Sista Monica Parker facts for kids

Sista Monica Parker, born Monica C. Parker, was an American singer, songwriter, and record producer. She was known for her powerful voice in electric blues, blues rock, gospel, and soul music. She was born on April 27, 1956, and passed away on October 9, 2014.

Sista Monica was inspired by many famous musicians. These included Al Green, Aretha Franklin, and Sam Cooke. She wrote most of her own songs. During her life, she released eleven albums. She also performed with many well-known artists. Some of these included B.B. King, Etta James, and Gladys Knight.

In 2015, after she passed away, she won a special award. It was a Blues Music Award for 'Soul Blues Female Artist of the Year'.

Her Life and Music Journey

Early Life and Military Service

Monica C. Parker was born in Gary, Indiana, United States. She started singing at a young age. When she was seven, she sang in her local Baptist church. After finishing college, Monica joined the United States Marine Corps. She served for three years, from 1977 to 1980. She even became a sergeant during her time in the Marines.

Starting a Business and Music Career

After leaving the military, Monica started her own business. It was a company that helped electrical engineers find jobs. She first set up her business in Chicago. Later, she moved it to Silicon Valley. There, she worked with big companies like Apple Inc., Hewlett-Packard, and Yahoo!.

In 1992, Monica began her singing career. Her neighbor, the famous rapper MC Hammer, encouraged her. She started performing regularly at a place called Emi’s Bar & Grille in Santa Cruz, California.

First Albums and Touring

By 1995, Sista Monica released her first album. It was called Get Out of My Way. She released it on her own record label, Mo Muscle Records. One of her songs, "Windy City Burner," became popular on the radio. This helped her start touring across the US, Canada, and parts of Europe. In 1997, she released her next album, simply called Sista Monica.

Awards and Collaborations

In 1998, Sista Monica was nominated for a Blues Music Award. She also won a California Music Award that year. Her album People Love the Blues came out in 2000. It featured special guest appearances from blues guitarists Jimmy Thackery and Larry McCray.

Gospel Music and "The Blues Lioness"

In 2001, she released Gimme That Old Time Religion. This was her first album focused on gospel music. Later that same year, she released Live in Europe. This album was recorded during a performance in Peer, Belgium. Her powerful performances in Europe in the late 1990s earned her a special nickname: "the Blues Lioness."

Facing Health Challenges

Sista Monica performed at the Monterey Bay Blues Festival in 2002. However, later that year, she received difficult news. She was diagnosed with a rare illness called synovial sarcoma. Doctors initially thought she only had three months to live. She went through treatments like chemotherapy and radiation.

After her treatments, she bravely returned to the recording studio. In 2004, she released Love, Soul & Spirit, Vol. 1. Sista Monica also started a 40-voice choir. It was called the Sista Monica Gospel & Inspirational Choir. This choir included people from different faiths.

Later Albums and Performances

In 2005, her album Can't Keep a Good Woman Down was released. It included her versions of classic songs. These were "Funny How Time Slips Away" by Willie Nelson and "A Change Is Gonna Come" by Sam Cooke. In 2008, she released Sweet Inspirations. Sista Monica produced this album herself.

Her 2011 album, Living in the Danger Zone, featured a duet. She sang and played piano with Kelley Hunt on one of the songs.

Sista Monica performed at many music events. These included the San Francisco Blues Festival (in 1995 and 1997). She also appeared at the Monterey Jazz Festival (1998) and the Notodden Blues Festival (1999).

Recognitions and Honors

Sista Monica Parker received many awards for her talent. In 2005, she was named the Santa Cruz County Artist of the Year. She also won the Gail Rich Award for excellence in the arts in 2000.

In 1998, she was called 'Best Blues Artist' at the California Music Awards. She was nominated for 'Best Soul Blues Female Artist' at the Blues Music Awards several times. These nominations were in 2007, 2008, 2010, and 2012. In 2015, after her passing, she finally won this prestigious Blues Music Award.

Her Passing

Sista Monica Parker passed away on October 9, 2014. She was 58 years old. She died from lung cancer at Kaiser Permanente Hospital in Modesto, California.

Music Albums