I am Parris Lane, the author, narrator, director, producer, and creator of “Abella – A Voice for the Voiceless.” What started as a yearning to give honour to God for being thankful for all that he had done for me; I wanted to record Spirituals as a way of giving back to him. These were songs I learned as a child during the thunderstorms in our living room by oil lanterns, through the First Baptist church widows opened during the summer, and hearing the music, and from my next-door neighbour, as I could listen to the music through the walls as she practiced playing her piano for the Asbury United Methodist Church.

But that idea grew as I had a lunch date with the great late Quincy Jones and told him about my vision for spirituals and writing a story about an enslaved girl with the gift of song. And as he shared information about his writing the score for the movie Roots, I said, “No one has ever focused on or highlighted the importance of music in the enslaved people’s lives. I want to write about a young, enslaved girl who has a unique singing voice.” As he slowly leaned his head to the side, he spoke these words to me: “I think that would be a great idea.” Then he repeated it, nodding his head in approval.   It was my confirmation; if Quincy Jones said it was a great idea, then it must be. I didn’t know how I would do it or when, but I knew it would happen one day. Through many setbacks, struggles, and including self-inflicted procrastination and doubt, I could hear Quincy Jones’ voice saying to me, “You’re going to be alright, you’re going to do just fine.” The exact words my mother said to me on her deathbed. I later realized they both saw in me more than what I could see in myself.

So, welcome, my friend. This site is filled with all my gifts. You will hear samples of the unique musical arrangements, listen to clips from the historical fiction music audiobook, and more. It’s all a one-woman show, several years in the making. Thank you for joining us.