Charlie Parr

Charlie Parr (born 1967) is an American country blues musician. Born in Austin, Minnesota, he spent part of his childhood in Hollandale before starting his music career in Duluth. His influences include Charlie Patton, Bukka White, Reverend Gary Davis, Dave Van Ronk, Mississippi John Hurt, and his self-professed "hero" "Spider" John Koerner. He plays a Mule resonator, National resonator guitar, a fretless open-back banjo, and a twelve-string guitar, often in the Piedmont blues style. He is divorced from Emily Parr, who occasionally adds vocals to his music. He has two children.

His song "1922" was featured in an Australian, New Zealand and Dutch television advertisement for Vodafone. As a consequence his album 1922 was re-released in Australia on the Level 2 record label in Melbourne. In 2009, Parr toured Australia with Paul Kelly.

Several of Parr's songs were featured in the Australian drama film Red Hill (2010), including a full rendition of "Just Like Today" in the closing credits of the film. His music was also featured in the background of a commercial for Gerber Gear entitled "Hello Trouble". It features the song "Ain't No Grave Gonna Hold My Body Down".

Parr played at the 2011 Pickathon Music Festival in Oregon and the 2012 Willamina's Wildwood MusicFest & Campout and has been a featured performer at the Mid West Music Fest.

Before his death in 2024, Minneapolis blues musician Spider John Koerner gave his 12-string Gretsch guitar to Parr, requesting that Parr continue using it on stage.

Discography

Albums

DVDs Meeting Charlie Parr (2013)

Collaborations Glory in the Meeting House (2010, CD with the Black Twig Pickers as backing band, House of Mercy Recordings MR024) EastMont Syrup (2011, Thrill Jockey 268, LP; one side by the Black Twig Pickers with Charlie Parr, the other side by Glenn Jones, Even to Win Is to Fail; Record Store Day 2011 regional release 12" vinyl LP, limited to 1000 copies; liner notes include "Cooking with Charlie", giving "recipes" for stew, bread, and a nut snack)

Compilation albums Too Much Liquor, Not Enough Gasoline (2009; CD. Independent Records Ireland INDCD80. Limited edition compilation featuring tracks from previous albums. Out of print). Cheap Wine (2011; Tin Angel Records CD)

Promotional CD singles "Charlie Parr" (2010. Level Two Music. Australian two-track CD supporting release of When the Devil Goes Blind. Contained "I Dreamed I Saw Jesse James Last Night" and "Turpentine Farm". In a cardboard sleeve.) "1922 Blues" (2010. Tin Angel Records. Two track promotional CD from the United Kingdom. Includes "1922 Blues" and "God Moves on the Water". In plastic sleeve with paper insert.)

7" singles "Worried Blues" (2008; End of the Road Records EOTR0007. A 7" LP single limited to 500 copies. Featured "Worried Blues" (from King Earl) and "Write Me a Few Lines" (previously unreleased). "Where You Gonna' Be (When the Good Lord Calls You Home?" (2010; Great Pops Supplement GPS59. A 7" LP single limited to 400 copies. Title track from Glory in the Meeting House, unreleased B-side traditional titled "Step Back Cindy". Autumn 2010 UK tour release with The Black Twin Pickers).

Contributions to other compilations

Iron Country (2003; Spinout Records SOR104. Parr played on track 3: "Right Between the Eyes") Misplaced Pets (2004; Misplaced Music MM105. Parr played on track 22: "Roses While I'm Living") Keepsake Volume 2: Covers (2005; Keepsake Records KR14. Limited to 100 hand-numbered copies with handmade, sewn packaging. Parr played on track 5: "Pretty Polly" (by Doc Boggs). Out of print) Concert For Kateri (2006. Limited to 100 hand-numbered CD-Rs; a 4 track EP. From a benefit at the Cedar Cultural Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota, celebrating Native American women in recovery. Parr played on track 4: "Green Rocky Road". Out of print) Who Killed Cock Robin? (2005. Soundtrack to Who Killed Cock Robin?). Parr, who also acted in the movie, played on tracks 2 ("Who Killed Cock Robin?") and 15 ("1917"; from the album, King Earl). Out of print) Duluth Does Dylan Revisited (2006; Spinout Records SOR116. Parr played on track 1: "Blind Willie McTell"). Treasure Chest (2007; Benefit album for Pearl Swanson. Parr played on track 1: "Green Rocky Road".) Rough Trade Shops: Singer Songwriter 1 (2006; Mute Records CDStumm273. Two disc set. Parr played on track 13 of disc 2: "To a Scrapyard Bustop" (from the album 1922). The Lot: Echolocations Disc 6.1 (2008. This was the last of the subscription-only compilation discs pressed by EchoLocations (formerly InRadio) before the company folded. Parr played on track 8: "Coffee's Gone Cold" (from the album Jubilee). Also out of print) Think Out Loud: Music Serving the Homeless in the Twin Cities. (2010. Ezekiel Records. Parr provided instrumentation and possibly backing vocals on two tracks.) Old Stage Tapes (2010. Old Stage Presents. Two live tracks by Parr. Tracks 1 ("Wild Bill Jones") and 13 ("Cheap Wine"). Recorded live April–October 2006 at the Turf Club in St. Paul, Minnesota.) Local Current Volume 1 (2011. 89.3 The Current. Features Minnesota artists. Parr played on track 12: "Where You Gonna Be (When the Good Lord Calls You Home?)").