Martin Parker
by Frank M. Roberts
August 2015
Martin Parker.
You probably don't know the name, but a good-sized hunk of country music folks know him well. He spent 10 years playing drums for Ricky Skaggs, then two decades doing the same for Vince Gill. And, he backed many of Music City's other very well known performers.
He retired several years ago and has spent his time in an old building on land once owned by his great-grandfather. On one side of the two lane country road is a church. On the other side is a very old building with very modern recording equipment. When he is not cutting the efforts of northeastern North Carolina performers, mostly gospelers, he plays drums with a country group chillingly called, Out 'n the Cold.
All was going swimmingly - until recently when he suffered a massive stroke. He is being hospitalized in the Vidant Medical Center in Greenville, N. C., and recently showed signs of improvement as he was transferred from the intensive care unit into his own room.
Friends arranged a gathering to help raise needed funds. It took place at the Edenton, N. C. Coffee House.
As soon as visitors were allowed, two members of the mutual admiration society travelled from Nashville to Greenville to reminisce about their favorite thing - pure country music. You will recognize their names - Vince Gill and Patty Loveless.
Her last name is inappropriate. I've known Martin for several decades and when we talked about music and musicians, her handle was top-of-the-list. He has always said she is his favorite. I talked to her, and reviewed her several times, and I can understand why. She is a warm, friendly lady who looks as good as she sounds.
She and Gill were surprise visitors. To top that off, they paid tribute to Parker during a recent show at the Grand Ole Opry. In addition to beatin' the drums for Skaggs and Gill, he has worked with a 'who's who of country musics's finest.
As you realize by now, he remains friends with Gill, and with Skaggs. I remember seeing them onstage, and visiting with them backstage. I recall one day when Ricky's birthday was being celebrated. He was nursing a good-sized cold, but his spirits remained bright. He talked to, and glad-handed everyone who visited him that day.
The bluegrass icon used to recognize Parker during every concert. The drummer is a man of - let's say -
generous girth. He would always wear loud, 'stand-out-in-a-crowd' shirts. Ricky would spotlight him and make light' of his choice of wearing apparel.
That went on for a decade. Then, the drummer-man jumped ship and went on to bluer skies. He had a fine reputation in Music City and was sought after by many, both for tours and studio work.
One day, he heard from one of the giants of country music, who asked him if he would like to pound the skins for him for a little more money than was in the Skaggs budget. For 20 years he pounded the skins for Gill.
He toured here, there, and everywhere, finally going through the exit door, leading to retirement.
In between the Gill assignments he worked with many other country music artists. He emphasized that he was a rhythm drummer. No Gene Krupa-Buddy Rich types of wild bam-bam drum solos for him but - one time, one of the artists he was working with pointed to him and ruthlessly put him in the solo spotlight. Parker said it wasn't his thing, but he sweated his way thru.
A sad P.S. - After he retired he got the opportunity to go on the road with one of his favorite country singers but, halfway through the engagement, for whatever reason, they came to a parting of the ways. I would tend to believe that anything that happened was not his fault. Parker is a happy-go-lucky, easygoing guy.
His ex-wife had her own thing going. For 20 years, she worked side-by-side with Dolly Parton, leaving
when the singer hired a new management team, and they brought in their own people. (For a while, her mom and I were going through physical therapy together).
She was Dolly's right hand (wo)man, and what a job she had. She told me about the time she, and a friend of hers, were given a car, told to drive to California and pick up a package. Dolly told her to take her time - and, she loaned her an automobile for the occasion.
She has remained in Nashville where she is working with an investment firm. Their son, Quinton, is staying by his daddy's side. Side note: Her dad's actual name is King George.
A personal note: He tried to teach my oldest son how to play drums. It didn't work; my youngest learned on his own. Same story with the trumpet. At 15, he had his own rock band, Detour. They were playing in a school one night, loudly rockin' the night away. The gentleman sitting in front of me was complaining to his wife about their noise. I opted not to engage in conversation.
And, I close with this thought: "When there is no more room in the oven, the bread will walk the earth." That is either very deep, or very dumb.
