{{Short description|Welsh musician}} {{about|the 60ft. Dolls musician|the Status Quo musician|Rick Parfitt}} thumb|Richard Parfitt, Southampton Guildhall, 1996 '''Richard John Parfitt'''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nation.cymru/culture/on-being-a-writer-in-wales-richard-john-parfitt/|title=On Being a Writer in Wales: Richard John Parfitt|date=Jul 16, 2023|website=Nation.Cymru|access-date=10 August 2024}}</ref> is a Welsh writer<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-07-16 |title=On Being a Writer in Wales: Richard John Parfitt |url=https://nation.cymru/culture/on-being-a-writer-in-wales-richard-john-parfitt/ |access-date=2024-02-02 |website=Nation.cymru |language=en-GB}}</ref> and musician<ref name="bathspa">{{cite web|url=https://applications.bathspa.ac.uk/staff-profiles/profile.asp?user=academic%5Cparr6|title=Bath Spa University - Our People|website=Applications.bathspa.ac.uk|access-date=2016-06-21|archive-date=2015-02-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150224092051/https://applications.bathspa.ac.uk/staff-profiles/profile.asp?user=academic%5Cparr6|url-status=dead}}</ref> from Newport, Wales. Born in Cwmbran,<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20210517220519/https://planetmagazine.org.uk/planet-online/242/richard-john-parfitt] </ref> Parfitt spent two years<ref>{{Cite web |last=Exchange |first=Wales Lit |date=2024-03-22 |title=Richard John Parfitt |url=https://waleslitexchange.org/authors/richard-john-parfitt |access-date=2024-03-22 |website=Wales Lit Exchange |language=en}}</ref> as a teenager living in Toronto before returning home in 1980. Most publicly notable for his role as a founding member of 1990s rock band The 60ft. Dolls.<ref name="allmusic">{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/60-ft-dolls-mn0000920131|title=60 Ft. Dolls | Biography, Albums, & Streaming Radio|website=AllMusic|access-date=2016-06-21}}</ref> He had previously played in local mod band The Colours, who were renowned for busking on the streets of Newport. The Colours only released the one single, "The Dance", on the Loco label before he left to join The Truth in 1984, playing bass on their ''Five Live'' EP which was recorded at the 100 Club, as well as their 1985 album, ''Playground''.
After having several UK Top 40 hits during the 1990s, along with moderate success in the US, the 60 ft. Dolls split and Parfitt began working as a professional songwriter and session musician, going on to be credited by Welsh singer Duffy of discovering her talents and 'changing her life'.<ref name="telegraph">{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/3558704/Duffy-small-wonder.html|title=Duffy: small wonder |date=17 August 2008 |website=Telegraph.co.uk|access-date=2016-06-21}}</ref> Parfitt helped write several songs for the artist's deluxe edition<ref>{{Cite web|website=Openh.spotify.com |title=Rockferry (Deluxe Edition) |date=2008-01-01 |url=https://open.spotify.com/album/5Mxz1P0qfXLR6SgE6xbyBb |access-date=2024-02-02 |language=en}}</ref> of the album ''Rockferry'' - which had considerable commercial success around the world, reaching UK No. 1 and becoming one of the ten best-selling albums in the world in 2008<ref name="telegraph2">{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/rockandjazzmusic/4640295/Coldplay-and-Duffy-among-British-acts-dominating-top-ten-global-albums-of-2008.html|title=Coldplay and Duffy among British acts dominating top ten global albums of 2008 - Telegraph|date=16 February 2009 |website=Telegraph.co.uk|access-date=2016-06-21}}</ref> – including the song from the film ''How To Lose Friends and Alienate People'', "Enough Love".<ref name="allmusic2">{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/how-to-lose-friends-and-alienate-people-mw0000800886|title=How to Lose Friends and Alienate People - Original Soundtrack | Songs, Reviews, Credits|website=AllMusic|access-date=2016-06-21}}</ref>
Parfitt also worked as a session guitarist on British artist Dido's second studio album, ''Life for Rent''.
In 2019, Parfitt was shortlisted for the New Welsh Review Rheidol Prize in Writing<ref>{{Cite web |title=2019 Shortlist - Writing with a Welsh Theme or Setting |url=https://newwelshreview.com/award-page/2019-awards/shortlist-writing-with-a-welsh-theme-or-setting |access-date=2024-02-02 |website=New Welsh Review |language=en-GB}}</ref> for his long form essay, 'Tales From the Riverbank'. He published his first novel ''Stray Dogs'' with Third Man Books,<ref>{{Cite web |title=THIRD MAN BOOKS IS EXCITED TO PUBLISH RICHARD JOHN PARFITT'S DEBUT NOV – Third Man Records – Official Store |url=https://thirdmanrecords.com/blogs/news/third-man-books-is-excited-to-publish-richard-john-parfitt-s-debut-novel-stray-dogs |access-date=2024-02-02 |website=Thirdmanrecords.com}}</ref> the publishing arm of Third Man Records in 2023.
He has since written articles and papers in various musical contexts,<ref name="musictech">{{cite web|url=http://www.musictech.net/2014/12/christmas-songwriting/|title=Christmas Songwriting|website=Musictech.net|access-date=2016-06-21}}</ref><ref name="theconversation">{{cite web|url=http://theconversation.com/the-quasi-religious-significance-of-elvis-king-of-rock-n-roll-35300|title=The quasi-religious significance of Elvis, king of rock 'n' roll|date=11 December 2014 |website=Theconversation.com|access-date=2016-06-21}}</ref> and worked mainly in higher education,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-12-08 |title=Richard J Parfitt |url=https://theconversation.com/profiles/richard-j-parfitt-147694 |access-date=2024-03-22 |website=Theconversation.com |language=en-US}}</ref> as well as directing the world's first songwriting degree programme, the MMus in Songwriting, at Bath Spa University in Bath, England.<ref name="bathspa"/><ref name="bathspa2">{{cite web|url=http://www.bathspa.ac.uk/schools/music-and-performing-arts/courses/postgraduate/songwriting|title=Bath Spa University - Schools - Music And Performing Arts - Courses - Postgraduate|website=Bathspa.ac.uk|access-date=2016-06-21}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Parfitt, Richard}} Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Living people Category:People from Newport, Wales Category:Welsh scholars and academics Category:Welsh rock musicians