About Alan J Parker

By Isabelle Hutton (daughter)

January 4, 1928 – December 9, 2000

Alan was born to Herbert & Gladys Parker in Port Arthur, (Thunder Bay) Ontario, Canada on January 4th, 1928.

He grew up as a child singer. His voice dominated the entire church from his Sunday School class. This resulted in the pianist, Mrs. McGray, volunteering to give him singing lessons.

In High School he was nicknamed “Shaky” for Shakespeare, due to his prolific writings, including the Port Arthur Collegiate High School song.

He moved to Vancouver when he was 18 to continue singing lessons. He worked various jobs and went to Kemano in 1952. After working hours he wrote and produced a Minstrel Show with a cast of 70 which was covered by the major magazines at that time, including, Life, Look, Fortune, McLean, The Toronto Star, Star Weekly, etc.

He returned to Vancouver and fished commercially with The Wilson Family from Westham Island, then worked for Vancouver Tug & Barge.

Lila Gold Findlay moved from Trochu, Alberta in 1954. They met when Alan walked in to rent a room at her mother’s house and found Lila playing the piano. They fell in love and married in October 1955.

Four children followed from November 1956 to December 1960. Isabelle Parker (now going by Hutton) Robert Buddy Parker, Bonny Parker (now going by Day) and Stanley Halbert Parker. Alan’s 3 grandchildren include, Isabelle’s son, Parker Hutton, and Buddy and wife Eva’s children, Tiffany and Alan Parker.

Alan worked at Shannon Diary, which later became Dairyland until the mid 80′s. The job was to support his family but his love other than his family was The Music Business. He’d write songs, words and music often in the middle of the night (although he didn’t play a musical instrument) and Lila would write out the lead sheets.

The Parker house was always filled with laughter, antics and pretty much every singer/musician that was or became anyone in the music business out of Vancouver. Alan became the Canadian representive for American Music until The Aberbach Group bought them out.

Fess Parker (no relation) recorded Alan’s song about Abe Lincoln, called The Tall American on his “Daniel Boone, Davy Crockett album.

In the 1960′s he wrote a few hits, “The Blamers, Moon Rocketin, Teenager’s Dream sung by Les Vogt. “The Sock” and Sixteen Senoritas” sung by The Valentines. “The Sock” is in Presley memorabilia in Graceland. Some songs he wrote using the pen name, Sipson P. Kloop. Several songs were recorded on other albums over the years.

As the Woman’s Liberation Movement started Alan wrote a trio of hilariously funny songs, from Hen Pecked Husbands to the Women giving up to “the greater sex” called, Men of the Nation. It created such an uproar when it hit the radio, the phone lines lit up demanding to know who wrote the song, so they could “bomb” his house! Saturday Night Live should have done a skit using it.

In 1969 Joe Reisman, a producer for greats such as Henry Mancini, Perry Como, and many more, arranged and conducted Alan’s, From Vancouver With Love in London, England. The album was recorded by a 15 voice choir and 60 members of The London Philharmonic Orchestra. Later the album was released in Europe as, “Sound of the World”.

In 1973 he wrote a musical adaptation of Charles Dickens “Great Expectations” to eliminate the 4 basic fears of mankind. The cast of Sentinel High School in West Vancouver performed with nightly sold out crowds. This script today has the potential to be an academy award winner.

In 1977 he started The 905 Christmas, the concept being, you give 5 minutes of your energy to help your fellowman in need of a miracle. His dream was even New York Cab Drivers would stop to wish goodwill for 5 magic minutes. At the time Major Giuliani wished Alan the best with this great concept. Other letters of well wishers were his Royal Highness Prince Philip. The Song that goes with The 905 is so full of love it brings people to tears as does, Daddy’s Out of Work this Christmas. Go to The 905 Christmas Page on the Website for both songs.

Back in the late 1950′s Alan wrote, The Honkey Donkey Story. An inspiring, uplifting Children’s Story with 4 exceptional songs to help build Children’s dreams. A series is currently being developed based on scripts Alan left behind. The story is on CD and soon to be promoted to Disney, DreamWorks or any other ethical, creative entity that is interested in supporting our future generations be to strong, positive and loving.

There are numerous songs, stories and scripts Alan aka as AJ left behind. Some fun, like “Long John” a song he wrote about John Wayne, some tearjerkers, like, The Long California Trial a song/story with a tragic start and happy ending. Incredibly beautiful love songs, perfect for Michael Buble, as well as a jazzy one called Half Moon that would be an instant hit.

Other songs were written for politicians, another convention song that a progressive corporation could use to “fire up” their team. *See Projects Page of the Website for specifics, such as The Magic Wand*

Alan was above all a “giver” always defending others who couldn’t defend themselves. Always controversial, telling Dairyland that aliens were going to go after their Board of Directors if they messed around their long time dedicated employees by pushing them out. They deemed Alan “a threat” and fired him.

Alan fought for the rights of the unborn being born healthy by fighting against Food Irradiation and supported every cause by the Amazing HANS association in Burnaby headed by Lorna Hancock.

He was fearless, passionate about good overcoming evil. Light-years ahead of his time, in every area one example telling everyone 35 years ago that Food and diet was causing cancer. Everyone thought he was nuts. He was a man with answers from advice for his kids to encouraging Musicians to believe in their talents. AJ was big into power rocks, dowsing, kinesiology, advanced science, working his goldmines, and projects beyond the average person’s comprehension. Even a planet called Epica. Even if you didn’t believe him, the more you knew him, the more you wanted to be on “The List”. (just in case). Some antics landed him in jail, AJ once again was deemed a threat when he wrote a wild letter to a politician if she wouldn’t protect the rights of landlords.

Life with AJ was a gift; every single day was an adventure. He longed to be famous and get his songs and stories out to the world, to make it a better place. The only thing AJ wasn’t, was a marketer of his works. He often would say, I’ll be famous after I die. So, perhaps, AJ’s real time is Now.

Read a Letter from Jim Vallance