18 October 1986 |via=ukmix.org |access-date=9 December 2022}}</ref>
⚫ | style="text-align:center;" |—
| style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|—
| style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|—
⚫ | style="text-align:center;"|—
⚫ | style="text-align:center;"|104<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.ukmix.org/forum/chart-discussion/chart-analysis/11007390-uk-singles-charts-1986-including-chart-panel-sales |title=Gallup Top 200 Singles |magazine=Gallup |date=18 October 1986 |via=ukmix.org |access-date=9 December 2022}}</ref>
|- |-
| "Running the Endless Mile" | "Running the Endless Mile"
| style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;" |—
| style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;" |—
| style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|—
| style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|—
|- |-
| "Don't Worry 'Bout Me" | "Don't Worry 'Bout Me"
| style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;" |—
| style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;" |—
| style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|—
| style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|—
Line 188: Line 141:
| 1988 | 1988
| "]" | "]"
| style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;" |—
| style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;" |—
| style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|—
| style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|—
Line 196: Line 149:
| 1990 | 1990
| "Always on my Mind" | "Always on my Mind"
| style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;" |—
| style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;" |—
| style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|—
| style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|—
Line 204: Line 157:
| 1991 | 1991
| "Westward Ho" | "Westward Ho"
| style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;" |—
| style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;" |—
| style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|—
| style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|—
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| rowspan="2"|1992 | rowspan="2"|1992
| "]" | "]"
| style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;" |—
| style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;" |—
| style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|—
| style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|—
Line 219: Line 172:
|- |-
| "It's Startin' All Over Again" | "It's Startin' All Over Again"
| style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;" |—
| style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;" |—
| style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|—
| style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|—
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| rowspan="1"|1994 | rowspan="1"|1994
| "The River Runs Deep" | "The River Runs Deep"
| style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;" |—
| style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;" |—
| style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|—
| style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|—
Line 234: Line 187:
| rowspan="2"|1996 | rowspan="2"|1996
| "Size of the Boat" | "Size of the Boat"
| style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;" |—
| style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;" |—
| style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|—
| style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|—
|- |-
| "Secrets" | "Secrets"
| style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;" |—
| style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;" |—
| style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|—
| style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|—
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| rowspan="2"|2006 | rowspan="2"|2006
| "St. Elmo's Fire" (re-recording) | "St. Elmo's Fire" (re-recording)
⚫ | style="text-align:center;" |81<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://zobbel.de/cluk/CLUK_P.HTM|title=Chart Log UK: Rodney P. − The Pussycat Dolls|website=Zobbel.de|access-date=7 November 2019}}</ref>
⚫ | style="text-align:center;" |—
| style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|—
| style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|—
⚫ | style="text-align:center;"|—
⚫ | style="text-align:center;"|81<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://zobbel.de/cluk/CLUK_P.HTM|title=Chart Log UK: Rodney P. - The Pussycat Dolls|website=Zobbel.de|access-date=7 November 2019}}</ref>
| rowspan="4"|Non-album single | rowspan="4"|Non-album single
|- |-
| "New Horizon"<br><small>(remix of "St. Elmo's Fire (Man in Motion)" as "John Parr vs. Tommyknockers")</small> | "New Horizon"<br /><small>(remix of "St. Elmo's Fire (Man in Motion)" as "John Parr vs. Tommyknockers")</small>
| style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;" |43
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English musician (born 1952) For other people named John Parr, see John Parr (disambiguation).

John Parr
Parr performing in 2011Parr performing in 2011
Background information
Birth nameJohn Stephen Parr
Born (1952-11-18) 18 November 1952 (age 72)
Worksop, Nottinghamshire, England
OriginSherwood Forest, England
GenresRock
Occupations
  • Singer-songwriter
  • musician
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • guitar
  • bass guitar
  • piano
  • keyboards
Years active1964–present
Websitewww.johnparr.net
Musical artist

John Stephen Parr (born 18 November 1952) is an English musician, singer, and songwriter, best known for his 1985 single "St. Elmo's Fire (Man in Motion)", charting at No.1 in the US and No.6 in the UK, and for his 1984 US No.6 rock single "Naughty Naughty". He has written and performed ten major motion picture theme songs, including the themes for Three Men and a Baby and The Running Man. Parr was nominated for a Grammy award for "St. Elmo's Fire" in 1985.

Career

"Naughty Naughty" was Parr's first US Top 40 hit record, reaching No.23 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1985. In 1985, Parr toured with his band "The Business" supporting Toto, his first show with Toto at Carowinds Paladium (Charlotte, North Carolina), and playing 10,000-seat venues across America. By the end of the tour, David Foster asked Parr to record a song for the film St. Elmo's Fire. Parr and Foster wrote "St. Elmo's Fire" in honour of wheelchair athlete and activist Rick Hansen; it became the theme to St. Elmo's Fire (a "Brat Pack" film unrelated to Hansen's life or achievements).

Parr later wrote "Under a Raging Moon" with Julia Downes for Roger Daltrey, a song that paid tribute to Keith Moon and told the story of the Who.

Parr was soon singing with Marilyn Martin on the song "Through the Night", from the Quicksilver soundtrack (1986). Parr wrote and produced further tracks for Martin's debut album, including the hit "Night Moves". A year later, he wrote and sang the title songs "The Minute I Saw You", from Three Men and a Baby soundtrack, and the power ballad "Restless Heart" (a.k.a. "Running Away with You (Restless Heart)"), from The Running Man soundtrack (this song was re-released on the album Man with a Vision). After the success of Meat Loaf's album, Parr contributed to the next album with the hit duet "Rock 'n' Roll Mercenaries".

On 20 July 2007, Parr and his band opened for Bryan Adams at the Keepmoat Stadium in Parr's home town Doncaster.

In 2012, Parr released a revised version of "St. Elmo's Fire" entitled "Tim Tebow's Fire". It included the following lyrics: "You know I’m out there/Down on one knee/A prisoner/And I'm tryin' to break free".

Discography

Studio albums

Live albums

  • Letter to America (2011)

Soundtrack albums

  • Paris (1989)

Singles

Year Title Peak chart positions Album
UK
 US US Rock AUS
1984 "Naughty Naughty" 58 23 6 — John Parr
1985 "Magical" — 73 28 —
"St. Elmo's Fire" 6 1 2 4 St. Elmo's Fire soundtrack
"Love Grammar" — 89 — — John Parr
1986 "Don't Leave Your Mark on Me" — — — —
"Rock 'n' Roll Mercenaries" (with Meat Loaf) 31 — — — Blind Before I Stop
"Blame It on the Radio" — 88 — — Running the Endless Mile
"Two Hearts" 104 — — —
"Running the Endless Mile" — — — —
"Don't Worry 'Bout Me" — — — —
1988 "Restless Heart" — — — — The Running Man soundtrack
1990 "Always on my Mind" — — — — Butterbrot soundtrack
1991 "Westward Ho" — — — — Go Trabi Go soundtrack
1992 "Man with a Vision" — — — — Man with a Vision
"It's Startin' All Over Again" — — — —
1994 "The River Runs Deep" — — — — Under Parr
1996 "Size of the Boat" — — — —
"Secrets" — — — —
2006 "St. Elmo's Fire" (re-recording) 81 — — — Non-album single
"New Horizon"
(remix of "St. Elmo's Fire (Man in Motion)" as "John Parr vs. Tommyknockers") 		43 — — —
2007 "Walking Out of the Darkness" 155 — — —
2019 "The Minute I Saw You" — — — —

References

  1. Search Results for England & Wales Births 1837–2006, Findmypast.co.uk
  2. Linda Moleski (27 December 1986). "John Parr, a man in motion, has new LP". Billboard. p. 34. ISSN 0006-2510.
  3. ^ Levy, Glen (11 January 2012). "John Parr Updates St. Elmo's Fire Theme Song for Tim Tebow". Time. Time. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
  4. "St Elmo's Fire musician John Parr performing in Westwoodside this weekend". Archived from the original on 22 January 2014.
  5. ^ Colin Larkin, ed. (1999). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Heavy Rock (First ed.). Virgin Books. p. 340. ISBN 0-7535-0257-7.
  6. ^ Hunt, Dennis (30 August 1985). "Rocker Parr propelled by hot 'St. Elmo's Fire'". The Bulletin. Retrieved 2 October 2010.
  7. "John Parr at Keepmoat stadium Doncaster on 20th July 2007". NME. Retrieved 14 November 2012
  8. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 417. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  9. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 229. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  10. "Gallup Top 200 Singles". Gallup. 18 October 1986. Retrieved 9 December 2022 – via ukmix.org.
  11. "Chart Log UK: Rodney P. − The Pussycat Dolls". Zobbel.de. Retrieved 7 November 2019.

External links

John Parr
Studio albums
Singles
Categories: