Someday - Music

Kayla Parker Lead Singer Songwriter Musician And Vocal Arranger While Attending Detroit's Pershing High School Formed An All-Female Vocal Group Taking The Name God's Special Gift" After An Audience Member's Compliment. The Group Won A Talent Show And Went On To Become Widely Known In The City's Churches. As Their Fame Spread And Producer Michael J. Powell Anita Baker Heard Them And Began Working With Them. At This Point The Group Shortened Their Name To SpecialGift. Powell's R&B Styled Gospel Quartet Recreates Motown Magic With Their Breathtaking Vocal Virtuosity. Kayla's Earliest Musical Experiences Came From Singing In High School And Church Choirs. The Budding Songstress Taught Herself The Harmonies To All The Clark Sister’s Songs On The Piano. Kayla Then Spent Her Leisure Time Transforming R&B Songs By DeBarge Into Gospel Songs. "My Mother Supported My Musical Interests But She Said I Was Limiting Myself By Not Creating My Own Songs " The Songwriter Recalls. Then In 1988 Kayla Says "The Lord Started To Give Me Songs." That's When She Wrote Her First Song "I'm Tired" And She's Been Writing Prolifically Ever Since. Still Kayla Didn't Take Her Gift Seriously At First. "I Was Just Doing It As A Hobby " She Laughs. "I Wasn't Planning To Do This As A Career." She Tried To Enroll In College Because She Thought That Was The Right Thing To Do "But The Door Slammed In My Face" She Says When She Couldn't Come Up With The Tuition Money. Then Through Family Friends Who Worked With The Legendary Clark Sisters Gospel Trio She Began To Do Background Vocals For Them. She Was Then A Pit Singer In "Only The Strong " A Gospel Play Starring Daryl Coley And Vanessa Bell Armstrong. After A Month Kayla Left The Ensemble. “I've Never Given Anybody A Tape Or Anything The Doors Just Opened ” Kayla Says. In 1990 She Met Michael J. Powell And Started Recording With The Girls From Her High School Chorus. However The Album Release Was Postponed Several Times And Lay On The Shelf For Four Years. “Now I’m Doing What I Feel I'm Supposed To Do ” Kayla Recalls Saying At The Time. “And Nothing's Happening. I'd See Other Groups Come Out And Do Things And Be Happy For Them. Then I Wonder Why Not Us?". That Same Year Special Gift Began Attending Perfecting Church A 7 000 Member Church In Detroit Pastored By Marvin Winans Who Duets With Them On A Set Time. They Have Also Backed Earl Klugh Vicki Winans And Vanessa Bell Armstrong. In 1996 Special Gift Released Their Long-Awaited Debut Album A Set Time On Powell's Own Label Crystal Rose Records/Star Song. With Distribution Through Chordant Distribution Group EMI And Marketing Support From Star Song/Sparrow A Set Time Landed On The Billboard Gospel Chart. The Fifteen Songs Featured On A Set Time Are Perfect Vehicles For Special Gift One Of Contemporary Christian Music's Most Creative And Original Groups. Group Leader The Late Kayla Parker And The Three Young Women Who Comprise Special Gift Are -- Donyle Jones LaTonya Holman And Meri Thomas. SpecialGift's Vocals Are Crisp And Clear On The Album's Pristine Ballads And Mid-Tempo Songs With Hooks Large Enough To Land Moby Dick. The Album Has Funky Rhythms Cool Beats Rich Acappella Harmonies And Unforgettable Melodies. Yet For All The Attention And Excitement Surrounding SpecialGift Their Focus Remains First And Foremost On Making Music That Praises The Lord Touches Lives Ministers To The Heart And Releases The Frustration Of Suffering And Pain. With Creative Chemistry SpecialGift Does All Five On Their Album. Their Music Leaves You Spiritually Energized Complete And Satisfied. Kayla Parker Also Sang Backup For BeBe Winans Traveling To Europe And Performing On Oprah Winfrey's And Jay Leno's Shows. She Met Superstar Producer David Foster And Sang On Brandy's Record Then She Moved To California. But In 1999 Parker Was Diagnosed With Cancer And Returned To Detroit For Treatment And Recovery. After Overcoming The Disease She Returned To California Where She Threw Herself Back Into Songwriting And Also Learned To Engineer Her Own Recording Sessions. Working With A Producer Friend She Pulled Together Recordings Of A Number Of Her Songs Both Gospel And Inspirational R&B - - "life Music " She Calls It - - And Looked To Develop Her Own Artistry. Her Material Was Also Recorded By Other Artists CeCe Winans Recorded "He's Concerned About You " Whose Message Of Hope Found A Natural Audience In The Wake Of Hurricane Katrina And Vickie Winans Recorded The Hit Single "It's Alright". Crystal Rose Records Special Gift And Michael J. Powell Were Looking Forward To A "reunion" Recording But Kayla Denise Parker Died On April 21 2007 From Breast Cancer. She Is Buried In Hillside Cemetery In Los Angeles. read less