Jack Parnell 1923-2010

[brownie]

British jazz drummer Jack Parnell who was the bandleader on The Muppet show died on Sunday.

From the AP:

Jack Parnell

Edited August 9, 2010 by brownie

[AllenLowe]

ahh, he was just a puppet of the ruling class.

[Christiern]

I had several of Parnell's records back in my early 78rpm days. I didn't know that he moved to Sesame Street.

[sidewinder]

Remember seeing that Buddy Rich/Animal drum battle when it was first broadcast. Jacl Parnell and his band also on the TV a heck of a lot from the 60s through to the 80s. Even on many of the children's shows !

I think I remember reading that his small group was also on the bill for the opening night of Ronnie Scott's first club in Gerrard St (where he was memorably introduced by Ronnie as doing his "first jazz gig since the Seige of Mafeking").

RIP Mr Parnell.

Edited August 10, 2010 by sidewinder

[Big Beat Steve]

Isn't it sad that Jack Parnell seems to be remembered - even here - mainly for such trivia as that Muppet thing (of which I, for one, wasn't even aware, BTW, and do not think I missed anything)? Didn't he do enough recordings of his own and under his own name that would merit some remembrance? Or was that too long ago?

Brits, speak up!

Edited August 10, 2010 by Big Beat Steve

[brownie]

Jack Parnell was quite a big jazz name in the British media when I started getting interested in the music in the early 50's...

Nice obituary in The Telegraph today!

[sidewinder]

Isn't it sad that Jack Parnell seems to be remembered - even here - mainly for such trivia as that Muppet thing (of which I, for one, wasn't even aware, BTW, and do not think I missed anything)? Didn't he do enough recordings of his own and under his own name that would merit some remembrance? Or was that too long ago?

Brits, speak up!

Well - I can only speak for myself but don't recall seeing Jack Parnell on TV doing a purely jazz thing for at least since the late 1960s (and I wouldn't have known about earlier appearances). However, his dance orchestra was on the 'box' a lot. Especially stuff that was produced by ATV for ITV, as he was the musical director !

Nice obit in The Times today too - but that is behind the paywall

Edited August 10, 2010 by sidewinder

[carnivore]

Isn't it sad that Jack Parnell seems to be remembered - even here - mainly for such trivia as that Muppet thing (of which I, for one, wasn't even aware, BTW, and do not think I missed anything)? Didn't he do enough recordings of his own and under his own name that would merit some remembrance? Or was that too long ago?

Brits, speak up!

Well - I can only speak for myself but don't recall seeing Jack Parnell on TV doing a purely jazz thing for at least since the late 1960s (and I wouldn't have known about earlier appearances). However, his dance orchestra was on the 'box' a lot. Especially stuff that was produced by ATV for ITV, as he was the musical director !

Nice obit in The Times today too - but that is behind the paywall

Just in case there's any confusion, the guy actually playing drums in the band for the Muppet Show was Ronnie Verrell.

[AllenLowe]

but who was REALLY pulling the strings?

[Ted O'Reilly]

No "strings" involved. Muppets aren't marionettes. Other than that, probably Lew Grade.

[AllenLowe]

yes, that's true, but who REALLY does the talking?