Tom Parker (born 4 August 1988) is an English singer best known for being a member of the British-Irish boy band The Wanted.Parker grew up in Bolton, England. He learned to play the guitar at the age of sixteen after trying out his older brother's guitar. He then went on to audition for The X Factor, but did not get past the first round. He went to Manchester Metropolitan University and studied Geography, but dropped out in pursuit of a professional singing career. Parker joined a Take That tribute band known as Take That II and toured Northern England, before joining The Wanted in 2009.