Apollo 100 ft Tom Parker ~ Joy 1972 Extended Meow Mix

Apollo 100 was the name of a British Jazz fusion group founded in 1972 and headed by keyboardist Tom Parker with drummer Clem Cattini, guitarist Vic Flick, guitarist Zed Jenkins, percussionist Jim Lawless, and bassist Brian Odgers.

Tom was born November 1, 1944 in Newcastle-on-Tyne, England. A prodigy, he was already playing the piano at the age of six. Turning his attentions to a musical career, he began gigging at the local jazz clubs. He honed his production skills in the studio working with bands like The Animals and Jimmy James & The Vagabonds.

He had an idea to jazz up some classical music pieces for his first LP entitled "Joy" in 1972. The experiment was successful one with the title track becoming a #6 pop hit and the band was hot! Tom's updating of Johann Sebastian Bach's "Jesu, Joy Of Men's Desiring" into the synth heavy romp of "Joy" was food for the masses. Then American attentions turned to others after that initial success and his next four albums failed to catch fire, the last one issued in 1978.

He then again immersed himself in production working with Gerry Rafferty and UK three chord rock band Status Quo best known in North America for the 60's psychedelic chestnut "Pictures Of Matchstick Men".

Tom continued the Apollo 100 concept into the 90's with the 1998 release Apollo Plays The Best Of Bacharach. He also applied his arranging skills to the New London Chorale with his contemporary sounds for The Young Messiah, The Young Amadeus, and The Young Verdi to critical praise.

He was living out the last of his years in Spain when he passed away on April 18, 2013.