Terry Parrish

Terry Parrish was born in Ft. Wayne, Indiana in 1954. After initial years of rudimentary piano lessons, his interest in playing waned until mid-high school when he and his brother restored a vintage player piano. They acquired a number of piano rolls, one of which featured a medley of popular rags, such as "Maple Leaf" and "Black and White Rag". Being able to sight read and possessing a good ear for chord structure, he began learning rags and fox trots from the era. Through college and medical school, Terry continued playing ragtime and pop piano for his own enjoyment and for entertainment.

In the early 1970's, Terry first played briefly on the Goldenrod Showboat. Later, his group, "The Elite Syncopators", became regular guests at the St Louis Ragtime Festivals. Since the mid-1980's, Terry and the group have played numerous rag fests around the country. He has also made many professional appearances as a soloist.

Piano playing is a true love for Terry, but his primary employment is functioning as a medical director for a large Mental Health Center in Indianapolis. He is married to a nurse [Beth] who plays classical piano. They have four children - all of them musically talented. Terry was a featured piano soloist at the Tom Turpin Ragtime Festival in Savannah, Georgia in October 1996.

Terry and "The Elite Syncopators" have recorded a number of tapes and, more recently, issued a CD on the Stomp-Off Label.