Artist: Ivan Parker
Project Title: Dancing In The Rain
Label: Difference Media
Producers: Garry Jones

If I were to start listing my all-time favorite lead singers the list would go like this; Glen Payne of the Cathedrals, Jim Hammill of the Kingsmen, Jake Hess of the Statesmen and Imperials and Ivan Parker of Gold City. I actually first heard Ivan sing with the Singing Americans but it was with Gold City that I really began to notice him and his talent. Of course, it has been several years since Ivan was with Gold City and since then he has enjoyed a very successful solo career. Ivan has a brand new project on a brand new record label and it is very good!

The project starts out with the upbeat title cut, “Dancing In The Rain.” The message is a great one that even when the storms come in life we can just dance in the rain because God has never let us down. That is a great philosophy that all Christians should live by! Ivan has always had a special way of delivering the power ballads and “That’s What Love Does” fits that bill. What a great song that expresses a great definition of love. I love how the song ties into Crucifixion Day and reminding us of the love that Jesus had for all of mankind that day. A terrific upbeat song is next and “Jesus Plus Nothing” is the title. It is a great reminder that Jesus plus nothing equals everything! What a great truth, Jesus is all we will ever need in this life.

It seems like we do not hear many songs about the healing power of Jesus Christ but Ivan has a great one next on this project. “There’s Healing” is the name of it and it reminds us that there is healing in Jesus’ touch and it encourages the listener to trust God and see what He can do. Have you ever really thought about all of the miracles that God performed in the Bible? It seems that He has a pretty good history of showing up exactly when you need Him and He has not changed! Ivan’s next song, titled “He’ll Do It Again,” reminds us that He shown up before and he will do it again. The next song on the project features Ivan’s daughter-in-law, Sandy Parker. Ivan and Sandy team up to deliver a beautiful song about remembering the days of his mom reading all of those great stories from God’s Word to him. I remember those days with my mom as well and I love this song and the message. Several years ago a group called the Hemphills sang a song titled “Jesus Built This Church On Love.” I loved the song then and now Ivan has a brand new version of the song and it is nothing short of awesome! The message is even more relevant in this crazy world we live in today.

Some songs you just know are going to be good when you read the title and “Let Me Take You To The Cross” is one of those titles. What a tremendous song and message that says to see the ultimate act of love, you need to go to the Cross. You need to listen to the entire song to get the whole message but it is really a beautiful and profound one. Ivan is joined by one of the top quartets out there today when Canton Junction joins him on “Walk My Way.” The result of all of those great voices singing together is outstanding in every way. The final song on the project is “A Little More Like You.” The song is truly a prayer set to music that asks Him to make us more like Him. What a great song and a great prayer that we should all pray daily.

I already said that Ivan Parker is one of my all-time favorite lead singers. I have always looked forward to his solo projects and he never fails to deliver a quality project. This project is some of the best I have heard from Ivan over the past two or three years. My favorite songs from this project are “Jesus Plus Nothing,” “Jesus Built This Church On Love” and “A Little More Like You. This entire project has ten wonderful songs and Ivan delivers a first rate performance on each on each of them. The project debuts on July 29, 2016 and you will want to add this CD to your collection and begin receiving the blessings from it right away. For more information on Ivan Parker, visit his website at www.ivanparker.com.