John Parr

John Parr
Parr performing in 2011
Background information
Born	(1952-11-18) 18 November 1952 (age 64) Worksop, Nottinghamshire, England, UK
Origin	Doncaster, South Yorkshire, England
Genres	Rock
Occupation(s)	Singer
Instruments	Vocals, Guitar, Bass guitar, piano, keyboard
Years active	1975–present
Website	www.johnparr.net

John Parr (born 18 November 1952) is an English musician, who had two number one hits, best known for his 1985 US number one hit single "St. Elmo's Fire (Man in Motion)" and in 1984 for his US number one rock single "Naughty Naughty." Parr has sold 10 million albums worldwide, and has written and performed 12 Hollywood movie themes, including for Three Men and a Baby, Near Dark, and The Running Man. He was nominated for a Grammy award for "St Elmo's Fire" in 1985.

Parr was born in Worksop, England, in 1952. He first entered the music scene when he was 12 years old and formed a band with two fellow schoolmates, which they named The Silence. The band had achieved some success. They eventually became professional and started to tour Europe. He then joined a band named Bitter Sweet who were a huge success in the working men's clubs in Yorkshire, he then formed a " Super Band" with musicians from other working men's club bands, and named the band Ponders End after a Railway Station in North London.

Parr secured a publishing deal with Carlin America in 1983, and in the same year Meat Loaf asked him to write some songs for his new album. That led to the fateful meeting with John Wolff, who was tour manager for The Who. Foreseeing the initial demise of The Who, Wolff was looking for a new venture and considered Parr to be a suitable partner. Parr first visited America in 1984 and worked with Meat Loaf on Bad Attitude. Meanwhile, Wolff secured Parr's solo Atlantic recording deal in New York.

Naughty Naughty was Parr's first U.S. Top 40 hit record, reaching No. 23 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 1 on the Mainstream Rock chart in 1984. In 1985 Parr toured with his band "The Business" supporting Toto, his first show with Toto at Carowinds Paladium (Charlotte NC) and playing 10,000-seater venues across America. By the end of the tour, Parr was asked by David Foster to record a song for the film "St. Elmo's Fire". Parr and Foster wrote a song in honour of wheelchair athlete and activist Rick Hansen, "St. Elmo's Fire", which also became the theme for the film St. Elmo's Fire (a "Brat Pack" film unrelated to Hansen's life or achievements). The song became a number one hit for Parr around the world and garnered many awards, including a Grammy nomination. Parr went on to tour with Tina Turner on "The Private Dancer" tour and also with Heart and The Beach Boys. In his charity work with The David Foster foundation, Parr has shared the stage and the sports field with stars including John Travolta, Michael J. Fox, Celine Dion, Paul Anka and Rob Lowe.