French Music~

Elsie Parker and 

"The  Poor People  of  Paris "

Elsie Parker and "The Poor People of Paris"  a St. Louis, Missouri based group, specializes in popular French music. Elsie  Parker, the group's founder, first became enchanted with the voice and songs of Edith Piaf, and especially loves singing Piaf's early songs. Elsie also performs (in French) songs associated with Charles Aznavour, Hervé Vilard, Mireille Mathieu, Michael Legrand, Patricia Kaas,  Axelle Red, Jaques Brel, Leo Marjane, Eddy Mitchell, Vanessa Paradis, Gilbert Becaud, Serge Lama, Sylvie Bernard, and Charles Trenet, as well as performing her own original material.

Also a performer on clarinet, flute, and saxophone, Elsie's Parker's  instrumental playing is influenced by works of French composer/song writer/film music composer Michel Legrand, and by Argentinian tenor saxophonist/composer/film music composer Gato Barbieri.

Internationally, Elsie has been featured on the  French TV program, "La Chance Aux Chansons", filmed in Paris and viewed throughout France, French speaking Canada and Africa.  Nationally, he has appeared as solo vocalist for Nordstrom's  Chicago fashion show, at Chicago's Cultural Society, "Piaf's" in San Francisco, and for numerous events in the St. Louis area. As a vocal soloist with symphony orchestras, Elsie Parker has performed with orchestras in Missouri, Illinois, and Florida.

Current members of "The Poor People of Paris" are Elsie Parker (French vocals/flute/clarinet/tenor saxophone), Michael Carosello (keyboard) Wayne Coniglio (bass) and Alan Schilling (drums & percussion).

With her group "The Poor People of Paris", Elsie has recorded 3 CDs: "Elle se souvient" (She Remembers) "Entre nous" (Between Us), and "Je t'aime encore" (I Love You Still) click on the  3 cd icons for sound samples:

"Elsie's beautiful vocals are perfectly matched to a wide variety of French popular songs... with more than just a touch of jazz."     Steve Pick ~St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"Elsie ...sings as strongly as the great Edith Piaf of bygone days." Folkfire Reviews

"Une chanteuse originale...une vedette" Pascal Sevran, "La Chance aux Chansons", Paris TV

"Parisians went wild over hometown singer Elsie Parker's recent appearance on the Paris television program "La Chance aux Chansons" Paul Hample, The St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"Parker does an excellent job of selling each song, even to "French challenged" listeners"...Eileen Duggan, CWE Word

"Cabaret singing that will make you think you're in a Paris cafe..."  First Night, Grand Center

Review of June 08 performance at Cabaret at "SAVOR"

KDHX review Aug 2007 Harvest Sessions Concert Series