Ian Parker was born on 26 November 1953 in the coastal town of
Irvine, Ayrshire to David and Anne Parker. He showed a natural ability to play the piano from a very early age and started piano lessons when he was seven. His early influences were
The Beatles,
The Rolling Stones,
Stax and Atlantic Soul. In 1969 he started playing with the Ravenspark Academy school rock band "Timor Mortis" performing covers of such artistes as
Deep Purple,
Cream and
Black Sabbath. Other members of the band were Andy Baird vocals, Alan Aitken guitar, Davie Stafford bass and Alistair 'Mub' McKinnon drums. This led to him forming a gigging band, which was originally called 'Tight Express' and also had Alan Aitken and Mub McKinnon as its members. This band later expanded to a four-piece with Leo Bigham joining on bass and vocals and became 'The Duck', playing clubs and pubs. The line up now was Ian Parker keyboards and vocals, Alan Aitken guitar, Mub McKinnon drums, and Leo Bigham bass and vocals. Later when Ian left to move to London, Aitken, Bigham and McKinnon formed the band Joe Lethal. He attended the
Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow between 1972 and 1975 and obtained D.R.S.A.M. qualifications. He then moved down to London where he played with the house band at the
Hammersmith Palais. This led to him joining the
Tom Robinson Band where he was a member 1979–81. He appears on the album
TRB Two (1979), performing lead vocals on one track ("Law and Order"). From 1983 to 1984 he played with The Three Degrees, followed by Killer B's (1985–87). == Solo work ==