Richard J. Parfitt
After working professionally in the music industry for twenty-five years, Richard has been
working in Higher Education since 2008, specialising in Popular and Commercial Music
studies and the Creative Industries. He is research-active and currently registered as a PhD
student at Cardiff University. He undertakes a range of industry-related activities: in 2012,
for example, after an invitation from the Governor of the Royal Welsh College of Music and
Drama, he served as an advisor for the Welsh Cultural Olympiad. He has delivered
songwriting master-classes at several universities and HE events and continues to be active in
the professional music industry as a musician and writer
In 1986, he was signed to Zomba Music Publishing as a house writer writing mainly for TV
and film. In 1995, he signed a major publishing deal with Sony Music where he wrote and
delivered three top-40 singles and one top-40 album. In 1996, he signed to Geffen Records as
an artist, and is at present, signed to Kobalt Music Publishers.
As a songwriter, he has sold over a million records, with recent song writing and production
credits that include Duffy (Polydor Records 2008) and Universal Films (2009). As a session
musician, he has worked and played guitar for Dido on her 7 x platinum-selling album, Life
For Rent. He has also worked and recorded with Bernard Butler, Urge Overkill, John Squire
and Lene Marlin. Past employers include the University of Wales and the British Institute of
Modern Music.
Worldwide live and touring experience includes the USA, Japan and Europe. He has
appeared on international media, video, television and radio appearances. Festival
appearances include Glastonbury, T-In-The- Park, V and Reading. He has toured with: The
Jam, Ash, Oasis, Sex Pistols, Ian Brown, The Lemonheads, and McAlmont and Butler.
Professional Qualifications:
BA (Hons) 1st Class: University of Wales, Newport
Postgraduate Certificate in Professional Learning in HE
FHEA
Membership of Professional Bodies/Subject Associations:
BASCA
Institute for Learning
PRS
MCPS
PAMRA
MU
Teaching Specialisms:
Songwriting
Music Business Skills
Artist Development
Iconography and Popular Music
Key Publications/Exhibitions/Performances:
Selected Television and Film Writing Credits
2014 Bouncers: Channel 4 Television
2009 Nivea ad campaign: Platinum Rye Entertainment. USA
2009 Privileged: Warner Bros. Television. USA
2008 How to Lose Friends and Alienate People: Universal Films
2004 Friends: Warner Bros. Television. USA
2003 Igby Goes Down: Universal Films
1988 Vroom: Channel 4 Films
Selected Discography:
2008 Duffy: Rockferry Deluxe Edit. Universal Records
2004 Dido: Life for Rent. EMI
2004 Dido: Don’t Leave Home. EMI
2003 Lene Marlin: Another Day. EMI
2003 Lene Marlin: You Weren’t There. EMI
2002 McAlmont and Butler: Falling. NME. Warchild Compilation
2002 Richard J. Parfitt Highlights in Slow Motion Rough Trade Records
1999 John Peel: Sounds of the Suburbs. Shifty Disco
1998 The Boo Radleys: The Universal. Creation Records
1996 60ft Dolls: Supernatural Joy. Geffen
1996 60ft Dolls: Indie Top 20, Volume 21 Beechwood Music
1996 60ft Dolls: The Best Album in The World Ever! Circa Records
1996 Radio 1 Sound City. Harmless
1995 60ft Dolls: The Big 3. RCA
1995 Shine Vol. 5. Universal Music
1988 Bloodbrothers: Honey and Blood, Jive Records
1985 The Truth: Playground, IRS Records
1985 The Truth: Exception of Love, IRS Records
1984 The Truth: 5 live at the 100 Club. IRS Records
Publications:
2014 Parfitt, R.J. The quasi-religious significance of Elvis, king of rock ’n’ roll: The
Conversation [online]
2014 Parfitt, R.J. Tales of Transformation: Wales Art Review [online]
2014 Parfitt, R.J. Price, A. Christmas Songwriting: Music Tech Magazine
2008 Dog of Two Heads Pan Issue 2 [pp. 55 - 58]
2007 Lakeside Taco Bell: Blue Tattoo Issue No.2 [pp.13 - 20]
2007 The Biggest Lie Pan Issue 1 [pp. 24 - 33]
2006 Iris: Portland Review Volume 53 [pp. 16 – 21]
Current Scholarship:
Studying for a PhD at Cardiff University: ‘Into the Mythic: The Role of Myth and
Transformation in the Construction and Reception of Iconic ‘Voices’ – an investigation of
Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan and David Bowie’.
2015 Institute of Musical Research: National ideology, Narrative technique, and the Nature of
Myth: The Sun King
2015 FACT Foundation for Art and Creative Technology: Me and the Black Dog: Multi
Media Art Installation
2014 IASPM UK and Ireland Biennial Conference: Cork University: Worlds of Popular
Music - The Songwriter as Seeker.
2014 HEA Media City UK, Salford Quays: Heroes and Monsters - extra-ordinary tales of
learning and teaching in the arts and humanities.
2014 HEA Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts: Teaching, Learning and Assessing
Songwriting in HE - No Guru, No Method, No Teacher
2013 TaPRA Conference, Glasgow University: comparative exploration of HE training for
stand-up comedy and popular music performance.
2013 Pop Mac University of Liverpool: International Conference on Analysing Popular
Music - Music and the Mythic Image
2012 IASPM Media City UK, Salford Quays: Imagining Communities Musically -Sleepless
in the New Seattle
2012 Leeds College of Music: International Song Writing Conference - Free Your Mind and
Your Verse Will Follow
External Examining:
MA Songwriting and Performance programme at the University of the West of Scotland:
validation panellist
BA (Hons) Music Business Degree programme at the University of South Wales: validation
panellist
BA (Hons) Popular Music Performance and Production programme at Solent University:
validation panellist
BA (Hons) Music Management programme at Solent University: validation panellist
BA (Hons) Digital Music programme at Solent University: validation panellist
Foundation Year in Popular Music Production programme at Solent University: validation
panellist
Recent Professional Updating:
2014 South Wales Echo 50 greatest Welsh songs of all time
2014 BBC Radio 6 Nations Favourite Britpop anthems
2008 Double Platinum Disc: Duffy Rockferry Deluxe Edition
2005 BBC Radio 1: Top 125 John Peel Sessions of all time
2003 Mojo magazine: Top Twelve Britpop Albums
1999 NME Brat award
1996 NME: Albums of the Year
1996 Melody Maker Albums of the Year
1996 The Guardian Albums of the Year
1996 New York Times: Critics Choice: Record of the Year
Professional Experience:
2010 Rough Trade Records: Development and Consultation
2008 Kobalt Music Publishers: Signed Writer
1997 Geffen Records USA: Signed Artist
1996 RCA Records: Signed Artist
1995 Sony Music Publishers: Signed Writer
1988 Jive Records: Signed Artist
1988 Zomba Music Publishers: Signed Writer
1984 IRS Records: Signed Artist
Critical Responses:
'Riff chomping pop metal blaster...rock god presence' (NME)
'Unadulterated, impassioned hedonistic rock 'n' roll' (Melody Maker)
‘Devilishly evocative document of the period' (Mojo)
'As close to soar-away pop perfection as it's possible to imagine' (The Guardian)
‘Fast, savage and unerringly great’ (Vox Magazine)
‘Brave and newly impressive writer’ (Uncut)
‘Reflective new direction for one time Britpop hell raiser: Archetypal romanticism inspired
by the likes of Morrison and Springsteen’ (Mojo)