Tom Parker (singer) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Tom Parker
Parker in 2012
Born	Thomas Anthony Parker (1988-08-04)4 August 1988 Bolton, Greater Manchester, England
Died	30 March 2022(2022-03-30) (aged 33)
Occupation	Singer
Spouse(s)	Kelsey Hardwick ​ (m. 2018)​
Children	2
Musical career
Instruments	Vocals guitar piano
Years active	2009–2022
Associated acts	The Wanted

Thomas Anthony Parker (born August 4, 1988 – died March 30, 2022) was an English singer. He was famous for being a member of the British boy band The Wanted. In 2013, Tom and his bandmates starred in their own TV show called The Wanted Life. After the band took a break in 2014, he started his own solo music career.

In October 2020, when he was 32, Tom found out he had a serious brain tumour that couldn't be removed. The Wanted got back together in September 2021. Sadly, Tom passed away from his illness on March 30, 2022, at 33 years old.

Early Life

Tom Parker was born and grew up in Bolton, England. He started playing the guitar when he was sixteen. He tried out for The X Factor but did not make it past the first round.

He went to Manchester Metropolitan University to study Geography. However, he left college to follow his dream of becoming a professional singer. Before joining The Wanted, Tom was part of a Take That tribute band called Take That II. They toured around Northern England.

Music Career

Parker with his bandmates in The Wanted

In 2009, a big audition was held to create a new boy band. Tom Parker was chosen as one of the five members. The other members were Nathan Sykes, Siva Kaneswaran, Max George, and Jay McGuiness. They named their band The Wanted.

Their first song, "All Time Low", came out on July 25, 2010. It quickly became number one on the UK Singles Chart. Their next song, "Heart Vacancy", was released in October 2010. It reached number two in the UK. Their third song, "Lose My Mind", came out in December 2010.

In 2013, the band had their own reality TV show called The Wanted Life on the E! channel. The show lasted for one season. In January 2014, The Wanted announced they would take a break. As a member of the band, Tom helped sell over 12 million records worldwide.

After The Wanted took a break, Tom Parker also worked as a DJ. He released a song called "Fireflies" with Richard Rawson in August 2014. In May 2015, he was on the TV show Celebrity MasterChef. He made it to the semi-finals.

In October 2015, Tom released his own solo song called "Undiscovered". He also created his own website and announced tour dates. In February 2016, he joined the TV show The Jump and finished in third place. In 2017, Tom played the main role of Danny Zuko in the UK tour of the musical Grease.

Personal Life

Tom Parker married Kelsey Hardwick in 2018. They had a daughter in July 2019. Their son was born in October 2020.

Illness and Passing

On October 12, 2020, Tom Parker shared that he had been diagnosed with a serious glioblastoma brain tumour. He had a seizure in July and later another one during a family trip. In January 2021, Tom shared on Instagram that his tumour had shrunk a lot. He continued to receive treatment.

In September, Tom organized a special charity concert called "Inside My Head" at the Royal Albert Hall. This event helped raise money for Stand Up to Cancer. Many artists performed, including Becky Hill, McFly, and Liam Payne. It was also the first time The Wanted performed together since their break in 2014. On November 3, Tom announced on Twitter that his brain tumour was stable.

Tom Parker passed away from complications of his brain tumour on March 30, 2022. He was 33 years old.

Filmography

See also

In Spanish: Tom Parker (cantante) para niños