Lloyd Parks has played some of the ‘baddest’ bass lines in reggae, but being a true musician, he finds time for projects that shows his versatility.
He does just that on Falling in Love With Jesus, his latest song which features saxophonist Dean Fraser. Self-produced, it was recently released, and is currently climbing the Foundation Radio Network Top 30 Chart.
“First of all, I must give thanks and praise to the Most High for preserving me that I can be a role model for many younger musicians that came after me. It is important for singers and players of Instruments that influence the world to do uplifting music that will lead the generation to come,” said Parks. The Kingston-born Parks has played on inspirational songs by acts like Carlene Davis, but this is his first crack as an artist at gospel. Falling in Love With Jesus is a cover of the Kirk Whalum/Jonathan Butler song, released in 2002.
He was moved by the original and decided to put a reggae flavor to his version. It may have a different rhythm, but for Parks the most important aspect of the song is its message.
“Teach them (children) to love, and the way to deal with situations without fussing and fighting. I think it’s important for we the great entertainers to do inspirational music that can change the minds of the now generation for the better,” he said.
The veteran musician is best known as founder and leader of We The People Band which started in 1974. Prior to that, he was a member of harmony groups, The Termites and The Techniques.
Parks had a hit song as a vocalist with Slaving in the early 1970’s but concentrated on playing bass for most of that decade at the rival studios of Channel One and producer Joe Gibbs.
He worked on songs like Everything I Own by Ken Boothe; Should I and Love Has Found its Way by Dennis Brown; Girl I Love You by Horace Andy and Tribal War by George Nooks.
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