SurfGuitar101.com | Forums: Don Parra - Rest In Peace

surfbeatnik

Joined: Apr 01, 2007
Posts: 347
Sea Country, CA, USA
United States

Posted on Jun 03 2017 12:42 PM

Lost a friend and band mate...Don Parra has passed away.

Fellow Torquay, Steve Soest, called me this morning to share the sad news that Don had passed late last night, June 2, 2017.

Among the many aspects of his time with us, he was the most excellent bass player in The Torquays and always had a unique outlook on surf band life and music. Shared the stage with him many times and have lots of fond memories of those occasions.

Rest in peace, Don

—

Surfbeatnik

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bigtikidude

Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 25704
Anaheim(So.Cal.)U.S.A.
United States

Posted on Jun 03 2017 01:09 PM

This is very sad news indeed. Don was the nicest of guys, and his passing is way to early. I will never forget his smile and happiness to see me at
Torquays shows, or even anywhere we happened to see each other.
One of my best memories of Don was when the Torquays were playing the city of Orange "international street fair". He had a leg or knee issue, and was walking around slowly with a cane. He needed to go to the restroom, and the porta-Pottys were far away. He left to go, then when they needed to start playing, he wasn't back yet. So they asked me to sit in on a few songs. He came back and was embarrassed but so thankful that I was able to fill in for a little bit.
We would always joke about that later over the years.

I'll miss you Don!
Say Hi to Baja Marty and all our other surf friends up there.

—

Jeff(bigtikidude)

Top

LittleKahunaCraig

Joined: Jan 09, 2008
Posts: 392
Orange County, CA
United States

Posted on Jun 03 2017 01:27 PM

Sad news indeed...Duff, was he playing in any of your recent projects?

—

Craig Skelly

Little Kahuna
www.littlekahunamusic.com
The Breakaways
The Curl Riders

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bigtikidude

Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 25704
Anaheim(So.Cal.)U.S.A.
United States

Posted on Jun 03 2017 02:01 PM

From what Steve said, He was recently playing in a
Band called the Bell Airs, but they were not surf.

—

Jeff(bigtikidude)

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kick_the_reverb

Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 1339
Escondido, CA
2 News Pins

Posted on Jun 03 2017 06:11 PM

Sad news indeed, I really liked Don's playing, and while I didn't know him personally that well, he was always super nice when we met.
RIP Don.
Ran

—

The Scimitars

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Brian

Joined: Feb 25, 2006
Posts: 19351
Des Moines, Iowa, USA
United States

Posted on Jun 03 2017 06:31 PM

This is really sad news. I unfortunately never got to see the Torquays but I basically wore out my copy of Somewhere in California. RIP.

—

Site dude - S3 Agent #202
Need help with the site? SG101 FAQ - Send me a private message - Email me

"It starts... when it begins" -- Ralf Kilauea

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wfoguy

Joined: Dec 11, 2011
Posts: 2137
United States

Posted on Jun 03 2017 07:16 PM

People that are remembered well surely have a smile knowing that they are missed.

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D22

Joined: Apr 20, 2006
Posts: 2056
1 Link Pin

Posted on Jun 03 2017 07:16 PM

RIP Don

—

Top

BJB

Joined: Jul 28, 2008
Posts: 413
United States

Posted on Jun 03 2017 09:31 PM

R.I.P., Don. Here is how I would like to remember Don, from a show at the Foothill, 7/7/2000

—

If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.

Top

Badger

Joined: Nov 16, 2013
Posts: 4537
Wisconsin
United States

Posted on Jun 04 2017 06:37 AM

This is very, very sad news. (Am with Brian in the worn-out Torquays tracks department.)

Duff, thank you for taking the time to share the news here.

RIP Don.

—

Wes
SoCal ex-pat with a snow shovel

DISCLAIMER: The above is opinion/suggestion only & should not be used for mission planning/navigation, tweaking of instruments, beverage selection, or wardrobe choices.

Top

revmike

Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 3861
North Atlantic
Canada

Posted on Jun 04 2017 07:40 AM

Revisited Road Trip last night. Thanks for the music. RIP

Rev

—

Canadian Surf

http://www.urbansurfkings.com/

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goofboard

Joined: Nov 14, 2014
Posts: 25
OC, CA
United States

Posted on Jun 04 2017 11:52 PM

After the Torquays called it quits in 2011, I talked to Don only occasionally. But I did call him last Thursday to find out if he would have interest bringing in his bass and joining our fairly new, bass-less, non-prominent surf band...to help make it prominent.

Don and I have always shared a common taste in music. After chatting about the new project we both agreed that the vision would be a good fit, but he needed to consider all things and he would get back to me. With his limited available time (already in 2 bands) and knowing of his devotion to wife Shirley and not wanting to subtract family time, I didn't get my hopes up. Two days later, he passed away. Although sad and numb, I'm glad we had the opportunity to connect and share some mutual goodwill.

As a Torquay, he never backed down from a proposed tune to work on, no matter the work required and was a real pro with always being prepared and ready to play. If a song ever crumbled, it was usually me, but never him. When the tune allowed for it, his playing stood out - think Yellow Jacket! He had a gunslinger approach with no fear.

He was always kind and ecouraging to me and I only have positive memories of Don. My sincere condolences go out to Shirley, his two daughters, and other loved ones. May his memory be eternal.

Armin

—

@TheDeweysSurf
armin, dave, john, jeff
guitar-bass-drums-guitar

The Torquays

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nickdahammer

Joined: Jun 05, 2017
Posts: 1

Posted on Jun 05 2017 01:17 AM

So sorry to hear about Don. We played with him in a few bands, starting in 1981. Worked up some originals with him s few years ago. Always fun, knowledgeable and a helluva wiz on the Telecaster. He had a Wurlitzer electric piano he used to let me bang away on at gigs. Can't say enough great things about him or his family. Found these pics from his time with Page One, 1982. Loved his work with the Torquays. I know he always wanted to be a part of something like that.

Nick Santangelo

Top

SurfGuitar101 Forums » Surf Music General Discussion »

Don Parra - Rest In Peace - Bass Player, The Torquays

surfbeatnik Joined: Apr 01, 2007 Posts: 347 Sea Country, CA, USA	Posted on Jun 03 2017 12:42 PM Lost a friend and band mate...Don Parra has passed away. Fellow Torquay, Steve Soest, called me this morning to share the sad news that Don had passed late last night, June 2, 2017. Among the many aspects of his time with us, he was the most excellent bass player in The Torquays and always had a unique outlook on surf band life and music. Shared the stage with him many times and have lots of fond memories of those occasions. Rest in peace, Don — Surfbeatnik Top
bigtikidude Joined: Feb 27, 2006 Posts: 25704 Anaheim(So.Cal.)U.S.A.	Posted on Jun 03 2017 01:09 PM This is very sad news indeed. Don was the nicest of guys, and his passing is way to early. I will never forget his smile and happiness to see me at Torquays shows, or even anywhere we happened to see each other. One of my best memories of Don was when the Torquays were playing the city of Orange "international street fair". He had a leg or knee issue, and was walking around slowly with a cane. He needed to go to the restroom, and the porta-Pottys were far away. He left to go, then when they needed to start playing, he wasn't back yet. So they asked me to sit in on a few songs. He came back and was embarrassed but so thankful that I was able to fill in for a little bit. We would always joke about that later over the years. I'll miss you Don! Say Hi to Baja Marty and all our other surf friends up there. — Jeff(bigtikidude) Top
LittleKahunaCraig Joined: Jan 09, 2008 Posts: 392 Orange County, CA	Posted on Jun 03 2017 01:27 PM Sad news indeed...Duff, was he playing in any of your recent projects? — Craig Skelly Little Kahuna www.littlekahunamusic.com The Breakaways The Curl Riders Top
bigtikidude Joined: Feb 27, 2006 Posts: 25704 Anaheim(So.Cal.)U.S.A.	Posted on Jun 03 2017 02:01 PM From what Steve said, He was recently playing in a Band called the Bell Airs, but they were not surf. — Jeff(bigtikidude) Top
kick_the_reverb Joined: Feb 26, 2006 Posts: 1339 Escondido, CA	Posted on Jun 03 2017 06:11 PM Sad news indeed, I really liked Don's playing, and while I didn't know him personally that well, he was always super nice when we met. RIP Don. Ran — The Scimitars Top
Brian Joined: Feb 25, 2006 Posts: 19351 Des Moines, Iowa, USA	Posted on Jun 03 2017 06:31 PM This is really sad news. I unfortunately never got to see the Torquays but I basically wore out my copy of Somewhere in California. RIP. — Site dude - S3 Agent #202 Need help with the site? SG101 FAQ - Send me a private message - Email me "It starts... when it begins" -- Ralf Kilauea Top
wfoguy Joined: Dec 11, 2011 Posts: 2137	Posted on Jun 03 2017 07:16 PM People that are remembered well surely have a smile knowing that they are missed. Top
D22 Joined: Apr 20, 2006 Posts: 2056	Posted on Jun 03 2017 07:16 PM RIP Don — Top
BJB Joined: Jul 28, 2008 Posts: 413	Posted on Jun 03 2017 09:31 PM R.I.P., Don. Here is how I would like to remember Don, from a show at the Foothill, 7/7/2000 — If it ain't broke, fix it until it is. Top
Badger Joined: Nov 16, 2013 Posts: 4537 Wisconsin	Posted on Jun 04 2017 06:37 AM This is very, very sad news. (Am with Brian in the worn-out Torquays tracks department.) Duff, thank you for taking the time to share the news here. RIP Don. — Wes SoCal ex-pat with a snow shovel DISCLAIMER: The above is opinion/suggestion only & should not be used for mission planning/navigation, tweaking of instruments, beverage selection, or wardrobe choices. Top
revmike Joined: Feb 26, 2006 Posts: 3861 North Atlantic	Posted on Jun 04 2017 07:40 AM Revisited Road Trip last night. Thanks for the music. RIP Rev — Canadian Surf http://www.urbansurfkings.com/ Top
goofboard Joined: Nov 14, 2014 Posts: 25 OC, CA	Posted on Jun 04 2017 11:52 PM After the Torquays called it quits in 2011, I talked to Don only occasionally. But I did call him last Thursday to find out if he would have interest bringing in his bass and joining our fairly new, bass-less, non-prominent surf band...to help make it prominent. Don and I have always shared a common taste in music. After chatting about the new project we both agreed that the vision would be a good fit, but he needed to consider all things and he would get back to me. With his limited available time (already in 2 bands) and knowing of his devotion to wife Shirley and not wanting to subtract family time, I didn't get my hopes up. Two days later, he passed away. Although sad and numb, I'm glad we had the opportunity to connect and share some mutual goodwill. As a Torquay, he never backed down from a proposed tune to work on, no matter the work required and was a real pro with always being prepared and ready to play. If a song ever crumbled, it was usually me, but never him. When the tune allowed for it, his playing stood out - think Yellow Jacket! He had a gunslinger approach with no fear. He was always kind and ecouraging to me and I only have positive memories of Don. My sincere condolences go out to Shirley, his two daughters, and other loved ones. May his memory be eternal. Armin — @TheDeweysSurf armin, dave, john, jeff guitar-bass-drums-guitar The Torquays Top
nickdahammer Joined: Jun 05, 2017 Posts: 1	Posted on Jun 05 2017 01:17 AM So sorry to hear about Don. We played with him in a few bands, starting in 1981. Worked up some originals with him s few years ago. Always fun, knowledgeable and a helluva wiz on the Telecaster. He had a Wurlitzer electric piano he used to let me bang away on at gigs. Can't say enough great things about him or his family. Found these pics from his time with Page One, 1982. Loved his work with the Torquays. I know he always wanted to be a part of something like that. Nick Santangelo Top