Bio

Jim Parker is a Canadian singer/songwriter/producer who has been in the entertainment business since 1976. In his early days as a drummer/singer he played in several bands including Threshold and later Sans Harbour. With Threshold, he performed “one nighters” throughout the Canadian east coast. After that brief stint and having joined Sans Harbour he spent the next four years touring throughout Ontario.

In 1979 he left Sans Harbour and after taking a day job, taught himself how to play guitar and began writing songs.  In 1980 he began working with the touring version of a popular children’s television show called THE POLKA DOT DOOR. This saw him opening the show singing standard children’s songs and later dressing up as a large, stuffed character called The Polk-a-roo who was an audience favourite.

During this time Jim began sending his original songs off to publishers in Toronto, Los Angeles and New York and recording his own songs both at home and in larger studios. He also started a band called Silent Partner with whom he played guitar, keyboards and sang. For a short time, he tried his hand performing as a solo act in bars but found it wasn’t to his taste.

In 1983 he began touring across Canada with the legendary television star, Ernie Coombs better know as CBC’s, MR.DRESSUP. Jim became his musical sidekick and also performed Casey and Finnegan during the stage show. These are the two iconic puppets from the tv show created by Judith Lawrence.

In 1987 Jim began writing for the MR.DRESSUP show with a high school friend, Claudia Suhanic and for several years they churned out scripts until they both decided to part ways and write on their own. Jim also became a regular guest on the tv show. After Judith Lawrence retired, new puppets were added to the show including a little boy named Alex. Jim auditioned and won the job of performing this charming character on the show. Alex is on display today in the CBC museum in downtown Toronto.

His national reputation growing due to his many appearances on tv as well as his touring, in 1988 Jim recorded his first solo children’s album, AROUND THE WORLD. This was followed up by ON MY STREET in 1994. In addition to his regular touring with Ernie, Jim was now doing solo touring and performances across Canada. 

During this time Jim had several small bands with guitar extraordinaire Chris Evans, a fellow children’s singer/songwriter.

In 1997, Ernie retired from the tv show and shortly thereafter, touring.  Jim continued doing his own shows mainly in elementary schools throughout Ontario and the Greater Toronto area. This same year Jim released his first mainstream recording, FROM AWAY.

In 2000 Jim was learning how to record at home and made an educational album called THE CROSS CANADA MUSICAL JOURNEY. This supported a performance he was doing regularly in schools. In 2001 there were plans for more touring with Ernie Coombs but these ended when the iconic tv star died suddenly in September of that year.

In 2002 Jim started a band with longtime friend and guitar player Ray Gauvin and over the next 7 years, this grew into a band called

 THE GENUINES.  Mainly a vehicle for Jim’s original music this featured singer/songwriter Artemis Chartier and keyboard player Heather Sullivan.  The band broke up in 2009.

Starting in 2005, Jim began working as a musical mentor for the Durham Region School Board as a musical mentor and educator in their “Artsmarts” programme. Thi

s included a 6-year stint at the Durham Alternative Secondary School via a grant from The Ontario Arts Council.

2011 saw Jim release his second mainstream album, BANANA MOON which was followed by TOMORROW’S YESTERDAY  a year later. Jim performed the music from both these albums in shows across the GTA.

In 2014 Jim released his fourth rock recording FEARLESS and in 2019 his fifth, WHAT KIND OF WORLD.

Jim lives in Whitby, Ontario with his best friend and wife of 31 years, Susan. He has two sons, two daughters-in-law and a granddaughter. He continues to write and record original music in his home studio and does the odd performance for children.