25 Facts About Doug Parkinson

Douglas John Parkinson was an Australian pop and rock singer.

Doug Parkinson surrounded himself with mature, seasoned musicians who added to his appeal.

Douglas John Parkinson was born in Waratah, New South Wales, a suburb of Newcastle.

Doug Parkinson's German-descended father was a commercial artist in print advertising, while his mother was of Welsh-Irish heritage.

Doug Parkinson's parents loved musical theatre and bought him a guitar when he was 12.

Doug Parkinson attended Narrabeen Boys' High School, showing aptitude in literature, and was selected as a prefect, matriculating in 1963.

Doug Parkinson sang a surf rock song, for his first performance, at a school dance.

Doug Parkinson took up surfing but was hit by a surfboard, knocked unconscious and almost drowned.

Doug Parkinson was dragged from the water, resuscitated by fellow surfers, and then taken to Mona Vale Hospital.

Doug Parkinson worked briefly as a labourer before starting a journalism cadetship with Sydney morning newspaper The Daily Telegraph in 1964.

In early 1967 Doug Parkinson joined the Questions, alongside Bill Flemming on drums, Billy Green on guitar, Duncan McGuire on bass guitar and Rory Thomas on piano, organ, woodwind and brass.

In March 1968 Doug Parkinson in Focus were formed by Parkinson, Green, McGuire and Thomas together with Doug Lavery on drums.

In February 1971 Parkinson formed another line-up of Doug Parkinson in Focus with Green and McGuire joined by Mark Kennedy on drums.

In May 1973 Doug Parkinson released his debut solo album, No Regrets, on Polydor Records.

Former band mate Green composed the soundtrack to the biker film, Stone, with Doug Parkinson singing on two tracks, "Cosmic Flash" and "Do not Go Gentle".

From December 1977 to March 1978 Doug Parkinson returned to musical theatre in the stage show, Ned Kelly portraying Kelly Gang member, Joe Byrne.

In 1978 Doug Parkinson formed the Southern Star Band, comprising former band mates Kennedy and McGuire and new associates Frank Esler-Smith on keyboards and Jim Gannon on guitar.

Doug Parkinson sang the opening theme song of the short-lived TV soap opera, Arcade, which was issued as a solo single.

Doug Parkinson appeared in another Australian production of Jesus Christ Superstar, but this time as Judas, which included a run in Tamworth in May 1984 and then Perth during 1984.

Doug Parkinson continued performing in cabaret and clubs and recording as of 2016.

Doug Parkinson contributed a version of "Always to the Light" to the tribute album, Some Lonesome Picker.

In 1968, Doug Parkinson married Suzie Clark, who later became his talent manager; the couple had two children.

One of their children, Daniel Doug Parkinson, was the bass guitarist for the Hanging Tree, a progressive metal group from 1992 to 2002.

Doug Parkinson died on 15 March 2021, aged 74, at his Northern Beaches home.

Doug Parkinson was a passionate supporter of Manly Warringah Sea Eagles rugby league club.