Charlie Parr is an American country blues musician born in 1967 in Austin, Minnesota, who has built a career rooted in traditional blues and folk traditions. After spending part of his childhood in nearby Hollandale, Parr established himself as a performer in Duluth, drawing deep inspiration from blues legends including Charlie Patton, Bukka White, Reverend Gary Davis, Mississippi John Hurt, and Dave Van Ronk. Most influential to Parr's artistic development has been Minneapolis blues icon Spider John Koerner, whom he cites as his hero — a connection that deepened when Koerner gifted Parr his cherished 12-string Gretsch guitar before his death in 2024, requesting that Parr continue to use it on stage. Known for his distinctive approach to Piedmont blues style, Parr performs on a variety of instruments including Mule resonator, National resonator guitar, fretless open-back banjo, and twelve-string guitar.
Parr's recorded work has garnered international attention, particularly after his song "1922" was featured in Vodafone television advertisements across Australia, New Zealand, and the Netherlands, leading to a re-release of his album 1922 on Melbourne's Level 2 record label. His music has been featured in the 2010 Australian drama film Red Hill, which prominently showcased his song "Just Like Today" in the closing credits, as well as in commercials for Gerber Gear. In 2009, Parr toured Australia alongside Paul Kelly, expanding his presence in the international music community.
Throughout his career, Parr has maintained an active presence on the festival circuit, having performed at notable events including the 2011 Pickathon Music Festival in Oregon and the 2012 Willamina's Wildwood MusicFest & Campout, while also serving as a featured performer at the Mid West Music Fest. His legacy continues to be shaped by the influence of his predecessors and his dedication to preserving and evolving traditional blues and folk music traditions.
