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Dean Parrish (born c. 1942, Little Italy, New York City, New York, USA - died June 8, 2021) was an American soul singer.

He developed his love of soul music listening to black doo-wop singers at art school and to early Motown. He cut his teeth as a performer at the legendary Peppermint Lounge, a basement club in Manhattan and the Lighthouse Club on 76th and Broadway alongside Jimi Hendrix. In 1965 Dean signed to Musicor and recorded the first of his soul sides 'Bricks, Broken Bottles And Sticks' which became a local radio hit and earned him a contract with Boom Records. 'Tell Her' was released in June 1966, his only Billboard pop hit breaking the Hot 100 at No.97. 'Determination' was next followed by the Mod favourite 'Skate' before the year was out. A switch to Laurie saw the release of the Northern Soul anthem 'I'm On My Way' in November of '67, which sank without trace, and Dean bowed out as a solo artist.

Reverting to his birth name he took up work as a session musician with his friend Jimi Hendrix and played guitar on Bob Marley's 'Reggae On Broadway'. When the session work started to dry up Dean (Phil) became a wedding singer, a career move that led to a cameo appearance in an episode of The Sopranos. All the while Dean Parrish was blissfully unaware of his cult status across the Atlantic on the UK Northern Soul scene, despite selling 250,000 copies of 'I'm On My Way' as part of Russ Winstanley's 'Three Before Eight' EP. He had to wait until the dawn of the new millennium before he was finally tracked down and, to his astonishment, the truth was finally revealed.

ALBUMS


Dean Parrish / Porgy & The Monarchs
Bricks, Broken Bottles and Sticks / My Heart Cries For You
2021, 7", Vampi Soul, Musicor Records, ,
Soul
Dean Parrish
It's Time-Purple Mountain Majesty
2020
Dean Parrish
Feed Me (Good Loving)
2018
Dean Parrish, J. B. Troy
Bricks, Broken Bottles And Sticks / Live On
2017
Dean Parrish
It'll Never Be Over For Me / Unchain My Heart
2007, 7", Acid Jazz
Lord Large Featuring Dean Parrish
Left Right & Centre
2006, CDr, Single, Promo, Acid Jazz
Lord Large Featuring Dean Parrish / Lord Large
Left Right & Centre / Sun In The Sands
2006
Melba Moore / Dean Parrish
The Magic Touch / Bricks, Broken Bottles And Sticks
2003, 7", Single, Kent Records
Dean Parrish / Johnny Maestro
Bricks, Broken Bottles & Sticks / I'm Stepping Out Of The Picture
2000, 7", Soul City (3)
Dean Parrish / Johnny Maestro
Bricks, Broken Bottles & Sticks / I'm Stepping Out Of The Picture
2000, 7", RE, TP, Soul City (3)
Dean Parrish
I'm On My Way
1967, ,
Pop Rock/Soul
Dean Parrish
Skate
1966, ,
Soul/Funk
Dean Parrish
Tell Her
1966
Dean Parrish
Turn On Your Lovelight / Determination
1966
Dean Parrish
Bricks, Broken Bottles And Sticks / I'm Over Eighteen
1965, ,
Soul/Rhythm & Blues
Dean Parrish
Come On Down (To The World's Fair)
1964
Jimmy Radcliffe / Dean Parish* / Tobi Legend
Long After Tonight Is Over / I'm On My Way / Time Will Pass You By
Steeplechase
Lady Bright
1970
Steeplechase
Lady Bright / Never Coming Back
1970
Dean Parrish
Determination / Tell Her
2015
Steeplechase
Lady Bright
2006
Dean Parrish
Determination
1970
Dean Parrish
I'm On My Way / Watch Out!
,
Soul
Dean Parrish
Tell Her / Fall On Me

APPEARANCES +


Various
Dig The New Breed
2010, CD, Comp, Acid Jazz
Various
Pop A Paris Vol.3 C'est La Mode
2010, 2x Vinyl, ,
Lounge/Chanson/Pop Rock
Various
Up All Night (20 Heavy Nuggets From The Golden Age Of Hard Psych)
2009, CD, Comp, Past & Present Records, ,
Garage Rock/Hard Rock/Psychedelic Rock/Heavy Metal
Various
The Changing Man
2008, CD, Comp, Mojo Magazine, ,
Pop Rock/Mod/Soul
Smoove
Gravy: Remixes & Rarities
2007
Lord Large
The Lord's First XI
2006, ,
Soul
Pascali Project
Where Broken Hearts Go.......
2004, CD, Album, Hyperspace Records
Various
The ARIA Awards Album 1991 (The Best Of Australian Music)
1991
Remo Four*
Attention! Remo Four!
1973, ,
Beat/Rhythm & Blues/Mod
Lou Rawls
Silk & Soul
1972, ,
Soul
Various
Pot-Ent
1970, LP, Smplr, Mul, Polydor, ,
Psychedelic Rock/Blues Rock
Mechanical Dream
Skate
1969, 7", EP, Polydor
Richard Barbary
Soul Machine
1968, Vinyl, ,
Soul-Jazz/Jazz-Funk
Peppino Negri E The Dragons
Rhythm And Blues
1967, Vinyl, ,
Soul-Jazz/Surf/Rhythm & Blues/Mod/Beat/Easy Listening
Gil Now
Le Diable Dans Le Cœur
1967
The Remo Four
Smile!
1967, ,
Beat/Rhythm & Blues
Various
Northern Soul Classics
2024, 2xLP, Comp, Universal Music Recordings, Sony Music, ,
Soul
Various
The Best Northern Soul Album In The World...Ever!
2024, CD, Comp, Universal Music Recordings, ,
Soul
Ian Levine
Ian Levine's Northern Soul Classics Volume 9
2024, 25xFile, MP3, Comp, 256, The Orchard Enterprises
Various
Hello Heartbreaker: Uptown Soul From Scepter, Musicor & Wand
2020, CD, Comp, Playback Records (6),
Various
Anthems Mod, Ska & Northern Soul
2018, 3xCD, Comp, Ministry Of Sound, Sony Music, ,
Mod/Ska/Soul/Rhythm & Blues/Rock & Roll/Blues Rock
Various
The Greatest Mod & Northern Soul Album
2018, 4xCD, Comp, Rhino Records (2), ,
Soul
Various
Move On Up (The Very Best Of Northern Soul)
2016, 2xLP, Comp, Universal Music TV
Various
Modern Northern Soul
2015, CD, Comp, Acid Jazz
Various
Move On Up - The Very Best Of Northern Soul
2015, 3xCD, Comp, Universal Music TV, ,
Soul
Various
Casino Classics Complete Collection
2015, 3xCD, Comp, RM, Box, Soul Time (2), ,
Soul
Various
The Odyssey - A Northern Soul Time Capsule 1968-2014
2015, 8xCD, Comp + 2xDVD-V, PAL + Box, S/Edition, Harmless, ,
Soul
Various
Acid Jazz Mod
2014, 2xCD, Comp, Not Bad Records (2), ,
Acid Jazz
Various
100 Hits Funk & Soul
2013, 5xCD, Comp + Box, 100 Hits, ,
Funk/Soul
Various
Wigan Casino 40 Northern Soul
2013, 2xCD, Comp, Spectrum Music (2), ,
Soul
Various
For Northern Soul Collectors - Volume 1
2012, 2xCD, Comp, EMI
Feldman-Goldstein-Gottehrer*
Smash Boom Bang! (The Songs And Productions Of Feldman-Goldstein-Gottehrer)
2012, CD, Comp, Ace,
Various
Cleethorpes Northern Soul Weekender
2012, CD, Comp, Kent Dance
Various
Inspired! 2012 (Blood, Soul, Sweat & Cheers)
2012, 2x CD,
Various
Mod Mania
2010, 2xCD, Comp, Universal Music TV, ,
Soul/Mod/Power Pop
Various
Grandmaster Northern Soul
2010, CDr, Comp, Mixed, Music Factory, ,
Soul/Funk
Various
SoulBoy (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
2010
Various
101 Northern Soul Anthems
2009, 4xCD, Comp, EMI TV
Various
Rockin' With The Pirates: Big Hits, Classic Tracks & Lost Gems
2009, 3xCD, Comp, EMI, ,
Beat/Pop Rock
Various
The Fab 60s
2009, 20xCD, Comp, Not On Label, ,
Rock & Roll/Pop Rock/Rhythm & Blues/Soul
Various
Soul Train
2008, CD, Comp, Boulevard Entertainment, Boulevard Entertainment
Various
A Complete Introduction To Northern Soul
2008, Box Set, 4x CD, ,
Soul/Rhythm & Blues
Various
Come On Soul! Volume 2
2007, CD, Comp, Légère Recordings, ,
Soul/Funk
Various
The Original Northern Soul Album
2007, CD, Comp, EMI Records Ltd.,
Katchin' Presents Dogday Afternoon Feat. WOWW
Rockin' & Breakin' 4
2007, CD, Mixed, Promo, Ke.T Drive, ,
Alternative Rock/Rock & Roll/Punk/Indie Rock/House/Disco/Breaks/Big Beat/Progressive House/Synth-pop/Electro/Nu-Disco/J-pop/Pop Rock/Favela Funk
Various
Time For Action
2006, 3xCD, Comp, Disky, ,
Ska/Mod/Rhythm & Blues/Power Pop
Various
Suited & Booted (Essential Mod & Ska)
2005, 2xCD, Comp, V2TV, Virgin, EMI, ,
Ska/Mod/Soul/Garage Rock
Various
Twisted Wheel Forever
2005, CD, Comp, Goldmine Soul Supply, ,
Soul
Various
Classic Cuts 34 - Northern Soul
2005
Various
Once Upon A Time In Wigan
2004, CD, Comp, Kent Dance, ,
Soul
Various
Northern Soul - The All-Night Party Album
2004
Various
Soul Anthology
2004, ,
Rhythm & Blues/Soul
Various
Blue Eyed Soul
2004
Florian Keller
Creative Musicians (A Collection Of Highly Underrated Gems From 1963 To 1976)
2002, ,
Funk
Various
The Best Northern Soul All-Nighter ... Ever!
2001, ,
Soul
Various
Talcum Soul 2
2000, ,
Soul
Various
Floorpackin'
1998, CD, Comp, Goldmine Soul Supply, ,
Soul
Various
Floorfillers! - 45 Classic Northern Soul 45's
1998, 2xCD, Comp, Global Television, ,
Soul
Various
Musicor - Adey Pierce In New York
1998, CD, EP, Comp, Joe Boy Records, ,
Soul
Various
It'll Never Be Over For Me (20 Northern Soul Masterpieces)
1998
Various
Kent's Magic Touch
1997, ,
Soul/Mod
Various
Soul Survivors - 40 Northern Soul Anthems
1997, 2x CD, ,
Soul/Disco/Funk
Various
Dance Dance Dance - 20 Soul Weekender Classics
1996, CD, Comp, EMI Gold
Various
Gang Stage - Mod Classics
1995, CD, Comp, P-Vine Records, ,
Mod/Rhythm & Blues
Various
Big City Soul 4 (60 Northern Soul Classics)
1995, 2x CD, ,
Soul
Various
The Wigan Casino Story
1994
Various
Soul Shots Volume 6: "I'm White, I'm Alright" - Blue-Eyed Soul
1988, ,
Soul/Rhythm & Blues
Various
Smart!
1986, LP, Comp, Kent Records, ,
Rhythm & Blues/Soul
Various
Kent 50
1986, ,
Soul
Various
For The Collector - Volume Two
1986
Various
Mystery...Terror...Suspense! It's Torture And 15 Other Great Soul Destroyers
1985, LP, Comp, Kent Records
Various
New York City Soul
1985, LP, Comp, Mono, Kent Records
Various
Gems
1984, LP, Comp, Mono, Kent Records
Various
Collector's Records Of The 50's And 60's Vol. 15
1983, LP, Comp, Laurie Records, ,
Rock & Roll/Pop Rock
Various
Floorshakers
1983, ,
Soul
Various
Juke Box Jive
1982, LP, Album, Comp, RCA, ,
Rock & Roll/Rhythm & Blues
Various
Teenage Love
1982, 2xLP, Comp, Cambra
Various
Casino Classics Chapter One
1979, LP, Comp, Casino Classics, ,
Soul
Various
Casino Classics Three Before Eight
1978
Various
The "In" Sound Presented By The U.S. Army
1966, LP, Transcription, Not On Label
Various
The Tip Sheet CD For Issue #151
CD, Comp, Promo, The Tip Sheet
Various
Dance With Me Vol 2
CD, Comp, Bar Records (2), ,
Rhythm & Blues/Cha-Cha/Soul/Beat/Rock & Roll
Various
Bricks, Broken Bottles & Sticks + 23 Of The Greatest Northern Soul Tracks
CD, Comp, Not On Label,
Various
Complete Party Vol 1
4xCD, Comp, Str, DMC
Various
Northern Soul Volume 1
1995, Cass, Comp, Ltd, Unofficial, Backstreet Boogaloo!
Various
Lost Jukebox Vol. 67
CDr, Comp, Unofficial, Not On Label, ,
Easy Listening/Pop Rock/Beat/Folk Rock/Soul/Psychedelic
Various
Lost Jukebox Vol. 104
CDr, Comp, Unofficial, Not On Label