Biography
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Born
27 April 1956
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Born In
Gary, Lake County, Indiana, United States
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Died
9 October 2014 (aged 58)
Sista Monica “the lioness of the blues" released her latest - 11th CD “Living in the Danger Zone” in October 2011. Immediately, she became a 2012 Blues Music Award nominee for “Best Soul Blues Female Artist” by The Blues Foundation. Recognized as an international festival favorite, Parker is starting a summer festival and concert tour starting in California, then France, Cincinnati, Ohio, Washington DC, Red Deer, Canada, Eugene, Oregon, Chicago, Illinois and Lucerne Switzerland with many dates in between.
The Sista Monica Band consists of seasoned musicians that record and tour with her.
Danny Beconcini piano, Hammond B3 musical director and co-writer, Danny Sandoval – tenor sax , Leon Joyce Jr. – drums, Artis Joyce – bass and Bill Vallaire – guitar.
Sista Monica is recognized for her songwriting, music recordings, powerful vocals, and dynamic performances. She connects and is often compared to legendary singers Etta James, Koko Taylor, Ruth Brown, and Katie Webster. Parker says “these women are the mothers of my blues” as expressed in her 10th CD “Soul, Blues, & Ballads”. It was released in 2010. She gained national TV placement of her music on the Fox channel. Her original song “Show Me What You're Working With" was on the hit show "So You Think You Can Dance" finale show August 11, 2011. Choreographer - Ray Leeper selected the song written by Sista Monica and her piano player Danny Beconcini from her 2005 CD release "Can't Keep a Good Woman Down." Melanie Moore was the winning dancer of SYTYCD 2011 as she danced to this sexy, naughty and somewhat dysfunctional routine as Leeper suggests. Her dance to this song was the highlight of the evening. She won! That means Sista Monica won too!
Parker has perform and shared the stage with many well-established artists –The Neville Brothers, Mavis Staples, Dr. John, Gladys Knight, Ray Charles, Taj Mahal, Al Green, Lil Milton, Etta James, Koko Taylor and many others over the past 20 years.
In June 2011, Sista Monica was invited to perform with India Arie at the Uptown Theater in Napa, California after her returned from touring and performing in Paris, France, Bern, Switzerland, Monte Carlo and Greece. Just prior to leaving on her European tour, she and her world class band performed with legendary BB King at the Catalyst in Santa Cruz, California.
Sista Monica was born in Gary, Indiana and lived several years in Chicago, Illinois before relocating to northern California’s Bay Area in 1987.
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