Born in Chicago, Chris was playing drums at age three and began performing his first professional gigs at eleven. At nineteen, Parker began recording and touring with blues great Paul Butterfield and then broke into the New York studio scene in 1970,doing records, movie scores and filling the drum chair at Saturday Night Live.

Toph, as friends know him, recorded platinum, gold and Grammy winning albums and CDs with many artists,including the original Brecker Brothers, Bob Dylan, Cher, Natalie Cole, Donald Fagen, Ashford and Simpson, Aretha Franklin, Freddie Hubbard, James Brown, Salt ‘n’ Pepa, Stuff, Miles Davis, Patti LaBelle, Michael Bolton, Michael Franks, Lionel Hampton,Eddie Palmieri,Gato Barbieri,Ivan Lins,Jane Duboc,Billie Holiday,Tony Bennett,Jon Secada,Don Covay and Quincy Jones who has written liner notes for the latest cd,”Blue Print.”

Currently leading his own band,the Chris Parker Trio with Kyoko Oyobe,piano and Ameen Saleem,bass,Parker has just recorded “Blue Print,” a new cd dedicated to Arif Mardin and produced by Arif’s son, Joe.This new work features Randy Brecker,on three tracks as well as Parker’s original compositions.

Discography:
2018 Love Will Fix It – Ashford & Simpson
2018 Dial It In – Reverend Freakchild
2017 Live At The Lonestar Cafe – Stuff
2017 Hot Stuff! Lost Sessions – Stuff
2017 Live At Mikells Set 2 – Stuff
2017 Live At Mikells Set 1 – Stuff
2017 Every Dog Has His Day – Joe Caro & The Met Band
2016 Illogical Optimism – Reverend Freakchild
2016 Keys to the City – Paul Shaffer
2015 Blue Print – Chris Parker Trio
2015 Stomp! – Dave Chamberlain’s Band of Bones
2015 Hillbilly Zen-Punk Blues – Reverend Freakchild
2014 In Love with Love – Gary Crawford
2013 The Chris Parker Trio – Chris Parker
2013 Love, Gratitude and Other Distractions – Will Lee
2013 Sweet Dreams and Quiet Desires – Borderline
2010 Parker Brothers Extravaganza Parker Brothers DVD
2010 Suze Pillsbury Suze Pillsbury
2010 No Ordinary Day Toph-E & the Pussycats
2009 Old Italian Women Wear Black-Peter Bried
2009 Holy Moses !!-Holy Moses(re-issue on CD)
2009 Etruscan Soul – Rob Paparozzi
2009 Star Maker – Lou Marini
2009 Water Rhapsody Rob Fried/Marion Meadows
2008 Waitin’ on a Train-Phillip Namanworth & Always Somethin’
2008 Takes on Broadway – John Miller
2008 A Manhattan Affair – Mike Catalano
2008 Hits, Remixes & Rarities-Ashford& Simpson
2008 Beautiful Secret – George Rose
2008 Live in NYC – Ellen O’Brien
2008 Etched in Stone-Funkasaurus Rex
2007 You Know My Music – Cryer & Ford
2007 Wishing on the Moon – Howard Riley
2007 One of the Boys – Andy Adams
2007 On Again, Off Again – Henry Gaffney
2007 New Generation of Jazz – Various Artists
2007 I’m Everyone I’ve Ever Loved – Martin Mull
2007 Blue Note ’86 – Various Artists
2007 Better Late Than Never – Rosie
2007 Wind Song – Rob Fried
2007 Torch of Blue – Phat Man Dee
2007 Sweet Danger – Suzy Bogguss
2007 Intimate Patti Austin – Patti Austin
2007 Double Fun [Expanded] – Robert Palmer
2007 Do It Again – Deodato
2006 Sneakin’ Up Behind You: The Very Best of the Brecker – Brecker Brothers
2006 Night Fever: The Versatile Sessions – Cornell Dupree
2006 Live in Detroit – Toph-E & The Pussycats
2006 Live from Austin, TX: Outlaw Country – Various Artists
2005 Very Best [Blue Note] – Lou Rawls
2005 Soul Divas: Toni Braxton/Patti Labelle/Jody Watley – Various Artists
2005 Sole Intention – Walter Duda
2005 Lost Hills – Terence Martin
2005 Live! Coast to Coast and TP – Teddy Pendergrass
2005 Live in New York/More Stuff – Stuff
2005 Chronicles – Cher
2005 Blue Note Plays Ray Charles – Various Artists
2004 In a Smooth Groove – Various Artists
2004 Honeysuckle Dog – Chris Smither
2004 Blue Note Plays Burt Bacharach – Various Artists
2003 Sweet Talk – Eric Marienthal
2003 Steppin’ Out – Paul Taylor
2003 R.B. Greaves [Acrobat] – R.B. Greaves
2003 More Things Change – Far Cry
2003 Making Good Noise – Tom Chapin
2003 Fame [Bonus Tracks] – Original Soundtrack
2003 Carry It On [Bonus DVD] – Peter, Paul and Mary
2002 What a Diff’rence a Day Makes [Bonus Track] – Esther Phillips
2002 Very Best of Ashford & Simpson – Ashford & Simpson
2002 Tango Di Blasio – Gardel Bateria
2002 Living on the Trail – Eric Von Schmidt
2002 Hey, Hey, Hey! – Susan Greenbaum
2002 Best of Both Worlds: The Robert Palmer Anthology
2002 Beck – Joe Beck
2001 Very Best of Patti Austin – Patti Austin
2001 Very Best of Miki Howard – Miki Howard
2001 Very Best of Elvis Costello – Elvis Costello
2001 Time Remembered: LRC Jazz Legacy Anthology – Various Artists
2001 Q: The Musical Biography of Quincy Jones – Quincy Jones
2001 LRC Jazz Legacy Anthology: A Kiss to Build a Dream On – Various Artists
2001 Good Times 2 – Joey & Norman Jay
2001 Best of Gladys Knight & the Pips [Sony Expanded] – Gladys Knight & the Pips
2001 Angel in the Dark – Laura Nyro
2001 3rd Faze – 3rd Faze
2000 Live In New York – Stuff
2000 Very Best of the Choice Four – The Choice Four
2000 Revenge on the Telemarketers, Round One – Tom Mabe
2000 Jesus’ Son – Original Soundtrack
2000 Disco Tech [Magnum Collectors] – Various Artists
1999 Wake Up – Susan Greenbaum
1999 Very Best of Elvis Costello [Polygram International] – Elvis Costello
1999 Songbook – Mark Murphy
1999 Painted from Memory [UK Bonus CD] – Elvis Costello
1999 Mark Murphy Sings Nat King Cole & More – Mark Murphy
1999 Loft – David Mancuso Presents
1999 Grace Changes – Jamie Slocum
1999 Complete Index of Gut – Ryuichi Sakamoto
1999 Blue Valentines – Various Artists
1999 Big Tease – Original Soundtrack
1998 Words & Music – Joanie Pallatto
1998 Slums of Beverly Hills – Original Soundtrack
1998 Painted from Memory – Elvis Costello & Burt Bacharach
1998 Jazz Standards – Mark Murphy
1998 Indispensable: The Best of Michael Franks – Michael Franks
1998 In My Hometown – Tom Chapin
1998 Birth of Cool Funk Vintage Jams [Box] – Various Artists
1998 Best of Smooth Jazz, Vol. 3 [Warner] – Various Artists
1998 Best of Michael Franks: A Backward Glance – Michael Franks
1998 12 Ways to Win People to Your Way of Thinking – Wes Cunningham
1997 Victim – Rubberneck
1997 Songs from a Parent to a Child – Art Garfunkel
1997 Plus and Minus – Sakis Papadimitriou & Lefteris Agouridak
1997 Genius & Soul: The 50th Anniversary Collection – Ray Charles
1997 Fencewalk: The Anthology – Mandrill
1997 Dans Ma Chair – Patricia Kaas
1997 CTI Records: The Birth of Groove – Various Artists
1997 Collection – Eric Andersen
1996 Voces Unidas – Various Artists
1996 Take the 5ifth – Bridget St. John
1996 Stardust – Natalie Cole
1996 Singing Singles – Various Artists
1996 Right Stuff – Stuff
1996 Puedes Llegar – Various Artists
1996 Mr. X – Jason Miles
1996 Gregg Diamond’s Disco Tech – Various Artists
1996 Grace of My Heart – Original Soundtrack
1996 Gospel According to Ashford & Simpson – Ashford & Simpson
1996 Cats [Masters Highlights] – Various Artists Cast
1996 Blues and Me – Georgie Fame
1996 Best of Warrant – Warrant
1996 Best of Kudu: Jazz Budget Line – Various Artists
1995 Tonin’ – The Manhattan Transfer
1995 Time Will Tell – Tina May
1995 Sweeping the Spotlight Away – Murray McLauchlan
1995 Let Them Dance: The Best of D.C. Larue – D.C. LaRue
1995 Latino: Piano de America – Raul Di Blasio
1995 Famillie – Mario Castronari
1995 Blue Suede Sneakers – Various Artists
1995 Best of Candi Staton [Warner Archives] – Candi Staton
1995 Back in the Pool – Flying Monkey Orchestra
1995 Amor – Jon Secada
1995 Abandoned Garden – Michael Franks
1994 Spark in the Dark – Full Monte
1994 On & On: The Hits of Stephen Bishop – Stephen Bishop
1994 Mercy Mercy: The Definitive Don Covay – Don Covay
1994 Memphis Years – George Cartwright
1994 Dart to the Heart – Bruce Cockburn
1994 Checkin’ in with Don Covay – Don Covay
1993 Tot Rock – Gary Rosen
1993 Oh! – Will Lee
1993 Kamakiriad – Donald Fagen
1993 Angelus – Milton Nascimento
1992 Very Special Christmas, Vol. 2 Various Artists
1992 Stolen…And Other Moments – Mark Murphy
1992 Portrait of the Blues – Lou Rawls
1992 Level Two – George Haslam
1992 Legendary Lou Rawls – Lou Rawls
1992 History – Loudon Wainwright III
1992 Get a Little – G.E. Smith & The Saturday Night Live Band
1992 Fire Up Plus – Merl Saunders and Friends
1992 Complete Collection and Then Some… – Barry Manilow
1992 Blue Vocals, Vol. 1 – Various Artists
1992 Am I Not Your Girl? – Sinead O’Connor
1992 Addictions, Vol. 2 – Robert Palmer
1991 Beyond the Groove: Contemporary Jazz on The Move – Various Artists
1990 Yule Struttin’ – Various Artists
1990 What a Way to Go – Mark Murphy
1990 It’s Supposed to Be Fun – Lou Rawls
1990 Golden Child – Original Soundtrack
1990 Bonnie Raitt Collection – Bonnie Raitt
1989 Soul Provider – Michael Bolton
1989 Musicmasters Jazz Sampler – Various Artists
1989 Ballads – Lou Rawls
1989 Away from Home – David Broza
1989 At Last – Lou Rawls
1988 Perpetual Motion – Jeff Beal
1988 Mostly Blues – Lionel Hampton
1988 Love Confessions – Miki Howard
1988 Distant – Brian Slawson
1988 Coast to Coast – Cornell Dupree
1988 C.K. – Chaka Khan
1987 Jonathan Butler – Jonathan Butler
1987 Hunger – Michael Bolton
1987 Cher [1987] – Cher
1987 Camera Never Lies – Michael Franks
1987 Altiplano – Alex de Grassi
1986 Winner in You – Patti LaBelle
1986 Hot, Cool & Vicious – Salt ‘N Pepa
1986 Good Time for Love – Sadao Watanabe
1985 Twilight Time – Bennie Wallace
1985 Skin Dive – Michael Franks
1984 Solid – Ashford & Simpson
1984 Home Again – Judy Collins
1983 Success – The Weather Girls
1983 Passionfruit – Michael Franks
1982 Times of Our Lives – Judy Collins
1982 Anyone Can See – Irene Cara
1981 Touch – Gladys Knight & the Pips
1981 I’m Coming Home Again – Carmen McRae
1981 Every Home Should Have One – Patti Austin
1980 Without Rhyme or Reason – Scott Jarrett
1980 TP – Teddy Pendergrass
1980 Stonechaser – Jess Roden Band
1980 Sebesky Fantasy – Don Sebesky
1980 Red Cab to Manhattan – Stephen Bishop
1980 No Nukes – Various Artists
1980 Live in New York – Stuff
1980 Hang Together – Odyssey
1980 Fame [Original Soundtrack] – Original Soundtrack
1979 Midnight Rendezvous – Tasha Thomas
1979 La Diva – Aretha Franklin
1979 Good Life – Bobbi Humphrey
1979 Disco Nights – GQ
1979 Chance – Candi Staton
1978 Wiz [Original Soundtrack] – Original Soundrack
1978 Stuff It – Stuff
1978 Sky Music – Mike Mandel
1978 Shadow Dancing – Cornell Dupree
1978 Phonogenic Not Just Another Pretty Face – Melanie
1978 My Favourite Fantasy – Van McCoy
1978 La Cathedral Y El Toro – Joe Farrell
1978 In the Wind – Joe Thomas
1978 Good and Plenty – Jon Faddis
1978 Faith, Hope & Charity [20th Century] – Faith, Hope & Charity
1978 Double Fun – Robert Palmer
1978 Bird of Paradise – Tony Bird
1977 Tea Dance – D.C. LaRue
1977 Send It – Ashford & Simpson
1977 Nouveau Chapeau – Free Beer
1977 Never Letting Go – Phoebe Snow
1977 More Stuff – Stuff
1977 Master Grady – Tate Grady Tate
1977 Libby Titus – Libby Titus
1977 Heaven – Michael Boothman
1977 Evening Star – Jun Fukamachi
1977 Don’t Stop the Music – The Brecker Bros.
1977 Denny Greene – Denny Greene
1976 Very Together – Deodato
1976 Sweet Surprise – Eric Andersen
1976 Stuff – Stuff
1976 Smile – Laura Nyro
1976 Sinbad – Weldon Irvine
1976 Put It in Your Ear – Paul Butterfield
1976 Peter Gunn/Amani – Deodato
1976 Livin’ for Lovin’ – Jackie Lomax
1976 Home in the Country – Pee Wee Ellis
1976 For All We Know – Esther Phillips with Beck
1976 Blow It Out – Tom Scott
1975 Whatcha Gonna Do for Me? – Steve Satten
1975 What a Diff’rence a Day Makes – Esther Phillips
1975 Taking Off – David Sanborn
1975 New Moon Rising – Karen Beth
1975 Is Having a Wonderful Time – Geoff Muldaur
1975 Initiation – Todd Rundgren
1975 Esther Phillips and Joe Beck – Esther Phillips & Joe Beck
1975 Brecker Bros. – Brecker Bros.
1975 Brecker Bros. Collection, Vol. 1 – Brecker Bros.
1975 Big Star – Stark and McBrian
1975 Beck & Sanborn – Joe Beck with David Sanborn
1975 Back to Back – The Brecker Brothers Band
1974 Todd – Todd Rundgren
1974 Second Album – Borderline
1974 Playin’ Favourites – Don McLean
1974 Maria Muldaur – Maria Muldaur
1974 Barry Manilow II – Barry Manilow
1973 It All Comes Back – Paul Butterfield
1973 Better Days – The Paul Butterfield Blues Band
1972 Give It Up – Bonnie Raitt
1972 Don McLean – Don McLean
1971 Ms. Magic – Carmen McRae
1971 Holy Moses – Holy Moses
1969 Don’t Have to Worry – Earl Hooker