Winfield Parker

Winfield Parker
Birth name	Winfield Albert Parker
Born	(1942-06-21)June 21, 1942 Cooksville, Maryland, U.S.
Died	January 18, 2021(2021-01-18) (aged 78) Howard County, Maryland, U.S.
Genres	Soul, R&B, gospel
Occupation(s)	Singer, songwriter, saxophonist
Years active	1960s–2010s
Labels	Ru-Jac, Arctic, Wand, Spring, GSF, Little Star, P&L
Associated acts	Little Richard, Otis Redding, Ike & Tina Turner, Tommy Hunt, Jimmy Bishop

Winfield Albert Parker (June 21, 1942 – January 18, 2021) was an American soul singer-songwriter and saxophonist based in Baltimore who was known for his 1971 R&B song "S.O.S. (Stop Her on Sight)".

Early life

Winfield Parker was born in Cooksville, Maryland. In high school, he played the saxophone and joined a local group called the Veejays. Under the guidance of manager Rufus Mitchell, Parker rose to lead vocalist.

Career

Parker performed with artists such as Little Richard, Otis Redding, and Ike & Tina Turner. He began recording in the 1960s for Baltimore’s Ru-Jac Records and later signed with national labels such as Arctic, Wand, and Spring.

In 1971, Parker released a version of Edwin Starr’s “S.O.S. (Stop Her on Sight),” which became his only nationally charting single, reaching number 48 on the Billboard R&B chart. He remained active in the soul scene through the 1970s and 1980s, later shifting focus to gospel music in the 1990s and 2000s, performing regularly on national gospel programs.

Musical style

Parker was known for his gritty, impassioned vocals and commanding stage presence. His work fused traditional R&B with gospel influences, and his emotive delivery and driving rhythm made him a favorite among soul fans, particularly in the Mid-Atlantic region.

Legacy and personal life

Though he had only one nationally charting hit, Parker is remembered as a foundational voice in Baltimore's R&B history. His recordings for the Ru-Jac label have been reissued internationally and celebrated by soul enthusiasts. In 2013, he was honored with the Gold Mic Award from the Global Entertainment Media Association for his contributions to soul and gospel music.

Parker became an ordained minister in 1981 and continued performing gospel music into the 2000s. He died from COVID-19 complications on January 18, 2021, at Gilchrist Center in Howard County, Maryland, at the age of 78.

Discography

Studio albums

• Mr. Clean (GSF, 1972)
• Winfield Parker (Little Star, 1988)
• I Want to Be Loved (P&L Records, gospel, 2000s)
• He’s Able (P&L Records, gospel, 2000s)

Selected singles

• "Shake That Thing" / "Brand New Start" (Arctic, 1969)
• "I'm Wondering" / "Barbara" (Wand, 1970)
• "S.O.S. (Stop Her on Sight)" / "I'm on My Way" (Spring, 1971)
• "Mr. Clean" / "I Love You Just the Same" (GSF, 1972)

Charted single

Year	Title	Chart (U.S. R&B)	Peak position
1971	"S.O.S. (Stop Her on Sight)"	Billboard R&B	48

Media coverage

• The Baltimore Sun – The Maryland-based newspaper published an obituary titled "Maryland-native Winfield Parker, versatile R&B musician who played with Little Richard and Otis Redding, dies," offering rich regional context, details on his touring history, and musical versatility.
• The Capital Gazette – Similarly published an obituary offering insight into his touring background, regional roots, and musical versatility.

• Frederick News-Post – A feature ahead of his “Gospel Explosion” concert highlighted his continued presence in the regional music scene and gospel legacy.
• Soul and Jazz and Funk – Reported on Parker’s passing, noting his Baltimore base, age (78), cause of death (COVID complications), and early career highlights including work with Little Richard, Ike Turner, and regional hits that later became collectors' items.
• WTMD – In January 2021, Baltimore’s public radio station published a tribute titled “Remembering the late Winfield Parker, Baltimore R&B/soul singer & saxophonist,” recalling his six-decade career and influence in regional music. The feature specifically noted his career’s reach “from Cooksville Maryland across the globe.”
• SoulTracks – The national music site highlighted his chart success, Ru-Jac recordings, and gospel transition, and his television appearances.
• AllMusic – Summarized his soul and gospel recordings for labels like Ru-Jac, Arctic, Wand, and Spring, noting his importance in Mid-Atlantic music history.
• Omnivore Recordings – The reissue label described him as a “Soul/R&B and gospel legend” and highlighted his 2013 Gold Mic Award from the Global Entertainment Media Association.
• Ponderosa Stomp – The roots and R&B festival noted that the “fertile Baltimore/Washington D.C. R&B scene spawned Winfield Parker,” highlighted his 1959 saxophone performance on “Linda Baby” with Sammy Fitzhugh & the Moroccans, and traced his early solo recording career at Ru-Jac through Arctic and Spring. His profile was written by Bill Dahl.
• The Washington Informer – In an obituary for radio legend Patrick Ellis, Parker recalled how Ellis “paved the way” for him to gain national visibility with his gospel songs “Jesus Is Everlasting” and “Sending Up My Timber.”

Television appearances

Parker made multiple appearances on the nationally syndicated Dr. Bobby Jones Gospel television program, where he performed with gospel stars such as Dorothy Norwood, Vickie Winans, and the Mighty Clouds of Joy.

References

This article "Winfield Parker" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:Winfield Parker. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.

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