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Phil Parnell was an American pianist born on November 17, 1955, in Dallas, Texas. He developed a serious interest in music at the age of five and was heavily influenced by jazz during his teenage years. Parnell pursued his musical education at Berklee College of Music in Boston. After returning to New Orleans, he worked with several traditional masters and accompanied many of the city's extraordinary musicians, engaging in various genres such as funk, R&B, Latin, rock, and traditional music. He performed in numerous dance halls, bars, steamboats, concerts, festivals, and gigs both in New Orleans and around the world. Throughout his career, Parnell collaborated with a variety of notable musicians. He received a grant for composition from the National Endowment of the Arts through Musicians for Music in New Orleans. Later, he resided in London, UK, where he performed at various venues, participated in recording sessions with different bands, composed and recorded his own music, and conducted workshops for children and special adults. Phil Parnell passed away on September 2, 2015, at the age of 59.