{{short description|Actor; musician; television art director}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2015}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Parker Jacobs | image = ParkerJacobs.jpg | image_size = | caption = | birth_name = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1975|7|17}} | birth_place = Ogden, Utah, U.S. | origin = | instrument = Vocals, ukulele | years_active = 1982–present | associated_acts = GOGO13, The Sandfleas, The Aquabats }}
'''Parker LeGrand Jacobs''' (born July 17, 1975) is an American artist, musician, author and actor. He is known for his work as an art director on the children's television series ''Yo Gabba Gabba!'', for which he has been nominated for four Daytime Emmy Awards, as well as for his involvement with the Californian bands GOGO13, The Aquabats and The Sandfleas.<ref name="SOgoodParker">{{cite web |url=http://www.serialoptimist.com/interviews/parker-jacobs-is-so-good-at-everything-10955.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121118161443/http://www.serialoptimist.com/interviews/parker-jacobs-is-so-good-at-everything-10955.html |url-status=usurped |archive-date=November 18, 2012 |title=Parker Jacobs is SO Good At...Everything |publisher=Serial Optimist |date=November 14, 2012 |author=Thomasian, Deborah}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2012/05/09/39th-annual-daytime-emmy-award-nominations-announced/133122/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120511042048/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2012/05/09/39th-annual-daytime-emmy-award-nominations-announced/133122/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 11, 2012 |title=39th Annual Daytime Emmy Award Nominations Announced |publisher=TV by the Numbers |date=May 9, 2012}}</ref>
==Biography== ===Early life=== Parker LeGrand Jacobs was born in Ogden, Utah in 1975, the third child born into a LDS family. His middle name is in honor of his great-grandfather, prominent Latter-day Saint leader LeGrand Richards.<ref name="LDSfilmBIO">{{cite web |url=http://www.ldsfilm.com/bio/bioJ.html |title=Biographies: Jacobs, Parker |publisher=LDSfilm.com}}</ref> Following his family's relocation to California in 1976, Jacobs – like his older siblings Christian and Rachel and younger brother Tyler – worked as a child actor, appearing in numerous commercials and television shows in his preadolescence.<ref name="SOgoodParker" /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.deseretnews.com/article/579911/Childhood-acting-set-the-scene.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141109003916/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/579911/Childhood-acting-set-the-scene.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 9, 2014 |title=Childhood acting set the scene |author=Vice, Jeff |date=August 29, 1997 |publisher=Deseret News}}</ref> His most notable acting work included a starring role on the sitcom ''The Cavanaughs'', in which he appeared in every episode during the series' run from 1986 to 1989, and as the recurring character "Purdle the Turtle" on ''The Wonder Years''.<ref name="ParkerCantLose">{{cite web |url=http://www.kcet.org/arts/artbound/counties/orange/parker-jacobs-cant-lose.html |title=Parker Jacobs Can't Lose |date=September 19, 2012 |publisher=KCET |author=Bose, Lilledeshan}}</ref> Jacobs retired from show business in 1991, and shortly thereafter moved from California to St. George, Utah with family members.<ref name="ParkerMIOOint">{{cite web |url=https://musicaloccupation.blogspot.com/2007/08/interview-with-parker-jacobs.html |title=Interview with Parker Jacobs! |publisher=Music Is Our Occupation |date=August 14, 2007}}</ref>
While living in St. George, Jacobs formed the ska band GOGO13 with his brother Tyler in 1993, where he assumed the role of co-lead singer and songwriter. Though GOGO13 became a notable local success, the original incarnation of the band lasted just under a year until Jacobs left Utah in 1994 to serve his mission for the LDS Church, spending two years in West Virginia.<ref name="LDSfilmBIO" /> Upon his return, he moved back to California and became involved with his brother Christian's then-up-and-coming band The Aquabats, providing artwork for their logos, albums and merchandise, as well as contributing lyrics, various creative ideas and running their fan club.<ref name="ParkerCantLose" /><ref name="OCweeklyEsplode">{{cite web |url=http://www.ocweekly.com/2012-03-01/music/aquabats-super-show-mc-bat-commander-christian-jacobs/2/ |publisher=OC Weekly |date=March 1, 2012 |title=MC Bat Commander's Head Explodes! |access-date=May 11, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120506194409/http://www.ocweekly.com/2012-03-01/music/aquabats-super-show-mc-bat-commander-christian-jacobs/2/ |archive-date=May 6, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="GOGOCWeekly">{{cite web |url=http://www.ocweekly.com/2013-03-21/music/gogo13-parker-jacobs-johnny-beutler/full/ |title=GOGO13 Are Right Where They Want To Be...Finally |publisher=OC Weekly |date=March 21, 2013 |author=Bose, Lilledeshan |access-date=June 15, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150114081036/http://www.ocweekly.com/2013-03-21/music/gogo13-parker-jacobs-johnny-beutler/full/ |archive-date=January 14, 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Most visibly, however, Jacobs played the role of "The Professor" in The Aquabats' music videos and stage shows, taking part in the band's onstage skits and occasionally supplying backing vocals.<ref name="OCweeklyEsplode" /> Additionally, under the stage name "Mel", Jacobs was the lead vocalist for The Sandfleas, The Aquabats' costumed surf-punk side project, and recorded an EP with them in 1999. Jacobs retired from The Aquabats in the early 2000s, though sporadically continues to design posters and merchandise for the band, and occasionally appears as The Professor in concerts.
===Recent activities=== Jacobs joined Paul Frank Industries as an artist and graphic designer in 2000, eventually earning the title of Senior Design Director.<ref name="OttawaPFbio">{{cite web |url=http://www.animationfestival.ca/archives/2008/index.php?option=com_oiaf&task=showfilm&i=6751 |title=Parker Jacobs biography > Ottawa International Animation Festival |publisher=Ottawa International Animation Festival |year=2008}}</ref> In addition to designing the company's products, Jacobs was notable for writing and illustrating the company's very first children's book, ''Only in Dreams: A Bedtime Story'', featuring the Paul Frank mascot Julius the Monkey.<ref name="OttawaPFbio" /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-8118-6024-6 |title=Children's Review: Only in Dreams: A Bedtime Story by Parker Jacobs |publisher=Publishers Weekly |date=May 26, 2008}}</ref> In 2005, he briefly worked with Josh Agel, the artist better known as Shag, to help develop a clothing line which never came to fruition.<ref name="SOgoodParker" />
That same year, Jacobs helped contribute art design for an independently filmed pilot called ''Yo Gabba Gabba!'', a children's television series being developed by his brother Christian and his creative partner Scott Schultz. In 2007, the series was picked up by Viacom{{'}}s Nick Jr. Channel, prompting Jacobs to leave his job at Paul Frank to work full-time on the show.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://thesquarelife.com/articles/dream-jobs |title=Dream Jobs: Meet six individuals who are working their dream job. |publisher=The Square Life |year=2008 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111011032530/http://thesquarelife.com/articles/dream-jobs |archivedate=October 11, 2011 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> His various titles on ''Yo Gabba Gabba!'' have included character design, animation direction, set design, color styling, writing, composing, voiceovers, art direction and costume design, the latter two of which earned him three nominations for a Daytime Emmy Award. In the September 22, 2008 episode "Birthdays", Jacobs made an on-camera appearance in the "Cool Tricks" segment, showcasing his affinity for baking birthday cakes.<ref>''Yo Gabba Gabba!'' – Episode S02E01: "Birthdays" (September 22, 2008)</ref>
Jacobs served as a "creative consultant" for both seasons of The Aquabats' live-action television series ''The Aquabats! Super Show!'', contributing ideas and bits of writing to each episode between his work as art director on ''Yo Gabba Gabba!''.<ref name="SOgoodParker" /> In 2012, Jacobs, alongside Christian Jacobs and Jon Berrett, created ''The Goon Holler Guidebook'', a children's book about a Bigfoot and a wizard. Jacobs has expressed plans to pitch ''Goon Holler'' as a television series,<ref name="SOgoodParker" /><ref name="ParkerCantLose" /> and published the first of four children's books based on the concept, ''Welcome to Goon Holler'', in November 2014.
Jacobs spent most of his career in Huntington Beach, California, but currently lives in Boise, Idaho with his foxy wife, author Jennifer "JSP" Jacobs. He has two daughters and four stepsons. Since April, 10 2008, Jacobs has posted a drawing every day online in a feature he calls #ThisIsYourDailyDoodle.<ref name="SOgoodParker" /><ref name="ParkerCantLose" />
==Discography==
===As musician=== {{col-begin}} {{col-2}} ;GoGo13 <small>(all as vocals, ukulele and artwork)</small> * ''Demotape O' Fun'' (1994) * ''The Jets Demos'' (1994) * ''Toy Guns & Pixy Stix EP'' (1994) (unreleased) * ''It's a Trap!'' EP (2002) * ''House Ape Demo'' (2002) * ''The Fluke Sessions'' EP (2004) * ''RAAAAWR!!'' EP (2005) * ''¡Es Ploded!/Cereal'' 7" single (2009) * ''I Like It!'' LP (2012) * ''Yo Gabba Gabba! Hey!'' LP (2017) * ''GoGo13 Goes To Hollywood'' LP (2025)
;The Aquabats! *''The Fury of The Aquabats!'' (1997) – backing vocals, album artwork, songwriting credit on "Idiot Box!" *''The Aquabats vs. the Floating Eye of Death!'' (1999) – backing vocals, album artwork *''Myths, Legends and Other Amazing Adventures, Vol. 2'' (2000) – backing vocals, album artwork *''Finally!'' (2024) - backing vocals, album artwork
{{col-2}}
;The Sandfleas *''Four Songs By Four Jerks'' (1999) – lead vocals, album artwork
;Santa On A Panda *''Santa On A Panda'' (2020) – lead vocals, album artwork
;Goon Holler *''Toobaloth of Goon Holler (Original Soundtrack)'' (2021) – lead vocals, album artwork
{{col-end}}
===As artist=== Parker Jacobs has provided cover artwork and/or illustrations for the following albums, not including the albums listed above:<ref>{{cite web |url=http://allmusic.com/artist/parker-jacobs-p353593/credits |title=Parker Jacobs > Credits |publisher=allmusic.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.discogs.com/artist/Parker+Jacobs |title=Parker Jacobs Discography |publisher=Discogs.com}}</ref> *Mealticket – ''Misconceptions'' (1996) *The Insyderz – ''Skalleluia!'' (1998) *The Insyderz – ''Skalleluia Too!'' (1999) *Digital Unicorn – ''Theirs Travel Began and Loaded the Dream'' (2001) *The Insyderz – ''The Greatest and Rarest'' (2001) *Lederhosen Lucil – ''Tales from the Pantry'' (2003) *The Vandals – ''Internet Dating Superstuds'' (2003) *Josh Wink – ''When a Banana Was Just a Banana'' (2009) + ''Remixed and Repeeled'' (2010) *''Yo Gabba Gabba!'' – ''Music Is...Awesome!, Vol. 3'' (2011) *''Yo Gabba Gabba!'' – ''Music Is...Awesome!, Vol. 4'' (2012) *''Lone Raspberry'' – ''Children Of The Horn'' (2012) *''Yo Gabba Gabba!'' – ''A Very Awesome Yo Gabba Gabba Christmas'', (2024)
==Filmography==
===Acting=== {| class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%;" ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Year ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Title ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Role ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Notes |- | 1982 | ''Scamps'' | Jinx | Unsold TV pilot |- | rowspan=3|1983 | ''Trapper John, M.D.'' | 1st Boy | Episode: "Eternally Yours" |- | ''Charles in Charge'' | Max Shrimner | Episode: "Friends & Lovers" |- | ''E/R'' | Alan Turner | Episode: "Both Sides Now" |- | rowspan=2|1985 | ''The Jeffersons'' | Johnny | Episode: "Sayonara: Part 2" |- | ''Simon & Simon'' | Little Boy | Episode: "The Third Eye" |- | rowspan=3|1986 | ''A Fighting Choice'' | Harvey Taylor | Made for TV movie |- | ''My Town'' | Tug Wheeler | Made for TV movie |- | ''Amazing Stories'' | John Willson | Episode: "Welcome to My Nightmare" |- | 1986–1989 | ''The Cavanaughs'' | John Cavanaugh | Series regular |- | 1987 | ''Valerie's Family: The Hogans'' | Nick Avery | Episode: "Liars and Other Strangers" |- | rowspan=2|1988 | ''My Sister Sam'' | | Episode: "Grand Prize" |- | ''The Wrong Guys'' | Kid Glen | Feature film |- | 1989–1991 | ''The Wonder Years'' | Purdle the Turtle | Recurring character |- | 1998 | ''The Aquabats!'' | The Professor | TV pilot |- | 1999 | ''The Aquabats! In Color!'' | Professor Monty Corndog | TV pilot |- | 2003 | ''Serious Awesomeness!'' | The Professor | |- | rowspan=2|2008 | ''Yo Gabba Gabba!'' | Himself | Episode: "Birthday" – segment: "Cool Tricks" |- | ''The Up Beat: A Documentary on Utah Ska'' | Himself | Documentary film |}
===Production=== {| class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%;" ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Year ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Title ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Role |- | 1999 | ''The Aquabats! In Color!'' | Graphics |- | 2007–present | ''Yo Gabba Gabba!'' | Art director, character design, animation, composing |- | 2012–2014 | ''The Aquabats! Super Show!'' | Creative consultant |}
==Bibliography== {| class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%;" ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Year ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Title ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Role |- | March 26, 2008 | ''Only in Dreams: A Bedtime Story'' | Author and illustrator |- | October 1, 2012 | ''The Goon Holler Guidebook'' | Illustrator; co-authored with Christian Jacobs and Jon Berrett |- | January 1, 2013 | ''Super Gabba Friends!'' | Illustrator; adapted by Tina Gallo |- | November 18, 2014 | ''Welcome to Goon Holler'' | Illustrator; co-authored with Christian Jacobs |- | June 2, 2015 | ''Goon Holler: Goon Fishin{{'}}'' | Illustrator; co-authored with Christian Jacobs |- | March 1, 2019 | ''Ranger Rick's Storybook: Favorite Nature Tales from Ranger Rick Magazine'' | Illustrator |- | April 20, 2021 | ''Toobaloth of Goon Holler'' | Author and Illustrator
|}
==Accolades== {{awards table}} |- | 2008 | Daytime Emmy | Outstanding Achievement in Costume Design/Styling | {{nom}} |- | 2009 | Daytime Emmy | Outstanding Achievement in Costume Design/Styling | {{nom}} |- | 2011 | Daytime Emmy | Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction/Set Decoration/Scenic Design | {{nom}} |- | 2012 | Daytime Emmy | Outstanding Achievement in Costume Design/Styling | {{nom}} |- | 2016 | Daytime Emmy | Outstanding Achievement in Costume Design/Styling | {{nom}} |- | 2026 | Children's & Family Emmy Award | Outstanding Costume Design / Styling | {{nom}}
|}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[https://parkerjacobs.blogspot.com/ The Parker Jacobs Blog] *{{IMDb name|id=0414571|name=Parker Jacobs}} *[http://www.goonhollerbook.com The Goon Holler Book]
{{The Aquabats}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jacobs, Parker}} Category:1975 births Category:American graphic designers Category:21st-century American illustrators Category:American children's book illustrators Category:American Latter Day Saint artists Category:American male child actors Category:American Mormon missionaries in the United States Category:American ska singers Category:Living people Category:Musicians from Ogden, Utah Category:People from St. George, Utah Category:Artists from Ogden, Utah Category:Latter Day Saints from Utah Category:Latter Day Saints from California Category:21st-century American singers Category:21st-century American male singers