After decades best known as one of reggae’s most in-demand session bassists and bandleaders, Lloyd Parks is embarking on an exciting new chapter: relaunching his career as a lead vocalist, six months into this career shift the iconic Jamaican musician is preparing to drop his first solo single under the new venture, a self-produced cover of Junior Murvin’s timeless 1976 hit *Police and Thieves*, slated for a June release.
In an interview with Jamaica Observer, Parks opened up about the inspiration behind the choice to reimagine the track, saying it has long been one of his favorite songs to perform. “It’s a song I always like, and whenever I perform it on shows I get good response. So, I decided to do a rendition of it,” he explained. True to his multi-faceted musical roots, Parks not only handled lead vocals on the new recording but also laid down the bass track himself. He was joined in the studio by two acclaimed Jamaican musicians: keyboardist Franklyn “Bubber” Waul and drummer Peter Samaru, who rounded out the track’s rhythm section.
Parks’ career shift is already gaining traction with audiences around the globe. Since the end of 2024, he has built a loyal new following performing as both bassist and vocalist across his home country of Jamaica and international tour stops in Germany, Argentina, and Brazil. This South American stop holds particular nostalgia for Parks: he first toured the region in the early 1980s alongside legendary reggae singer Dennis Brown. The March 2025 shows in Buenos Aires, Argentina and Sao Paulo, Brazil were part of the *Rockers* touring project, a live act tied to the iconic 1978 reggae film of the same name. Parks shared the lineup with other *Rockers* alums, including singer Kiddus-I and drummer Leroy “Horsemouth” Wallace.
Parks’ connection to reggae history runs deep. In 1974, he founded the beloved reggae band We The People, a group that remains synonymous with his name decades later. He earned his reputation as one of the genre’s most reliable and creative session musicians, laying down bass lines for countless iconic reggae hits, including Ken Boothe’s *Everything I Own* and Dennis Brown’s *Love Has Found Its Way*. This is not Parks’ first turn as a singer: he launched his entire musical journey back in the 1960s as a vocalist with the group The Termites, and later spent a period performing with the popular vocal group The Techniques. He notched his own vocal hits as a solo artist in the 1970s with fan favorites including *Slaving* and *Officially*, and followed that success with 1983’s *Reservation For Two*. Now, decades after his early vocal work, Parks is returning to his first love to delight old and new fans alike with his reimagined take on a reggae classic.