- One of the great drummers, on both sides of the Atlantic.
- Ran the "Muppet Orchestra" for the TV series. This also included such British big band greats as Kenny Baker and Don Lusher.
- Nephew of Val Parnell and grandson of ventriloquist Fred Russell.
- Leads a trio which performs weekly at "The Green Man" public house at Rackheath, Norwich, England, in the county to which he has retired. (December 2003)
- Father of R.J. Parnell & Will Parnell.
- Father-in-law of Sorel Johnson.
- His uncle was the theatrical impresario Val Parnell.
- With the band of Ted Heath he also sang, displaying an engaging voice and an attractive stage personality.
- During his early days with the Heath band Parnell had an image of gum-chewing showman drummer, an image that in fact concealed a skilful, swinging and often-underrated artist.
- From 1991 until he died, Parnell was part of the Norfolk-based Mike Capocci Trio, with Capocci on piano and Mike Harris on the double bass. They backed saxophonists Johnny Griffin, Ronnie Ross, and Kathy Stobart.
- He was appointed as the musical director for ATV in 1956,[2] a post he held until 1981, and was the "real" conductor for The Muppet Show orchestra for the series entire run and composed the score theme to ITC Entertainment.
- Parnell had three sons and two daughters (including Ric Parnell who played the drummer Mick Shrimpton in the film This Is Spinal Tap).
- In the late 70s, after two decades in television, Parnell returned to the UK jazz scene.
- During his military service in the 1940s he became a member of Buddy Featherstonhaugh's Radio Rhythm Club Sextet and played drums with Vic Lewis and other servicemen who were keen on jazz.
- Leaving Ted Heath after seven years, Parnell became musical director of ATV.
- In the 1970s, he had co-founded the group The Best of British Jazz with Kenny Baker, Don Lusher, Betty Smith, Tony Lee, and Tony Archer, which performed until 1985.
- During the 1940s and 1950s, he was voted best drummer in the Melody Maker poll for seven years in succession.
- The Lewis-Parnell band played in clubs and also made a number of theatrical appearances. Following a minor disagreement over billing, Vic Lewis took over sole leadership of the band while Parnell joined Ted Heath, where he became one of the band's most popular figures.
- He was also the musical director for The Benny Hill Show.
- Throughout the 1960s, Parnell directed the pit orchestra for Sunday Night at the London Palladium.
- In 1994, he took over as the leader of the London Big Band, ( 'the largest band in Britain'), which comprised some of Britain's leading jazz musicians.
- He was a regular judge on the ATV talent show New Faces.
- His later work, with the need for an image no longer necessary, reveals his subtle and propulsive playing.
- From 1944 to 1946 Parnell recorded with Lewis, and the Lewis-Parnell Jazzmen's version of "Ugly Child". It sold extremely well (50, 000 78 rpm discs would probably have made it a hit had there been such a thing as a hit parade in those days).
- He composed many television themes, including Love Story (for which he won the Harriet Cohen Award), Father Brown, The Golden Shot and Family Fortunes.
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