LOVERS rock, reggae’s equivalent of smooth jazz, is currently enjoying a revival in the United Kingdom where it had its genesis during the late 1970s.

On October 19, the fifth staging of the ‘Giants of Lovers Rock’ show takes place at Indigo2, a department of the O2 Arena in Greenwich, London.

Singer Frankie Paul is guest artiste for the event which is promoted by Musical Therapy, a company owned by Orlando Gittens.

Freddie McGregor and Susan Cadogan have previously appeared on ‘Giants’. In August, John Holt, a lover’s rock pioneer, performed at a sold-out Indigo2.

Gittens, who has promoted similar shows featuring soul, jazz and funk artistes, spoke to the independent Visions newspaper about his increasingly popular lovers rock showcase.

“I thought it would be great to produce an event of this kind which takes place in a safe, classy, cosmopolitan setting; where all can come out and enjoy this quality music. I feel that this is what people deserve,” he said.

Some of the acts who helped put lover’s rock on the map, such as Peter Hunnigale, Sandra Cross and Janet Kay, have performed on Giants of Lovers Rock.

The lover’s rock sound emerged when roots-reggae’s popularity was waning in the UK. Most of its exponents were British-reared artistes including Barbados-born Dennis Bovell.

In the 1980s, it became even more widespread through first-generation Britons like Maxi Priest, as well as Jamaican artistes Freddie McGregor, Dennis Brown and Gregory Isaacs.

Soul/jazz singer Sade paid tribute to the sound by naming her 2000 album Lovers Rock.

The most popular of the contemporary lovers rock singers is Bitty McLean, who like Priest was born in London to Jamaican parents.