Keisha Shakespeare, Staff Reporter
Leftside (left) expresses his love for music while his father Lloyd Parkes proudley listens. - RICARDO MAKYN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
THE SAYING, birds of a feather flock together is true for Lloyd Parks and his son Craig 'Leftside' Parks.
For them music is the source of life and both say music will take them to the grave. Mr. Parks is the founder/manager of Lloyd Parks and We the People Band as well as producer, singer and base guitarist. While Leftside, 27, the other half of Leftside and Esco whose song Tuck 'Een Yuh Belly, is a singer, deejay, producer and drummer.
PASSED DOWN
Music has been passed down through the Parks family. Lloyd Parks got into the music business when he was 17 years old through his uncle, Dourie Bryan who played in a calypso band that the elder Parks became fascinated with. " I used to love music and I went around with my uncle and sang with his band," recalled Lloyd Parks.
At 18 years old, Mr. Parks got his first recording gig. He teamed up with Wentworth Vernon who was in a band, The Termites.
"I did not like the name of the band but I wanted to make it. We did a song, Have Mercy Mr. Percy and it made number one on the Jamaican music chart. As such, Clement 'Sir Coxsone' Dodd from Studio One made a record with us," Mr. Parks reminisced.
Also after Have Mercy Mr. Percy became number one, the members of the band got some money. Mr. Parks received seven pounds and 10 shillings that he used to purchase a guitar. And so began his love affair with the instrumental side of music. In fact, he he found that he loved playing the guitar more than singing.
A year later, he joined a community centre (Rainbow Healing Centre) band named RHT Invincible Band and the drummer was Sly Dunbar, Hansel Collins was on keyboard and he played the lead guitar. "I spent a year with that band then I went to play at a club on Red Hills Road with a live band. By that time, I did a song, Officially which remained a number one hit for seven weeks.
WORLD TOUR
He later moved to a club, Tit for Tat next door to the band, Skin, Flesh and Bones. They recorded the song, Here I am Baby and the elder Parks also worked as band manager for Dennis Brown leading to a world tour.
Naturally, Leftside's interest in music came from his father. "I grew up seeing my father playing music and a lot of legendary artist such Ken Boothe, John Holt, Leroy Smart, were always around. So I guess it was just destiny," said Leftside.
Young Parkes fell in love with drum, when he was three years old.When his father came home with the grocery boxes he used them to set up his own little drum set. "I used to set up the boxes beside my father's drummer, Devon Richards and played beside him. Devon was my inspiration as I like how he played," he said.
Like his father, Leftside and his siblings formed - 'Duplicate Band'. At age six, he was the drummer in the group. Their first performance was a Christmas morning concert at National Arena. "The performance was wicked, we mash up the place."
Both father and son have the same drive towards the music despite the obstacles. "I have seen my father go through a lot of obstacles that I too have faced some but he never gave up. We take the bitter or the sweet and continue onwards," he said.
Lloyd Parks and We the People Band have persevered. They have played at schools, private function, concerts and other events. And for the last 15 years he has been the backing band for the popular Heineken Star Time series. Like his father Leftside has been doing well in the music industry. For the past month along with partner Esco, he has toured the Caribbean and New York and shows are planned for Canada, Italy and Sweden.
Leftside also has another love - his dogs. He has 13 pit bulls and owns a Pit Bull Dog Farm io Mountain View in Kingston. "I only sell dogs to people who know how to handle them because they need special care." He also takes time out for family and three year old son, Jhelani Parks.
