Parris Lane is a PBS Emmy Nominated Actress/Singer, songwriter, music producer, and published author. As a singer, Parris' extraordinary voice lends itself to many different styles of music as she has performed for audiences around the world, from Carnegie Hall to London, Paris, Geneva, Rome, and Bangkok. Her four-octave voice lends itself to diverse styles, including Gospel, Jazz, R&B, Pop, Classical, and Show tunes. She's known as one of the most versatile performers today, and with her unique, versatile singing, she has produced seven musical CDs.
Parris has recorded with many greats, including the group "MARZ" on Capital (Liberty) Records, and received raved reviews as a soloist on the song entitled "You've Got Me Crying Again." You can also find her singing background vocals on Nils Lofgren's song "Black Books," which was featured regularly on the HBO hit series "The Sopranos." In addition, Parris has had the privilege to work with great songwriters/producers such as Grammy Awardee Skip Scarborough and Grammy Nominee Donald Robinson. And as songwriter and co-owner of Parold Entertainment Inc., she has established an impressive catalog of original music for placement in various media outlets.
She’s been Nominated the Best Jazz Singer and won Best Blues Singer by Las Vegas Black Music Association. As the lead female vocalist with the Group "Soulmates," she performed regularly in Las Vegas at the Venetian Hotel/Casino. Parris was also a featured soloist for the Monday Night Big Band Concert at the San Francisco Jazz Center.
Parris has performed for many dignitaries, celebrities, and organizations such as the Black Engineers Award Conference, The Human Rights Organization, USNA Forestall Lecture, and the National Aids Memorial Grove. In addition, Parris received her Emmy nomination as an actress/singer on the children's television show "Bob the Vid Tech" and starred in several local musical productions such as Godspell, Jesus Christ Superstar, PURLIE, and SELMA.
Her voice-over work credentials include the character voices of "Annie Action and Wanda Why" for the Baltimore Port Discovery Children Museum theme song. In addition, Parris directed and produced the animated musical "Glorytoys," which received honorable mentions in the Breaking into Hollywood Film festival. Glorytoys was also accepted into the Kingdomwood Film Festival Showcase and voted as the "Audience's Favorite" at the Christian Film/Television Market International Screen Tour.
As a Teaching Artist for the Smith Center for the Performing Arts Wolftrap Early Learning Program in Las Vegas, NV, she designed Arts Integrated Lesson Plans to enhance Preschool curriculums and classroom activities. Her workshop, created for youth entitled "Negro Spirituals - Communication through Songs" with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Arts Excel Program, was one of the most requested lessons within the program.
As an author, Parris has written and published two children's books, So Many Bugs, and Mali the Hippo, a choral music book of Negro Spirituals, and a book of prayers/poetry. Parris also created, produced, and narrated the Grammy Considered for Best Spoken Word historical fiction music audiobook "Abella." Seven music selections from Abella were also Grammy Considered in various music categories.
She received a Governor's Proclamation for directing and producing events for groups such as the Chrysalis House for Mothers recovering from substance abuse and the YWCA Domestic Violence Program. Parris served on the board of the MD and NV Chapters of Women In Film and as a Judge for national beauty and music contests.
As a hobby, she makes a natural body oil, "Kenglo" made specifically for individuals on dialysis. In addition, she is currently building her music catalog, writing her book about her unique life experience as a San Francisco Street performer, and establishing original artwork/print and history of African American musicians in posters and clothing.
Parris graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Mills College, Oakland, CA majoring in Intermedia and Literary Works for Early Childhood Education, and a Master of Fine Arts-In Interdisciplinary Arts Degree from Goddard College, Port Townsend, WA. She is a native of Annapolis, MD, and currently resides in San Francisco, CA.
