Parker LeGrand Jacobs (born July 17, 1975) is an American artist, musician, author and actor. He is known for his work as an art director on the children's television series Yo Gabba Gabba!, for which he has been nominated for four Daytime Emmy Awards, as well as for his involvement with the Californian bands GOGO13, The Aquabats and The Sandfleas.

Biography Early life Parker LeGrand Jacobs was born in Ogden, Utah in 1975, the third child born into a LDS family. His middle name is in honor of his great-grandfather, prominent Latter-day Saint leader LeGrand Richards. Following his family's relocation to California in 1976, Jacobs – like his older siblings Christian and Rachel and younger brother Tyler – worked as a child actor, appearing in numerous commercials and television shows in his preadolescence. His most notable acting work included a starring role on the sitcom The Cavanaughs, in which he appeared in every episode during the series' run from 1986 to 1989, and as the recurring character "Purdle the Turtle" on The Wonder Years. Jacobs retired from show business in 1991, and shortly thereafter moved from California to St. George, Utah with family members.

While living in St. George, Jacobs formed the ska band GOGO13 with his brother Tyler in 1993, where he assumed the role of co-lead singer and songwriter. Though GOGO13 became a notable local success, the original incarnation of the band lasted just under a year until Jacobs left Utah in 1994 to serve his mission for the LDS Church, spending two years in West Virginia. Upon his return, he moved back to California and became involved with his brother Christian's then-up-and-coming band The Aquabats, providing artwork for their logos, albums and merchandise, as well as contributing lyrics, various creative ideas and running their fan club. Most visibly, however, Jacobs played the role of "The Professor" in The Aquabats' music videos and stage shows, taking part in the band's onstage skits and occasionally supplying backing vocals. Additionally, under the stage name "Mel", Jacobs was the lead vocalist for The Sandfleas, The Aquabats' costumed surf-punk side project, and recorded an EP with them in 1999. Jacobs retired from The Aquabats in the early 2000s, though sporadically continues to design posters and merchandise for the band, and occasionally appears as The Professor in concerts.

Recent activities Jacobs joined Paul Frank Industries as an artist and graphic designer in 2000, eventually earning the title of Senior Design Director. In addition to designing the company's products, Jacobs was notable for writing and illustrating the company's very first children's book, Only in Dreams: A Bedtime Story, featuring the Paul Frank mascot Julius the Monkey. In 2005, he briefly worked with Josh Agel, the artist better known as Shag, to help develop a clothing line which never came to fruition.

That same year, Jacobs helped contribute art design for an independently filmed pilot called Yo Gabba Gabba!, a children's television series being developed by his brother Christian and his creative partner Scott Schultz. In 2007, the series was picked up by Viacoms Nick Jr. Channel, prompting Jacobs to leave his job at Paul Frank to work full-time on the show. His various titles on Yo Gabba Gabba! have included character design, animation direction, set design, color styling, writing, composing, voiceovers, art direction and costume design, the latter two of which earned him three nominations for a Daytime Emmy Award. In the September 22, 2008 episode "Birthdays", Jacobs made an on-camera appearance in the "Cool Tricks" segment, showcasing his affinity for baking birthday cakes.Yo Gabba Gabba! – Episode S02E01: "Birthdays" (September 22, 2008)

Jacobs served as a "creative consultant" for both seasons of The Aquabats' live-action television series The Aquabats! Super Show!, contributing ideas and bits of writing to each episode between his work as art director on Yo Gabba Gabba!. In 2012, Jacobs, alongside Christian Jacobs and Jon Berrett, created The Goon Holler Guidebook, a children's book about a Bigfoot and a wizard. Jacobs has expressed plans to pitch Goon Holler as a television series, and published the first of four children's books based on the concept, Welcome to Goon Holler, in November 2014.

Jacobs spent most of his career in Huntington Beach, California, but currently lives in Boise, Idaho with his foxy wife, author Jennifer "JSP" Jacobs. He has two daughters and four stepsons. Since April, 10 2008, Jacobs has posted a drawing every day online in a feature he calls #ThisIsYourDailyDoodle.

Discography

As musician

GoGo13 (all as vocals, ukulele and artwork) Demotape O' Fun (1994) The Jets Demos (1994) Toy Guns & Pixy Stix EP (1994) (unreleased) It's a Trap! EP (2002) House Ape Demo (2002) The Fluke Sessions EP (2004) RAAAAWR!! EP (2005) ¡Es Ploded!/Cereal 7" single (2009) I Like It! LP (2012) Yo Gabba Gabba! Hey! LP (2017) GoGo13 Goes To Hollywood LP (2025)

The Aquabats! The Fury of The Aquabats! (1997) – backing vocals, album artwork, songwriting credit on "Idiot Box!" The Aquabats vs. the Floating Eye of Death! (1999) – backing vocals, album artwork Myths, Legends and Other Amazing Adventures, Vol. 2 (2000) – backing vocals, album artwork Finally! (2024) - backing vocals, album artwork

The Sandfleas Four Songs By Four Jerks (1999) – lead vocals, album artwork

Santa On A Panda Santa On A Panda (2020) – lead vocals, album artwork

Goon Holler Toobaloth of Goon Holler (Original Soundtrack) (2021) – lead vocals, album artwork

As artist Parker Jacobs has provided cover artwork and/or illustrations for the following albums, not including the albums listed above: Mealticket – Misconceptions (1996) The Insyderz – Skalleluia! (1998) The Insyderz – Skalleluia Too! (1999) Digital Unicorn – Theirs Travel Began and Loaded the Dream (2001) The Insyderz – The Greatest and Rarest (2001) Lederhosen Lucil – Tales from the Pantry (2003) The Vandals – Internet Dating Superstuds (2003) Josh Wink – When a Banana Was Just a Banana (2009) + Remixed and Repeeled (2010) Yo Gabba Gabba! – Music Is...Awesome!, Vol. 3 (2011) Yo Gabba Gabba! – Music Is...Awesome!, Vol. 4 (2012) Lone Raspberry – Children Of The Horn (2012) Yo Gabba Gabba! – A Very Awesome Yo Gabba Gabba Christmas, (2024)

Filmography

Acting Year Title Role Notes 1982 Scamps Jinx Unsold TV pilot1983 Trapper John, M.D. 1st Boy Episode: "Eternally Yours" Charles in Charge Max Shrimner Episode: "Friends & Lovers" E/R Alan Turner Episode: "Both Sides Now"1985 The Jeffersons Johnny Episode: "Sayonara: Part 2" Simon & Simon Little Boy Episode: "The Third Eye"1986 A Fighting Choice Harvey Taylor Made for TV movie My Town Tug Wheeler Made for TV movie Amazing Stories John Willson Episode: "Welcome to My Nightmare" 1986–1989 The Cavanaughs John Cavanaugh Series regular 1987 Valerie's Family: The Hogans Nick Avery Episode: "Liars and Other Strangers"1988 My Sister Sam Episode: "Grand Prize" The Wrong Guys Kid Glen Feature film 1989–1991 The Wonder Years Purdle the Turtle Recurring character 1998 The Aquabats! The Professor TV pilot 1999 The Aquabats! In Color! Professor Monty Corndog TV pilot 2003 Serious Awesomeness! The Professor2008 Yo Gabba Gabba! Himself Episode: "Birthday" – segment: "Cool Tricks" The Up Beat: A Documentary on Utah Ska Himself Documentary film

Production Year Title Role 1999 The Aquabats! In Color! Graphics 2007–present Yo Gabba Gabba! Art director, character design, animation, composing 2012–2014 The Aquabats! Super Show! Creative consultant

Bibliography Year Title Role March 26, 2008 Only in Dreams: A Bedtime Story Author and illustrator October 1, 2012 The Goon Holler Guidebook Illustrator; co-authored with Christian Jacobs and Jon Berrett January 1, 2013 Super Gabba Friends! Illustrator; adapted by Tina Gallo November 18, 2014 Welcome to Goon Holler Illustrator; co-authored with Christian Jacobs June 2, 2015 Goon Holler: Goon Fishin Illustrator; co-authored with Christian Jacobs March 1, 2019 Ranger Rick's Storybook: Favorite Nature Tales from Ranger Rick Magazine Illustrator April 20, 2021 Toobaloth of Goon Holler Author and Illustrator

Accolades

| 2008 | Daytime Emmy | Outstanding Achievement in Costume Design/Styling

| 2009 | Daytime Emmy | Outstanding Achievement in Costume Design/Styling

| 2011 | Daytime Emmy | Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction/Set Decoration/Scenic Design

| 2012 | Daytime Emmy | Outstanding Achievement in Costume Design/Styling

| 2016 | Daytime Emmy | Outstanding Achievement in Costume Design/Styling

| 2026 | Children's & Family Emmy Award | Outstanding Costume Design / Styling

References

External links The Parker Jacobs Blog

The Goon Holler Book