The Southern Star Band

In 1978, Doug Parkinson teamed up with Duncan McGuire and formed The Southern Star Band. The band included guitarist Tommy Emmanuel, drummer Mark Kennedy and keyboard player Frank Esler-Smith, who later went on to record and arrange the lush string arrangements for [a256267]. They recorded an album that produced two top 10 hits: "The Hungry Years" and "I'll Be Around". The following year they supported Bob Marley and the Wailers on what was to be the singer’s last tour.