(September 11, 2022) The last time we updated you on Parkes Stewart, the “soulspirational” singer and multi-platinum hit songwriter had released his then-current single “Black Pearl,” which is an ode to women of color around the world. Now, he’s back with his newest single – a cover of a classic Whispers’ hit, “And the Beat Goes On.”
As Parkes’ management – EAT Music Group – described, Parkes “treats this classic hit with the utmost care and masterfully presents it in a way that he is known for all over the world – smooth, soulful, and classy.” In other words, Parkes makes the song his own while staying true to the funk of the original track, which was a #1 R&B hit for The Whispers in 1979. The one major difference in Parkes’ version is that he, a veteran in the music business himself, adds a note of gratitude within the song to the legendary R&B act. He says:
“Whispers, let me thank you for your smooth style today
Not trying to be too clever, just wanna do it a little bit my way
Let ‘em know the beat still goes on
‘Cause everlasting love is strong”
Interestingly enough, this release comes at a time when The Whispers themselves have re-recorded “And the Beat Goes On” among other cuts from their hit list in an effort to take control of their musical catalog.
Parkes Stewart’s version of “And the Beat Goes On” is available on all digital platforms as of September 16th. Check it out and groove to the beat here.
By Darnea N. Samuels
Parkes Stewart – “And The Beat Goes On”
