Singer and drummer for the Minnesota band Low Mimi Parker died November 5, 2022 as a result of ovarian cancer at the age of 55. She was diagnosed with cancer in 2020.
In announcing the news on the band’s official Twitter page, band members noted that Parker was surrounded by family…and love.
The Minnesota native formed Low with her husband Alan Sparhawk in Duluth in 1993 with bass player John Nichols. The couple first met in fourth grade but didn’t begin dating until junior high school and later married.
Low released their debut album “I Could Live in Hope” in 1994 and went on to release a total of 13 albums over a 27 year period concluding with “HEY WHAT” in 2021.
The band was best known for their simplistic approach to instrumentation and their harmonies. They became to define the genre of “slowcore”.
Speaking on the band Parker noted, “honestly, if it hadn’t been for the marriage, for the family … we never would have survived this long as a band.”
Last year the band was forced to cancel a European tour as they navigated through Parker’s cancer treatments.
Saying that she was born into a musical family, Parker noted that growing up her Country music singing mother sang the melodies with her sister; leaving Mimi to create the harmonies. In high school she began playing the drums in the band.
Parker is survived by her husband Alan and children – Hollis and Cyrus.
feature photo credit: from video “Disappearing” via You Tube