An incredibly talented
song and dance man in his own right since he was
eight years old, LONNIE PARLOR was influenced by
Baptist music and rhythm and blues. His first
professional entertainment gig was in Muskogee,
Oklahoma, in 1962.Music has always been his
first vocation however, in earlier times Lonnie
knew how to make a living in between engagements
by working as a Jet mechanic, salesman,
electrician and auto mechanic.
In 1990 much of
the world mourned the death of Sammy Davis, Jr
... and so did Lonnie. For years he had been told
how he looked and sounded like the star.
In 1978 he had
the privilege of performing for Sammy in Reno.
After the show Sammy and Lonnie chatted about
their similarities. Sammy, as always, was
enthusiastically encouraging to his fellow
performers and urged Lonnie to do a take-off of
Sammy Davis, Jr. in his act.
His
career had been busy with star stints in such
Vegas shows as "Jubilation" and
"Shadz" and playing lounges and
showrooms throughout the United States, Canada
and Asia. He also worked regularly in Los Angeles
as a studio musician and back-up singer for many
notable recording artists.
The summer of
1990 Lonnie ventured forth with a full scale
tribute to Sammy Davis, Jr., which caught the eye
of JOHN STUART who hired him immediately for a
nine week run at the Nuggett Hotel and Casino in
Reno. His success there led to a regular spot in
the Legends in Concert shows.
He contends that
performing as an impersonator "you must
adhere to a strict code of conduct, vocally and
visually, during a performanoe." After the
death of the famous star, Mark Davis, son of
Sammy Davis, Jr. greeted Lonnie. Mark had seen
the show and eqjoyed Lonnie’s impersonation
of his father.
LONNIE PARLOR
was scheduled to be in the 1991 show at Harrahs
Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City. Weeks before
the show, after performing in the Legends in
Concert show at the Asquaga Nuggett Hotel in
Reno, Lonnie suffered a major stroke. Fortunately
he fully recovered after months of medical care
and self-determination.
At Harrahs,
CLIVE BALDWIN as Al Jolson replaced LONNIE
PARLOR. In about ten weeks, Clive, who has since
produced several of his own recordings, suffered
an inner-ear problem and was replaced by DARYL
WAGNER as Liberace.
One lifetime
dream had been realized. LONNIE PARLOR recently
appeared in a musical stage show of "The
Pack Is Back" ... a major stage production
that began its long run at Piper’s Alley in
the Phantom Sands Hotel in Chicago. His part in
the show he knew well ... that of Sammy Davis,
Jr. When the show closed Lonnie decided to remain
in Chicago where he and the rest of the cast
formed their own company doing the Chicago area
clubs.
A bass player
and songwriter, LONNIE PARLOR is constantly
working on his albums of songs ... and strives to
perfect his Sammy impersonation so that the
memory of the famous star will not be forgotten
... to be shared forever.
Five months out
of every year you will find Lonnie Parlor in the
Resort Island of Aruba in the Caribbean
performing as Sammy Davis, Jr. in his own show
production.
LONNIE PARLOR
resides in Chicago, Illinois.
