Sista Monica Parker

Sista Monica Parker (born Monica C. Parker,[3] April 27, 1956 – October 9, 2014)[4] was an American electric blues, blues rock, gospel and soul singer, songwriter, and record producer.[1][2]

Sista Monica Parker
Birth nameMonica C. Parker
Also known asSista Monica, The Blues Lioness
BornApril 27, 1956
Gary, Indiana, United States
DiedOctober 9, 2014(2014-10-09) (aged 58)
Modesto, California, United States
GenresElectric blues, blues rock, gospel, soul[1][2]
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter, record producer
Years active1992–2014
LabelsMo Muscle Records

Her influences included Al Green, Aretha Franklin, the Staple Singers, Jackie Wilson, and Sam Cooke.[1] She wrote most of her material, and released eleven albums in her lifetime.[5] Parker shared the stage with a number of musicians over her performing lifetime including B.B. King, India Arie, Gladys Knight, Etta James, Koko Taylor, Susan Tedeschi, Elvin Bishop, Mavis Staples and the Staple Singers, the Neville Brothers, and John Lee Hooker.[6]

In 2015, she posthumously won a Blues Music Award in the 'Soul Blues Female Artist of the Year' category.[7]

Life and career

Born in Gary, Indiana, United States, Parker began singing in her local Baptist church at the age of seven.[1][2] After college, Parker joined the United States Marine Corps and after three years of service rose the rank of sergeant.[1] Once her military service between 1977 and 1980 ended,[8] Parker set up a staffing company, initially based in Chicago, aimed at electrical engineering professions.[1] After moving the business to Silicon Valley she acquired clients which included Apple Inc., Hewlett-Packard, Sun Microsystems and Yahoo!.[1] Encouraged by her then neighbor MC Hammer,[4] Parker started a singing career in 1992 performing regularly at Emi’s Bar & Grille in Santa Cruz, California.[8][6] By 1995 she had released her debut album, Get Out of My Way,[1] on her own independent record label, Mo Muscle Records.[8] Her track "Windy City Burner" was played on the radio and it helped promote her initial touring around the US, Canada and parts of Europe. Her follow-up album, Sista Monica was released in 1997.[1]

In 1998, Parker was nominated for a Blues Music Award and was successful in gaining a California Music Award.[1] Her 2000 album, People Love the Blues included guest appearances from blues guitarists Jimmy Thackery and Larry McCray.[1]

Gimme That Old Time Religion (2001) was her first gospel release, which was followed by Live in Europe the same year.[1] The latter was recorded in Peer, Belgium.[8] It was her performances in the late 1990s in Europe that gained her the nickname, "the Blues Lioness."[1] In 2002 she performed at the Monterey Bay Blues Festival, but late that year was diagnosed as suffering from the rare ailment of synovial sarcoma.[1] She was initially given three months to live.[2] Bouts of chemotherapy, radiation and therapy ensued before she returned to the recording studio and issued Love, Soul & Spirit, Vol. 1 in 2004.[1] Parker initiated a 40-voice choir called the Sista Monica Gospel & Inspirational Choir, a musical ensemble comprising people of various faiths.[4]

In 2005, Can't Keep a Good Woman Down included cover versions of Willie Nelson's "Funny How Time Slips Away" and Sam Cooke's "A Change Is Gonna Come."[1] Sweet Inspirations was issued in 2008 when Parker was again the disc's producer.[9]

Living in the Danger Zone (2011) saw Parker include Kelley Hunt in a vocal and piano duet.[10]

Her festival and other event appearances included the San Francisco Blues Festival (1995 and 1997), Monterey Jazz Festival (1998),[4] Notodden Blues Festival (1999), Edmonton's Labatt Blues Festival (2004), and Blue Bear Live II (2007).

Awards and nominations

Parker was the Santa Cruz County Artist of the Year in 2005, and winner of the Gail Rich Award for excellence in the arts in 2000.[4] She was dubbed 'Best Blues Artist' at the California Music Awards in 1998, and was nominated for the 'Best Soul Blues Female Artist' at the Blues Music Awards in 2007, 2008, 2010 and 2012.[2] In 2015, she posthumously won a Blues Music Award as the 'Soul Blues Female Artist of the Year'.[7]

Death

Parker died from lung cancer in Kaiser Permanente Hospital in Modesto, California, on October 9, 2014. She was 58.[2]

Discography

Albums
YearTitleRecord label
1995Get Out of My WayMo Muscle Records
1997Sista MonicaMo Muscle Records
2000People Love the BluesMo Muscle Records
2001Give Me That Old Time ReligionMo Muscle Records
2001Live in EuropeMo Muscle Records
2004Love, Soul & Spirit, Vol. 1Mo Muscle Records
2005Can't Keep a Good Woman DownMo Muscle Records
2008Sweet InspirationsMo Muscle Records
2010Singing in the SpiritMo Muscle Records
2011Living in the Danger ZoneMo Muscle Records
2012Soul Blues & BalladsMo Muscle Records

[5]

References
  1. Richard Skelly. "Sista Monica Parker | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved 2015-11-22.
  2. Hildebrand, Lee (2014-10-16). "'Sista' Monica Parker, singer of blues, soul and gospel, dies". SFGate. Retrieved 2015-11-22.
  3. Eagle, Bob; LeBlanc, Eric S. (2013). Blues - A Regional Experience. Santa Barbara: Praeger Publishers. p. 78. ISBN 978-0313344237.
  4. "'Sista Monica' Parker dies at 58". Santacruzsentinel.com. Retrieved 2015-11-22.
  5. "Sista Monica Parker | Album Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved 2015-11-22.
  6. "Sista Monica | Biscuits & Blues". Biscuitsandblues.com. Retrieved 2015-11-22.
  7. "2015 Blues Music Awards Winners". Americanbluesscene.com. Archived from the original on 2015-05-19. Retrieved 2015-05-18.
  8. "Sista Monica Parker Biography". OLDIES.com. Retrieved 2015-11-22.
  9. "Sista Monica Parker - Sweet Inspirations (CD, Album) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2015-11-22.
  10. "Sista Monica Parker | Living in the Danger Zone | CD Baby Music Store". Cdbaby.com. Retrieved 2015-11-22.
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