Melvin Parker (June 7, 1944 – December 3, 2021)[1] was an American drummer. He and his brother, saxophonist Maceo Parker, were key members of James Brown's band.
"The greatest drummer I ever had in my life was Melvin Parker," Brown reflected in 2004. "'I Feel Good', 'Papa's Bag' (sic) – nobody ever did that. Nobody. And they can't do it now. And if I was getting ready to cut a record that was right, I would go get Melvin today, because he's just like a metronome."[4]
In 1970, Parker was part of a mutiny by Brown's band. After leaving Brown, Parker joined his brother Maceo's band, Maceo & All the King's Men.[5] He rejoined Brown briefly in 1976, and played on the hit "Get Up Offa That Thing".[3]