Bobby Parker hospitalized

Blues singer and guitarist Bobby Parker, famous for his hit records "Watch Your Step" [V-Tone, 1961] and "Blues Get Off My Shoulder" [VJ, 1958] as well as his two contemporary blues CDs on the Black Top label, has been hospitalized for the past three and a half weeks. Presently, he is at Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, D.C. where he has undergone surgery for a mass in his stomach. Georgetown has a reputation as one of the best facilities for internal medicine on the East Coast that's the good news. The bad news is that Bobby has had to cancel all his immediate local engagements as well as an appearance at New Orleans Ponderosa Stomp. His bills are mounting.

For those in the Washington, D.C. area, there will be a benefit concert at the Surf Club, 4711 Kenilworth Ave., Riverdale, Md. on Sunday, May 11th featuring The Nighthawks, Memphis Gold, and Terence McArdle & Jumpin' Tonight with some special guests. We plan to set up a custodial account for Bobby's bills probably through the auspices of the Washington Area Music Association (WAMA-DC).

In the meantime, those who want help out by sending donations can writing checks payable to Bobby Parker and send them in care of the DC Blues Society, PO Box 77315, Washington, DC 20013.

You may also send cards and letter to Bobby care of Terence McArdle, PO Box 6548, Silver Spring, MD 20916. I will hand deliver them to him in the hospital. (I think this may be better than dealing with the hospital's internal mailroom.) Please keep Bobby in your thoughts and prayers.

Thank you,
Terence McArdle

jtmcardle@cs.com