Jack Parnell, British musician and bandleader (The Muppet Show), died from cancer he was , 87

John Russell Parnell was an English bandleader and musician died from cancer he was , 87.

(6 August 1923 – 8 August 2010^[1])

Parnell was born into a theatrical family in London. His father Russ Carr was a music hall artist, before becoming a theatrical agent. His uncle Val Parnell was general manager of the London Palladium.

Parnell was educated at Brighton and Hove Grammar School and studied piano from the age of five and drums for a year with Max Abrams. He made his debut, playing the drums for a concert party on the front at Scarborough in 1939. He then worked in a ballroom in Cambridge, before serving with the RAF for three years. He played in a five-piece line-up led by saxophonist Buddy Featherstonhaugh at RAF Bomber Command headquarters in High Wycombe.

During the 1940s and 1950s, he was voted best drummer in the Melody Maker poll for seven years in succession. He composed many television themes, including The Golden Shot, Family Fortunes and Love Story (for which he won the Harriet Cohen Award). In 1973, he became the first British musician to win an Emmy, for the Barbra Streisand television special produced for ATV.

He was appointed musical director for ATV in 1956, a post he held until 1981, and served as the 'real' conductor for The Muppet Show orchestra for the entire series.

He was jailed for three months for a drink-driving accident in 1979, hitting a motorcyclist who lost a leg. After this he moved from Surrey in disgrace and shortly after his wife divorced him.^[2]

In the 1970s he had formed the group The Best of British Jazz with Don Lusher, Kenny Baker, Tony Lee, Betty Smith (incorrect link removed see below~1) and Tony Archer, which performed until 1985. The group was active from 1985 to December 1999, releasing two CDs: The Best of British Vol 1 (CDSIV 6146) and The Best of British Jazz Live (MER 99100CD).

Jack Parnell had three sons (including Ric Parnell who, among many other credits, played drummer Mick Shrimpton in the movie This Is Spinal Tap) and two daughters and in 1983 moved to Southwold, Suffolk.

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