DEAN PARRISH…HE’S ON HIS WAY…TO THE CITY
Following the welcome news that Jose Carreras and Katherine Jenkins are to headline this Summer
in Preston. Another fantastic first in this important Preston Guild year has just been announced.
The Soul singer Dean Parrish is flying in from New York to appear for one night only at the Third
“Preston’s got Soul” event at 53 Degrees on Friday September the 9th….which incidentally is the
same date as Jose and Katherine, but much much later in the evening!
“Brilliant where do I obtain tickets” I hear from those in the know and “Who the heck’s Dean Parrish
when he’s at home” I hear from those uninitiated Prestonians living amongst us!
Well, let me tell you who we have appearing in Preston and why this is a major coup for the City.
Dean Parrish was born Phil Anastasi in Little Italy New York sometime around 1942 to Spanish and
Italian parents. His singing career began in street corner doo-wop groups and it was from there that
he was spotted and persuaded to sing professionally in the Peppermint Lounge, New York’s top
night club of the 1960’s.
On the advice of Ronnie Spector, Phil changed his name to Dean Parrish and began his recording
career in 1964.
Some success was had with his soul singles “I’m on my way” “Tell her” “Determination” “Skate” and
“Bricks, broken bottles and sticks”. During this period, Dean appeared alongside Mitch Ryder and
The Capitals, and even appeared on a Tamla Motown review with The Supremes.
In 1967 as his recording career began to wane Dean reverted back to his original name and became
an actor appearing in television and films whilst also retaining his connections to the music industry
during the 1970’s, playing guitar with Herbie Mann and as a session musician for Jimi Hendrix,
Santana and Bob Marley.
Meanwhile over in the UK the Northern Soul scene of the 1970’s had really taken off with obscure
1960’s soul recordings being “discovered” and played to 1000’s of new fans.
Russ Winstanley of Wigan Casino and BBC Radio Lancashire fame heard Parrish’s recording “I’m on
my Way” and it very quickly became a favourite track .It was re-recorded in 1975 and has gone on to
sell over a Million copies!
Parrish who had changed his name back to Anastasi remained totally unaware of his fame on this
side of the Atlantic with attempts to make contact with him proving fruitless over the subsequent
two decades. Eventually however Dean contacted Russ Winstanley in 2001 and was persuaded by
him to travel to the UK where to his astonishment he found himself performing in front of thousands
of fans at a Northern soul revival weekend in Prestatyn North Wales.
As well as continuing his now flourishing Northern Soul concert career in the UK, Dean has also
continued acting and has appeared in an episode of “The Sopranos” the TV gangster series!
In 2006 Dean Parrish recorded Timi Yuro’s song “It’ll never be over for me”, the classic end of the
night track heard at most Northern Soul venues over the years. Dean continues to record in his
home City of New York.
So there you have it……the Northern Soul legend Dean Parrish is on his way to the City of Preston
hot on the heels of a career which has spanned work with Ronnie Spector, Jimi Hendrix, Bob Marley
and last but by no means least “The Sopranos” A fantastic coup for Preston in Guild year!
Northern soul……..Keep the Faith!
For tickets to see Dean Parrish along with DJ Russ Winstanley at the “Prestons got Soul” event at 53
Degrees on the 9th September…contact Luke on 07708335731 or via the PGS website