Australian musicologist Ian McFarlane wrote that Parkinson, "conveyed considerable charisma with his imposing presence, 'Lucifer' beard and gruff, raspy voice.

"[3] Parkinson attended Narrabeen Boys' High School, showing aptitude in literature, and was selected as a prefect, matriculating in 1963.

"[2] Parkinson quit his cadetship in that year as "I was impatient, I was earning more with the band two nights a week than I was at the paper, but I was always having to swap shifts with other cadets and then I finally bit the bullet and left.

[2] In early 1967 Parkinson joined the Questions, alongside Bill Flemming on drums (ex- Midnighters, Roland Storm and the Statesmen, Max Merritt and the Meteors), Billy Green on guitar, Duncan McGuire on bass guitar (ex-the Phantoms, Roland Storm and the Statesmen) and Rory Thomas on piano, organ, woodwind and brass.

Parkinson provided his "facility for soul and blues" for the line-up, which "lifted [the group] into the premier league of Australian mid-1960s pop.

[2][6][7] With Parkinson the band issued three "minor psychedelic pop classic" singles, "Sally Go Round the Roses" (cover version, July 1967),[8] "And Things Unsaid" (October) and "Something Wonderful" (February 1968).

[2] The new line-up supported international visitors, the Who, Small Faces and Paul Jones, on their Australian Big Show Tour.

[2] In the following month a new line-up with Parkinson, Green and McGuire joined by Johnny Dick on drums (ex-Max Merritt and the Meteors, Billy Thorpe and the Aztecs) formed in Melbourne.

[10] In November Green and McGuire left to join Rush while Parkinson and Dick recruited Mick Rogers (ex-Procession) and Les Stacpool (ex-Chessmen, Merv Benton and the Tamlas) each alternating on bass and lead guitars.

[12] Fanny Adams appeared posthumously in June 1971 on MCA Records; which McFarlane described as exemplifying "adventurous, heavy, progressive blues-rock.

[2] According to McFarlane after Fanny Adams had disbanded "Such was MCA's dissatisfaction with the split that the label effectively prevented Parkinson from recording for two years.

[13] Fellow Australian artists were Daryl Braithwaite (as Tommy), Bobby Bright, Linda George, Colleen Hewett, Jim Keays, Ian Meldrum (as Uncle Ernie, in Sydney only), Billy Thorpe, Wendy Saddington, Broderick Smith and Ross Wilson.

[2] For the sessions he used John Capek on piano (ex-Carson); drummers Russell Dunlop, Peter Figures and Graham Morgan; Tim Partridge on bass guitar; guitarists Green, Kevin Borich, Jimmy Doyle and Ross East; Roger Sellers on percussion and drums; Don Reid on flute and saxophone; and Terry Hannagan on guitar and backing vocals.

[2][15] It includes Parkinson's solo version of "And Things Unsaid", which he had written for the Questions, he co-wrote two tracks ("Get What You Can", "Takin' It Easy") with Capek.

[2] The Life Organisation had backed Parkinson on two tracks ("Dear Prudence" and "Love Gun") on his solo album, No Regrets.

[2][16] In late 1973 he replaced Reg Livermore in the role of Herod in an Australian musical theatre production of Jesus Christ Superstar.

[6] Former band mate Green composed the soundtrack to the biker film, Stone (1974), with Parkinson singing on two tracks, "Cosmic Flash" and "Do not Go Gentle".

[2][16] The singer had heard fellow Australian artist, Ross Wilson, perform a cover version of the original, "I'll Be Around", by the Spinners at a Kings Cross nightclub and decided to get his group to record their own rendition.

[2][16] Parkinson also sang the opening theme song of the short-lived TV soap opera, Arcade (1980), which was issued as a solo single.

[2] They issued seven singles from March 1981 to September 1983, including a cover version of "The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore" featuring Broderick Smith on duet vocals in July 1981.

[2][16] He appeared in another Australian production of Jesus Christ Superstar, but this time as Judas, which included a run in Tamworth in May 1984 and then Perth during 1984.

[23] From the late 1980s to the early 2000s Parkinson "concentrated on musical theatre" with roles in Australian stage productions of Big River: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (April 1989: Brisbane, May 1989: Melbourne, January 1990: Adelaide), The Hunting of the Snark (October 1990: Sydney), Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story as the Big Bopper (January: Sydney and September 1991: Melbourne, April: Perth, June: Adelaide, July: Brisbane and August 1992: Sydney), Grease as Vince Fontaine (1998), Happy Days - The Arena Mega Musical as Delvicchio (1999) and The Wizard of Oz as Cowardly Lion (2002).