Dear Editor,
In the midst of all the gloom and troubled waters we can take flight for a moment to one of our long standing, artistes, Dennis Parkinson, singer par excellence popularly called Dennis or Parko. Through the years he has become a singing icon in his own right throughout the Linden Community and beyond. He has represented Guyana in the cultural fields at the Suriname Trade fair in 1979, and the April Spring Friendship Art Festival in the Democratic People’s Repub-lic of Korea in 1987; toured the USA and Canada with the then popular Cannon Balls String Band in 1987-1988.
Dennis started singing with the once famous Oracles Singing Group which was comprised of Maurice Frank, Neville Vogleson and Winston Stephenson, in my opinion the most dynamic singing quartet ever in Guyana; it can be argued that they came before their time. They were unstoppable, having won three National Competitions in three consecutive years 1962, 1963 and 1964. But after the splitting of the group (departure to foreign lands) Dennis remains the lone man standing/singing, he never stopped, and along the way has earned himself countless accolades.
Known for belting out his vocals at the various functions “our own Dennis” as he is fondly called by most elderly, obviously loves singing. He sings at national events, concerts, funerals anniversaries, festival occasions, religious functions, whatever the event the voice of Parko is sure to be there. His repertoire spans a wide variety of songs, he not so long produced a Gospel CD in collaboration with Pastor Richard McDonald, another accomplished musician in the community – a C.D Lindeners should have in their collection.
Dennis has blazed the trail and been a forerunner and inspiration to many Linden artistes. On behalf of the Linden Community, I say to you Dennis, – take a bow.
Yours faithfully,
Frank Fyffe
