Rick Parashar, Producer Who Helped Create Iconic Seattle Sound, Has Died
Rick Parashar, the music producer who introduced the world to the vocal stylings of Eddie Vedder and Pearl Jam, as well as countless other Seattle bands, has passed away. According to a report on Northwest Music Scene, Parashar passed away in his home on Queen Anne in Seattle from natural causes, after it was determined by the King County Medical Examiner that the legendary producer suffered a pulmonary embolism in his lower extremities. The blood clot started in his leg and travelled to his heart, ending his life.
Parashar, along with his brother Raj, founded the London Bridge Studio in Seattle in 1985. London Bridge was the studio that developed unique sounds with bands such as Alice in Chains, Blind Melon, My Goodness, Brandi Carlisle, Dinosaur, Jr., and Temple of the Dog.
Rick Parashar first found commercial success as the producer of Pearl Jam’s debut album, Ten. He also produced the “b-side” singles, Breath and State of Love and Trust, two tracks that found themselves onto the soundtrack to the 1992 Cameron Crowe film, Singles.
As the music world focused intently on the pacific northwest in the early 1990s, Rick Parashar’s fingerprints were everywhere. But his immeasurable skills were not confined only to Seattle. As the 90s went on, Parashar branched out, working with 3 Doors Down on their multi-platinum album, Away From The Sun, and he was even nominated for a Grammy for his work on Nickelback’s 2001 blockbuster, Silver Side Up, which went on to sell 6 million copies. Melissa Etheridge, Rob Zombie, Zakk Wylde and Bon Jovi also called upon Parashar’s services. Chris from 3 Doors Down tweeted about Parashar’s passing.
RIP Rick Parashar. You will be sadly missed!
— Chris3DoorsDown? (@Chris3dd) August 16, 2014
According to the biography on his website, Rick Parashar was best known for his production of vocals. His work with Eddie Vedder, a song-writing surfer from San Diego who sent a tape of songs to members of the band Mother Love Bone–which had just lost their lead singer, Andrew Wood to a drug overdose–propelled Vedder and newly named band, Pearl Jam, to instant superstardom.
Parashar also contributed piano, organ, Fender rhodes piano, and percussion on the Pearl Jam tracks Black and Jeremy; and the Temple of the Dog tracks, All Night Thing, Call Me A Dog, and Times of Trouble. Most recently, Parashar worked with the Seattle band My Goodness on their latest album, Shiver + Shake, and was working on other new projects including an acoustical and aesthetic facelift to a cafe called Louisa’s in the East Lake neighborhood in Seattle.
Rick Parashar will forever be known as the man who helped create an iconic sound that defined a generation. Rest in peace, Mr. Parashar.
[Images courtesy of RickParashar.com and Stereogum.com]
