Patty Parker is an American singer, drummer, producer, and co-owner of independent record label, Comstock Records. In the mid-1970s she and her future husband, Frank Fara (Fafara) toured the Nevada casino circuit in their traveling Country music show, The Frank Fara Show featuring Patty Parker. Parker sang background vocals and was one of the only female drummers touring. In 1978, Parker and Fara launched Comstock Records and experienced immediate success with their first artist, Alex Fraser, whose single peaked at #9 on the Canadian Country music charts. Parker was one of the first full-time female music producers in Nashville and her success caught the attention of Billboard, Cashbox, Music Row Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, CNN and many local newspapers across Canada and the United States.
Early life Patty Parker grew up Shawnee, Kansas, just outside of Kansas City, Missouri. Patty's father, Will Yeats, was the music director of a Baptist church and Patty grew up singing harmonies in her church choir. In college she earned her bachelor's degree in music education from John Brown University and toured the U.S. with the school's vocal gospel ensemble, the Harmonaires. After college, Parker worked as a music teacher in the Shawnee Mission School District and helped “arrange the sounds” for various school productions. After three years of teaching, Parker moved to California to pursue her dream of becoming a singer/performer.
The Frank Fara Show featuring Patty Parker In California, Parker worked as a secretary for a construction company until she met songwriter and former teen idol from Phoenix, Arizona, Frank Fara. After playing a jam session with each other, the two decided to continue working together. With two other musicians (Paul Marshall/bass, Keith Johnson/lead guitar), they put together a country music road show. Fara wrote the songs and was the lead singer; Parker sang backup vocals and played the drums. The show was originally named The Frank Fara Show, but when audiences reacted enthusiastically to Parker's performances, they renamed the show, The Frank Fara Show featuring Patty Parker.
For five years, their show toured the Nevada casino circuit and venues across the U.S. and Canada. While on tour, Parker and Fara visited local radio stations to share their latest singles and to create relationships with disc jockeys. Eventually Parker and Fara decided to record a studio-produced album. While doing so, Parker discovered she enjoyed working in the studio more than she enjoyed touring.
Co-founder, producer, and vice president of Comstock Records In 1978, Parker and husband, Fara, transitioned out of their traveling road show and into the record business. The team launched Comstock Records, and had an immediate charting hit with Canadian artist Alex Fraser. His (and their) first single, Four States to Go, reached #9 on the Canadian Country music charts. Parker and Fara soon discovered that artists from around the world were interested in recording authentic-sounding Country music songs. While the headquarters for Comstock Records was located in Shawnee, Kansas, Parker produced and recorded their music in top recording studios in Nashville, Tennessee. She worked with Nashville session musicians such as Tony Migliore, Ralph Childs, Sonny Garrish, Clyde Brooks, Mike Severs, and Don Roth, to provide artists with the authentic Nashville sound. In addition, Parker provided audio tapes and wrote lyrics phonetically to teach artists the country-western way of enunciating. Parker produced artists from many countries across the world including Australia, Canada, Croatia, Ireland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Belgium, the US, and elsewhere.
In 1988, Comstock moved to Scottsdale, Arizona, but continued to record in Nashville. Parker and Fara also formed the subsidiary label, Paylode Records, for adult contemporary and Pop music. They also created two publishing companies, White Cat (ASCAP) and Rocky Bell (BMI).
Awards and recognition In 1985 Comstock artists were nominated for 10 Canadian Country Music Awards, including one for record company of the year. In 1986 five of Comstock records made the Cashbox Top 100. In 1989, Parker was named “Music Row’s Favorite Independent Female Record Producer” by Music Row magazine. Many of Comstock's artists achieved charting success and received Country music awards in their own countries. In 1998, Comstock Records was named Indie Record Label of the Year by the European Country Music Association (ECMA). Parker's success captured the attention of Billboard, Cashbox, The Wall Street Journal, CNN, and local newspapers and news stations across North America.
Legacy Many of Parker's recordings and much of Comstock's catalog now reside with independent record label, Fervor Records, which has placed many of their songs in TV and film.
Partial discography
As producer +ArtistRecord label AlbumFormatCat #CountryRelease dateThe SteelesComstock RecordsFaith/My Happiness7"1630US1976Alex FraserMidnight Star/Devils Oval7", Single, Promo, 45 RPMCOM 1634US1979Alla Dee FranklinGarage Sale7", Single, PromoCOM 1636US1979The O'Roark BrothersLong Time Comin'LP, AlbumCOM 980US1982Long Time Comin'7", Single, PromoCOM 1641US1980Under the Double Nickel7", Single, PromoCOM 1647US1980Ray LansberyHeartache Remover7", Vinyl, 45 RPMCOM 1655US1981Bob JonesWoman Unsatisfied/She's Not A Fallen Angel7", SingleCOM 1671US1981Don TeBeauxA Park of MeeLP, AlbumCOM-982US1982Christmas Without You/To Love My Woman More7", Single, Vinyl, 45 RPMCOM 1694US1982Put Me In My Place/ A Part of Me7", Single, 45 RPM,VinylCOM 1735US1984Buddi DayLovin' Time of Night7", Single, VinylCOM 1684US1982The Last Desperado7", Single, VinylCOM 1696US1982Debbie MartinMoments of Love/The Price I Pay (For Loving You Again)7", Single, Vinyl, 45 RPMCOM 1675US1982Bill HershBabysittin' With The Blues/Curly's Theme7", Vinyl, 45 RPMCOM 1710US1983Don MalenaNew Shade of Blue7" Single, Vinyl, 45 RPMCOM 1753US1984I've Been Down7", Single, Vinyl, 45 RPMCOM 1762US1984I'm Not Tough Enough (To Fall in Love Again)7", Single, Vinyl, 45 RPMCOM 17751985Lightning7", Single, Vinyl, 45 RPMCOM 1784US1985One More Night7', SingleCOM 17931985Lee MahonyFreedom is Only Another Word For Lonely/One Good Turn7", VinylCOM 1727 AUS1983Reg Watkins & Lori KristinOklahoma Memory7", Vinyl, 45 RPMCOM-1704 BUS1983Stop and Think It Over7"COM 1734US1983Anne LordEndlessly7"COM 17171983Stars in My Eyes1985Blue RainCOM 19231989Peter ChipmanFor All Those Years/ She Can Survive7", Vinyl, 45 RPMCOM 1781US & Canada1984PegasusMore Than a Friend/Last Chance Saloon7", Vinyl, 45 RPMCOM 1773US1985Sherry AnnDon't Waste Your Love On Her Tonight7", Vinyl, SingleCOM 1792US1985Billie J. HelmkayNothing Could Ever Be the Same1985AlibiTil The Fire's Burned Out7", Vinyl, 45 RPMCOM 1813US1986No DoubtsCD, AlbumCOM 1884CanadaunknownPriscilla WrightWords On The WireVinyl, 7", 45 RPM, SingleCOM 1801US1986God Bless You Baby7", SingleCOM 1983US 1990Rick HarrelsonLovin' You Like ThisVinyl, 7"COM 1827US1986Rae PalmerCall Me UpVinyl, 7"COM 1830US1986RJ McClintockWhen Two Hearts Speak (You Just Can't Stop The Feeling)7"COM 1836US1987Fred BrownPlease Handle With Care7"COM 1870US1987Johnny RamoneWhere Did I Go Right7", SingleCOM 1911US1988James Edward HolmesI Got Your Memory on the Line7", SingleCOM 1920-AUS1989John LindseyAm I The Only OneCOM19221989Rodney YoungBad Habits7", SingleCOM 1985US1990The Crosby'sHit & Run7", SingleCOM 1980US1990Thomas E ThomasThe Mighty BuffaloVinyl, 7", 45 RPM, Limited Edition, StereoCOM 2038US1990Jess OwenRemember MeVinyl, 7", 45 RPMNR-1992-AUS1990Stoker BrothersDance a Little Closer/Dance a Little CloserCOM 19811990Love On The RunVinyl, 7", Single, PromoCOM 2027US1991The Roberts SistersDaddy Was A Lawman7", SingleCOM 2008US1991Ray Dean JamesWhen All the Trains Are Gone7", SingleCOM 2011US1991Debbie BakerSend Me A PictureVinyl, 7", 45 RPM, SingleCOM 2014US1991Jodie SinclairI Can't Help Feelin' CrazyVinyl, 7", 45 RPM, SingleCOM 2016US1991White CanyonOur Love's Not Perfect7", SingleCOM 2017US1991Jeff Southern Highway to Heaven7", SingleCOM 2019US1991Colin ClarkThe Price For Loving You7", SingleCOM 2021US1991Boogie Woogie ThangVinyl, 7", SingleCOM 2093US1993Dusty MartinAin't Nothin Been The SameVinyl, 7", 45 RPMCOM 2103US1993Horst KrushPortrait of a Cowboy7", SingleCOM 2022US1991Jess OwenBig Boys Don't Cry7", SingleCOM 2023US1991Double GageCar SingerVinyl, 7", 45 RPMCOM 2058US1992Gregg WeaverThe Stars Disappear With The Rising SunVinyl, 7", SingleCOM 2091US1993Claudia I Can TellVinyl, 7", SingleCOM 2092US1993Arizona Trilogy (Patty Parker vocals)Song of the Grand CanyonCD, SingleCOM-716-CDSUS1994Abby & JohnnyCrossing the PondCD, Album, Comp. StereoCOM-1001-CDUS1994Cindy StinesWatch and PrayCD, SingleCOM1013-CDSEurope1995Christopher Lee ClaytonLivin'Alone Together/The Folks Across the StreetCD, SingleCOM 1022-CDSUS1996Various ArtistsComstock Records International Country Music Sampler Summer 1996COM SM961996HowdyStill StraightCD, AlbumCOM 3141US1999Frank Fara (Fafara)Charming Billy, Billy The KidSingle2006Songs of the Untamed WestUS2008Custer's Last CommandSingleUS2010Tombstone LegacySingleUS2014Ride with Pancho VillaSingleUS2014Patty ParkerLa Noche Buena, It's Christmas EveSingleUS2005Southwestern SerenadeCDUS2007Song of the Grand CanyonSingleUS2010Hotel SaguaroSingleUS2014Scheibee & FoosenNews For YouCD, Album, Super Jewel CaseSFCR-092708-CDUS2009Rick GreysunJesus Came With Music/I Just Cry Unto You Lord7", SingleCOM-1639USunknownGary KirklandHeartful of Love/Are You From Dixie7"COM 1858unknown
As performing artist +ArtistRecord labelAlbum titleFormatCAT #CountryRelease dateFrank Fara/Patty ParkerComstock RecordsFrank Fara/Patty ParkerLPCOM 977US1977Arizona Trilogy (Patty Parker vocals)Comstock RecordsSong of the Grand CanyonCD, SingleCOM-716-CDSUS1994Patty ParkerComstock RecordsLa Noche Buena, It's Christmas EveSingleUS2005Southwestern SerenadeCDUS2007Song of the Grand CanyonSingleUS2010Hotel SaguaroSingleUS2014Fervor RecordsHelp You Find a Way4xFile, MP3, EP, 256US2016
Film and TV
+ArtistSongShow titleChannelProgram typeEpisodeRelease dateBillie J. Helmkay"You"re Spreading My Hurt Around"Red OaksAmazonTV20511/11/16Bob Jones"Woman Unsatisfied"ClawsTNTTV1057/17/17Bob Jones"Woman Unsatisfied"The AmericansFXTV5043/28/17Bobbie Bowlin"Trying to Be An Outlaw"Red OaksAmazonTV30610/20/17Debbie Martin"Moments of Love"King of the RoadVicelandTV2035/9/17Gale Wahl"The Hard Times All Over Again"Channel ZeroSyFyTV10210/18/16Gina Samuels"Lonely Hearts Lover"Red OaksAmazonTV20711/11/16Kathy Tate"I Am Your Lady"Get HardnaFilm2015Mitch Clark"Close Your Eyes and Count to Ten"Red OaksAmazonTV20511/11/16Mitch Clark"Close Your Eyes and Count to Ten"The AmericansFXTV30411/11/16Patty Parker"Help You Find a Way"PreacherAMCTV1056/26/16Ray Lansberry"Heartache Remover"ClawsTNTTV1077/23/17Susan Doll"Be My Cowboy Tonight"PreacherAMCTV1077/10/16Susan Doll"Be My Cowboy Tonight"Channel ZeroSyFyTV10110/11/16
References