Music means everything to Lawrence Parker.
It’s a passion that has followed the Village of Piedmont resident practically all his life.
“My whole family was into music,” Parker said. “I was the seventh child and sixth boy — we all loved music. I remember us being teenagers in the basement of my mother’s house singing Jackie Wilson or Marvin Gaye; those were the guys we went behind. We were just interested in music.”
For the past 20 years, Parker has worked to share his love for music with others as a DJ for several clubs in The Villages — even starting his own club, Uptown Jammin’.
When Parker first started playing music in The Villages, all he had was a boombox and some Christmas spirit.
After he and his wife, Mamie, joined The African American Club of The Villages (TAAC), club members were planning for their annual Christmas party and Parker noticed there had been no talk of music or other entertainment.
“They wanted everyone to bring a dish. I said, ‘I’ll bring my boombox,’” Parker recalled. “We set the boombox in the middle of the floor and turned it up. I really think it was something that we didn’t have here at that time.”
After seeing the event transform with more life, energy and dancing, Parker realized he wanted to do more and Uptown Jammin’, also known as “UJam”, was born.
Parker’s brother and another music-loving friend got him started with equipment.
“I looked out my door one day and a truck pulled up and pulled out two speakers, a computer and a DJ board,” Parker said. “I got to learning…I learned the board and how to put the music together.”
“Once we got started, it just kind of caught on and it really blossomed,” he continued. “People come here and get to have fun. They will call me from out-of-town, from Spruce Creek or Ocala, to ask when the next event is and plan their vacation around our events. The Villages has the most popular dance parties in the area. Line dancers really keep me going because they wanted to dance. It’s really been a blessing to me and my family.”
Now, as the club is celebrating 15 years of jamming, Parker said their success and longevity is owed to his brother, wife, and friends who have helped him along the way — including Bill Rasco, Lucille Boykins and Toni and Ronald Booker.
Their support was never more important than it was when Parker lost his vision after complications from a medical procedure.
“That was a hard pill to swallow,” Parker said. “All I wanted was for my wife to understand what I was going through, and she did. My wife said, ‘We can get through this with the help of Christ.’ She continues to help me. Every third Saturday, she’s washing 20 to 25 tablecloths — it’s a big part of making this happen.”
Mamie said she’s been “decorating all her life” and wants her decor for the parties really wow people when they enter the room.
“Bill insisted on helping with the club when he found out I lost my vision,” Parker said. “Bill would come by the house, we would put together music we were going to play, and he did the driving to get us there. He was a great help. Ron, that’s my doorman. He helps me collect the money because I can’t see.”
Through losing his vision, Parker feels the experience has strengthened his connection with his wife and that his love of music has kept him going.
“When I play my music, I’m in my world,” he said. “I’m to myself. I’m sitting up on that stage sightless. I can’t see the dancers anymore, but I feel the music as it plays.”
“Every song I play has meaning to me,” Parker continued. “It’s not just a song — there’s meaning and stories in it. To hear the band play or the singer sing, it means a lot to me. It tells a story, and I don’t think enough people listen to the stories that they are telling.”
On Oct. 17, during the Uptown Jammin’ “Boots on the Ground” event, Parker was on the stage playing hits and cutting a rug on the dance floor.
“I’m as happy as I can be here,” Parker said of living in The Villages.
“I can’t see The Villages, but it’s been good to me, and I found happiness right here. Every third Friday, I get to be with the people. I can’t see the people, but I get to party with them.”
The next Uptown Jammin’ event will be the UJam Christmas Dinner-Dance Party from 5 to 9 p.m. on Dec. 19 at Seabreeze Recreation, 2384 Buena Vista Blvd., The Villages.
Tickets for the event are $50 with a buffet included.
For more information about recurring and special events, visit the Uptown Jammin’ on Facebook.
Staff writer Brea Jones can be reached at 352-753-1119, ext. 5414, or brea.jones@thevillagesmedia.com.
