{{Short description|American DJ and record producer (born 1972)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=May 2026}} {{Infobox musical artist | background = person | name = Theo Parrish | image = Tauron Nowa Muzyka 2014 - Theo Parrish.jpg | alt = | caption = Theo Parrish at the 2014 Tauron Nowa Muzyka in Katowice, Poland. | birth_name = | alias = | birth_date = {{Birth year and age|1972}} | birth_place = | origin = Washington, D.C. | death_date = | death_place = | genre = Deep house<ref>{{cite web |last1=Anderson-Rich |first1=Louis |title=THE 15 BEST PRE-00S DEEP HOUSE ALBUMS |url=https://mixmag.net/feature/the-15-best-pre-00s-deep-house-albums |website=Mixmag |access-date=14 April 2021}}</ref> | occupation = {{hlist|DJ|record producer}} | years_active = 1998–present | label = {{hlist|Sound Signature|Peacefrog|Submerge|Ugly Edits}} | current_member_of = {{hlist|3 Chairs|The Rotating Assembly|T.O.M. Project}} | past_member_of = | website = <!-- {{URL|example.com}} --> }} '''Theo Parrish''' (born 1972<ref name=allmusic>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/theo-parrish-mn0000925188/biography|title=Theo Parrish - Biography|work=AllMusic|first=John|last=Bush|accessdate=March 16, 2018}}</ref>) is an American DJ and record producer based in Detroit, Michigan,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.residentadvisor.net/features/896|title=Theo Parrish: Unusual suspect|work=Resident Advisor|first=Todd L.|last=Burns|date=April 29, 2008|accessdate=March 16, 2018}}</ref> and known for his genre-spanning DJ sets and unconventional house productions.<ref name=allmusic/> He is an owner of the Sound Signature record label,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/sound-signature-sounds-mw0000548982|title=Sound Signature Sounds - Theo Parrish|work=AllMusic|first=Jason|last=Birchmeier|accessdate=March 16, 2018}}</ref> and a member of the group 3 Chairs.<ref name="Fact">{{cite web|url=https://www.factmag.com/2009/09/22/3-chairs-retrospective-from-theo-parrish-moodymann-and-rick-wilhite/|title=3 Chairs retrospective from Theo Parrish, Moodymann and Rick Wilhite|work=Fact|date=September 22, 2009|access-date=June 18, 2019|archive-date=October 4, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201004023210/https://www.factmag.com/2009/09/22/3-chairs-retrospective-from-theo-parrish-moodymann-and-rick-wilhite/|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Biography== Theo Parrish was born in Washington, D.C. in 1972.<ref name=allmusic/> He grew up in Chicago, Illinois, listening to Miles Davis, Nina Simone, and George Gershwin.<ref name=junkee>{{cite web|url=http://inthemix.junkee.com/theo-parrish-sound-sculptor/12678|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160919120122/http://inthemix.junkee.com/theo-parrish-sound-sculptor/12678|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 19, 2016|title=Theo Parrish: Sound sculptor|work=Junkee|first=Tom|last=Cochrane|date=December 24, 2009|accessdate=March 16, 2018}}</ref> He studied at the Chicago Academy of the Arts and the Kansas City Art Institute.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mixmag.net/feature/theo-parrish-1|title=Theo Parrish|work=Mixmag|first=Marc|last=Rowlands|date=February 18, 2015|accessdate=March 16, 2018}}</ref> While at KCAI, he concentrated on sound sculptures, creating sonic pieces by combining live instruments, human voices, and looped recordings.<ref name=junkee/> In 1994, he received his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.xlr8r.com/event/deep-space-theo-parrish-francois-k-at-cielo/|title=Deep Space: Theo Parrish & Francois K at Cielo|work=XLR8R|accessdate=March 16, 2018}}</ref>
After graduating, Parrish moved to Detroit and became involved in the city's music scene, eventually releasing the track "Lake Shore Drive" as a B-side to a Moodymann 12" in 1995.<ref name=allmusic/> His first solo release was the ''Baby Steps'' EP on Elevate in 1996.<ref name=allmusic/> Parrish launched the label Sound Signature in 1997, and followed with his debut LP ''First Floor'' in 1998 on Peacefrog Records.<ref name=allmusic/> He also released ''American Intelligence'' (2014).<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/theo_parrish_delivers_american_intelligence_album |title=Theo Parrish Unveils 'American Intelligence' Album |website=Exclaim! |first=Gregory |last=Adams |date=November 6, 2014 |access-date=May 8, 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201124005125/https://exclaim.ca/music/article/theo_parrish_delivers_american_intelligence_album |archive-date=November 24, 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref>
He is a member of 3 Chairs,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/data-breaker/Content?oid=25424|title=Data Breaker|work=The Stranger|first=Dave|last=Segal|date=December 1, 2005|accessdate=March 16, 2018}}</ref> with Detroit DJs Rick Wilhite, Moodymann, and Marcellus Pitman,<ref name="Fact"/> The Rotating Assembly,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.factmag.com/2010/09/12/the-essential-theo-parrish/9/|title=The Essential... Theo Parrish (page 9 of 11)|work=Fact|author=Mr. Beatnick|date=September 12, 2010|accessdate=March 16, 2018}}</ref> and of T.O.M. Project.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.factmag.com/2010/11/12/fact-mix-201-marcellus-pittman/|title=Fact mix 201: Marcellus Pittman|work=Fact|date=November 12, 2010|accessdate=March 16, 2018}}</ref> He often used the Akai MPC 2000XL in his productions.<ref>{{Citation |title=CDR Berlin Workshop THEO PARRISH (Detroit) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97G9lETR6s4 |language=en |access-date=2022-07-14}}</ref>
==Style== Parrish became known for his eclectic house DJ sets, in which he mixed "classics and obscurities" from disco, jazz, soul, and new wave.<ref name=allmusic/> His early releases weaved these influences into "slow-burning, immersive grooves."<ref name=allmusic/> ''Vice'' stated that "his lengthy sets are masterclasses in the manipulation of black dance music, EQ heavy workouts that educate, entertain and inform," and added that "Parrish has an innate understanding of the pleasure that comes with repetition."<ref name="vice">{{cite web |last1=Baines |first1=Josh |title=American Intelligence: A Primer on Theo Parrish |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/intelligent-american-icon-a-theo-parrish-primer/ |website=Vice |access-date=13 April 2021}}</ref>
==Discography== ===Studio albums=== * ''First Floor'' (Peacefrog Records, 1998) * ''Parallel Dimensions'' (Sound Signature, 2000) * ''Sound Sculptures Volume 1'' (Sound Signature, 2007) * ''Et Tu Brute'' (with Duminie Deporres; Submerge Recordings, 2007) * ''Sketches'' (Sound Signature, 2010) * ''American Intelligence'' (Sound Signature, 2014) * ''Wuddaji'' (Sound Signature, 2020)
===Compilation albums=== * ''Sound Signature Sounds'' (Sound Signature, 2000) * ''Sound Signature Sounds Vol. 2'' (Sound Signature, 2012) * ''Black Jazz Signature'' (Snow Dog Records, 2013) * ''DJ-Kicks: Theo Parrish'' (!K7, 2022)<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/theo-parrish-dj-kicks-theo-parrish/ |title=DJ-Kicks: Theo Parrish Album Review |website=Pitchfork |first=Piotr |last=Orlov |date=October 29, 2022 |access-date=April 9, 2026}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{discogs artist}} * [https://myspace.com/soundsignature Sound Signature] on Myspace * {{facebook|31607718809|Sound Signature}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Parrish, Theo}} Category:American techno musicians Category:American club DJs Category:Musicians from Detroit Category:1972 births Category:Living people Category:Peacefrog Records artists Category:Ubiquity Records artists Category:Kansas City Art Institute alumni