Dennis Posa (October 28, 1946 – January 28, 1985), also known by the performing names of Wade Nichols and Dennis Parker, was an American actor and singer, who started his career in adult films.[1][2]
Parker's first feature film role was in the gay adult filmBoy 'Napped (1975). He subsequently appeared mostly in straight porn films shot in New York, such as Summer of Laura (1975), Jail Bait (1976), Barbara Broadcast (1977), Teenage Pajama Party (1977), Maraschino Cherry (1977), Punk Rock (1977), Take Off (1978) and Blonde Ambition (1981).[1] Parker was credited as Wade Nichols in most of the adult films in which he appeared.
In 1979, using the name Dennis Parker, he recorded a disco album on Casablanca Records, titled Like an Eagle.[3][4] The album was produced by Village People creator and producer, known as Jacques Morali. He was Parker's boyfriend at the time.[5] He also toured Europe to promote the album.[3] He later appeared in the French film Monique that same year, with "Like an Eagle" being used as its theme song. The title track was released as a single and appears on the box set The Casablanca Records Story (1994). "New York By Night", another song recorded as Dennis Parker, peaked at No. 11 on the South African music charts in 1980.[6]
Parker died on January 28, 1985.[3][7] It was revealed later that he died of an unspecified AIDS-related illness.[2][7] There was a prevalent rumor that circulated around that Parker had died by suicide after receiving his AIDS diagnosis rather than dying directly of the illness, but his older brother denied this was true in an oral history published on The Rialto Report.[8]
^musicstats (July 15, 2022). "Dennis Parker (US) - SA Singles Charts". SA Singles Charts - The Weekly South African Singles Chart History. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
