Joe Parsons Born:  September 22, 1883 Died:  December 23, 1947 WLS National Barn Dance

About The Artist Hailed as radio's favorite basso, sometimes called the "deep sea basso". His best-known song back then was "The Big Bass Viol". He was a regular on Saturday nights on the National Barn Dance. Joe was a native of Indianapolis, IN, attended Culber Military Academy and also aspired to be a dancer. He broke his leg playing football, thereby deciding that singing was to be his career. The story goes that he came to Chicago to sell chewing gum, got a job in a musical show and worked his way through musical college. He had a variety of stage experience, too, including four years in the grand opera in New York, a long term in the New York Hippodrome. Joe was also an inspector they say at a war plant. Timeline and Trivia Notes Group Members included: Married; 3 children Voice ranged three octaves, from B flat to high G

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