Soul and Funk Legend Maceo Parker Comes to SOPAC

Soul and Funk music legend Maceo Parker appears on the SOPAC stage OCT 9 at 7:30PM in a performance that promises to embellish on the soul/funk traditions first made popular in the 1970s. As an integral part of "the Godfather of Soul" JAmes Brown's band, Parker appeared on many of his best-selling recordings including "I Feel Good," "Out of Sight" and "Papa's Got A Brand New Bag."

"He's no bebopper, reborn or otherwise. His roots are the church and the blues... his sound is joyful, cutting ribbon of light and heat burnished by grit and soul....There's no doubt about it, there's only one Maceo," says Gene Santoro of Downbeat Magazine.

Born in North Carolina, his talent was quickly acknowledged when he joined JAmes Brown's band in the early '60s, playing and recording with them until 1970 when he formed his own band- Maceo & All the Kings Men. He subsequently joined George Clintons's Parliament-Funkadelic, enjoying success as a sideman and recording several albums including Live: P-Funk Earth Tour, Funkentelechy Vs. the Placebo Syndrome, Motor Booty Affair, and Gloryhallastoopid.

In the 1990s, Parker began a solo career. His first album of this period, Roots Revisited, spent 10 weeks at the top of the Billboard Contemporary Jazz charts. To date he has released 11 solo albums since 1990. His band has been billed as "the greatest little funk orchestra on earth" and the "million-dollar support band". During the last decade he appeared on many of Prince's recordings.

In 2003, Parker received a Pioneer Award from the Rhythm and Blues Foundation for his contribution as a sideman to the genre of R & B. In July 2012 he was the recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award from Victoires Du Jazz in Paris. The same weekend he was presented with an Icon Award at the North Sea Jazz Festival in Rotterdam. He continues touring, headlining many jazz festivals in Europe and doing as many as 290 concerts a year.

He will perform at SOPAC October 9 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $42-$60 and can be purchased online at www.sopacnow.org/maceo-parker or by calling the box office at (973) 313-2787.

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The South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC) is a 501(c)(3)charitable organization.
SOPAC received funding through a grant from the NJ Department of State, Division of Travel and Tourism, visitnj.org.

Since 2006, SOPAC has been serving as a premier performing arts center in the region. SOPAC offers innovative artistic and cultural experiences for diverse audiences in an intimate, inviting environment. The premier arts center hosts a variety of live performances, community events and education programs for all ages. To further expand its offerings, SOPAC has a partnership with the Juilliard School of Music to present Juilliard @ SOPAC-a series featuring upcoming musicians from the acclaimed conservatory. SOPAC is home for Seton Hall University Arts Council's performances, including Classical Concert Series, Jazz 'N the Hall performances and Seton Hall Theatre productions. For more information, visit SOPACnow.org.