Staff Reporter

RESERVE - Pastor Steven Perrilloux is known by many Reserve residents for his ability to inspire others with the word of God through speech and Gospel at Riverland Christian Center, but his voice is now spreading overseas and gaining worldwide acclaim.

The popular British magazine “Blues and Soul” recently named Perrilloux's Gospel song, “Do the Right Thing,” the number one song on their Specials Board, a list of singles hand-selected by staff writers. On the list of 20 songs the 50-year-old pastor accompanies renowned artists such as Gladys Knight, Snoop Dogg, R. Kelly and Dionne Warwick.

“Being from a little country town like Reserve and to know they're playing my stuff in England on the Jazz stations - that's saying a whole lot, but the bottom line is I give God all the glory.”

“Do the Right Thing” is from his first album “Only You,” recorded last year on his record label Crosstown South. Blues and Soul magazine calls the song “a beautiful crisp mid-tempo lilter (sic) of a cut that knowing modern soul people would die for.”

Perrilloux's career as a vocalist began just six years ago, but his love of music stretches back to his youth in Reserve. He started playing drums after he was inspired by a vision of Jesus.

“He revealed himself to me and said to go tell my people what I have seen. At that time I didn't know he was talking about ministry, I was thinking he was referring to music. It came out of that calling of my life. It was the beginning of music.”

For Perrilloux, it was the beginning of a mission to inspire others to know the words of God, an undertaking he appears to be accomplishing admirably.

“Music is another means of reaching God's people,” he said. “Some people won't ever come to church, but the message will draw them to God. That's our whole purpose.”