John D. Gonzalez
WKTV Contributing Writer
After a brief break for the Fourth of July holiday, the Kentwood Summer Concert Series is back with Par-llo Connection show band. A band with a message.
PAR-LLO stands for “Peace All Races – Live Love Others.”
“Who would have thought 40 years later it’s what the world needs today,” said original drummer Phil “Tapp” Morrow, in an email to WKTV Journal. “We always wanted our name to mean something.”
It also means “fun”!
The group performs at 7 p.m. Thursday (July 14) on the lawn behind City Hall. Admission is free.
READ: Summer revs up with Kentwood concerts, farmers market combo
A little band history
Morrow said the band performed from 1979 -87 in the heyday of the local music scene and opened for local band Switch, which featured Bobby and Tommy DeBarge of the famous DeBarge family in Grand Rapids, as well as the Bar-Kays at the Civic Auditorium. Par-llo even opened twice for Zapp at the DeVos Performance Hall, Morrow said.
“(We) got back together in 2017 not knowing what direction we were headed, more less just to catch up. Although we stayed in touch with each other,” Morrow said.
Influenced by Earth Wind Fire, Cameo, Prince, Kool & the Gang, Chaka Khan, Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Gap Band, Commodores, and so many others, the group might even surprise with a little Bruno Mars or Mary J. Blige.
They love to entertain.
“(We) give a show,” said Morrow, which means several sets, changed outfits for each set, a fog machines, flash boxes, etc.
They want to “create a one of a kind experience,” Morrow said.
What to expect
Although the Kentwood show is an outdoor concert, which is a little different than a nightclub, he said “people can expect energized ‘Old School’ with a new twist R&B Funk Band.”
“Playing outside is like being at a free, old-school style concert,” he said. “Outside creates natural energy to share your gift.
“The reason I love playing in this band, because we are family on and off the stage, all self-taught. We just have fun because we know we are blessed to be able to get back together.”
The current band line up includes:
Phil Morrow (Tapp) Drummer, Vocals, Original Member
Leonard Burney (Toot) Bass, Vocals, Original member
Anthony Jones (Ant) Guitar, Vocals, Original Member
Tone Mosley (Tone) Lead Vocals, trumpet, trombone, Original Member
Dana Mosley (Dane) Keyboards, vocals Original Member
Isaac Rogers (Ike) Sax, Vocals Original Member
Chuck Johnson (Chuck) Keyboards, Guitar
Tina Flowers (Tina Marie) Lead vocal
Concerts take place from 7-8:30 p.m. on the lawn behind Kentwood City Hall, 4900 Breton Ave. SE. Admission is free. A variety of food trucks also will be on hand.
Kentwood summer concert info
Parking for shows will be limited at both City Hall and the Library, according to the city’s website. Additional parking is available at the Kentwood Justice Center (4740 Walma SE), Kentwood Public Works (5068 Breton SE), Kentwood Baptist Church (2875 52nd St), and there is street parking in nearby neighborhoods.
The Kentwood Farmers Market takes place next door from 4:30-7 p.m. in the parking lot behind City Hall.
Get more information at kentwood.us.
This remaining lineup includes:
- July 14 – Par-llo Connection
- July 21 – Cabildo
- July 28 – Grand Rapids Jazz Orchestra
- August 4 – The Moxie Strings
- August 11 – Brena
All concerts will be live streamed by WKTV Community Media. Watch the events live at: https://www.wktv.org/live25.html. If you miss a show you can watch it here at WKTV On Demand.
