The guitar community is mourning the loss of legendary luthier and Parker Fly creator, Ken Parker, who passed away peacefully at his home in Gloucester, Massachusetts, on October 5, 2025. He was 73.
The news comes just days after Parker launched a GoFundMe campaign to help cover the costs of his ongoing battle with cancer, which had led to his recent retirement.
A statement on Parker’s website confirmed his passing, noting he was with his life companion, Susan Kolwicz, at his side.
A Legacy of Innovation: From Archtops to the Parker Fly
Born August 25, 1952, Ken Parker’s lifelong dedication to the craft began early, with his first guitar built from wood and cardboard at just 13. His career evolved through designing his first archtop guitar in the early ’70s and working on instruments for high-profile musicians at Stuyvesant Music.
The pinnacle of his career arrived with the founding of Parker Guitars in 1990, co-founded with Larry Fishman. This collaboration produced the iconic Parker Fly guitar in 1993. The Fly was a truly innovative electric guitar, featuring a radical design with a composite material body and a hybrid pickup system that set it apart from traditional instruments.
I owned a Pre-Refined Parker Fly for many years, and it was a very easy guitar to play and sounded fantastic.
The brand’s revolutionary approach attracted top-tier players, including former King Crimson guitarist Adrian Belew, who had his own signature model, and Dave Navarro, who played one when he was playing in the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
Reflecting on his career, Parker recently shared his pride in “making guitars that advance the art, science and craft of building far beyond traditional methods.”
Retirement and Final Days
Parker had revealed his cancer diagnosis in early 2023, which steadily eroded his ability to work, prompting his recent retirement from luthiery. In his final written plea to fans, he expressed the heavy toll of the disease:
“It hasn’t been easy living with this nasty disease, having chemo treatments that zapped my energy and slowly took away my ability to earn a living,” he wrote. “Now, I’m on a breathing machine 24/7 and I’ve started to lose the use of my left arm. I humbly ask for your support…”
Despite his declining health, Parker spent much of his last year passing on his deep knowledge and expertise to his colleague, Sam Krimmel, whom he called a gifted successor.
GoFundMe Campaign Still Active to Cover Medical Debt
At the time of his passing, Ken Parker’s GoFundMe for cancer treatment had raised $134,000 towards its $450,000 goal.
A statement on the fundraising page emphasizes the continued need for support: “Ken’s family is still faced with a great deal of debt. So, please, continue your contributions in Ken’s honor… they will be greatly appreciated.”
Contributions can still be made to help Ken Parker’s family with the remaining medical and personal debt incurred during his illness.
#Ken Parker #Parker Fly
