Q: Are you aware of the UK release on CD of the 'Stay A Little Bit Longer' album? It came out about 2001 on the Westside label in England.

A: No, I didn't... You mean that I recorded, right?

Q: I mean the CD reissue of the original High Note album, it was released in England on CD a couple of years ago, with some additional tracks by Roland Alphonso, Big Youth, Patsy Todd and Aubrey Adams.

A: No... yeah? No, I didn't even know of it!

Q: Are you sure? It's been out a while by now.

A: Yeah, the only one I know of is the group from England. I told my son to bring me back that album on the CD, but (laughs) he don't bring it yet. What's the name of that group - UB40, right?

Q: UB40, yes.

A: Yeah, that's the only thing I know of.

Q: This one is retitled 'Stay A Little Bit Longer... And A Little Bit Longer Still' with some instrumentals added by Roland Alphonso & The Gaysetters, one duet with Patsy Todd and even Big Youth's version to 'That's Life'.

A: Who produced that album?

Q: It's a company called Westside, owned by the Demon Music Group. I believe Elvis Costello has a finger in that. But Westside's now deceased I think, it was very short-lived. BB is in the liner notes for it, he gave some info about your career. Didn't you know anything of this release?

A: No, no (laughs)! I didn't!

Q: Let me tell you the running order, one moment... The tracks is 'Stay A Little Bit Longer' and it's instrumental by Lyn Taitt & The Jets, 'Dance With Me', 'Hallelujah' - also known as 'The Riddle', 'Don't Believe In Him' and the instrumental to that one, they included your 'Joy In The Morning' classic for Mrs Pottinger by the Gaylads as well, 'Got To Come Back', 'Rocking Sensation', 'Let's Have Some Fun', 'Tell Me Baby' and the instrumental known as 'One Look' or 'Wild and Free' by Roland Alphonso on sax with the Gaysetters band, 'Wish It Could Last', 'Give Me A Chance' by Patsy Todd with yourself doing harmony,'Wherever I Lay My Hat' - the Marvin Gaye song, 'That's Life' and the 'Facts of Life' version from the early seventies by Big Youth, plus Aubrey Adams' organ workout on it, with the Gaysetters group. That's the package.

A: Yeah, the same album. That was produced by Mrs Pottinger, maybe she's the one who allowed it? Like I said even then I still didn't get one of the albums and she had a whole room of album covers...

Q: I believe this is a different release, I doubt Mrs Pottinger has been involved in this at all. It's on the Westside/Demon label but I think they went down some time ago, the Westside subsidiary. Trojan is linked to it though.

A: No, I didn't know. But she did a whole lot of things that went by me (laughs)! In the eighties and nineties.

Q: So this means that there was no compensation for this lifetime achievement - once again? Typical.

A: I don't think so, through the royalty wasn't coming for a while until BB introduced me back into the Performing Rights, after the UB40. But then they were sending me money, but it wasn't much or nothin'. Just a few pounds here and there.

Q: You were a part of the Studio One anniversary back in '91 with the Gaylads, in Kingston?

A: Yeah, we did, we did.

Q: That was at the National Arena.

A: Yeah, and we went down to MoBay and all that.

Q: Who backed you up on that concert?

A: BB would be more familiar with the musicians, I forget if it was We The People.

Q: Lloyd Parks, yeah.

A: Yeah, I think it was We The People. But through BB was in the seventies, he's more a part of the mainstream in Jamaica, so he would know most of the musicians (laughs)! More familiar with it.

Q: But while you were down there for the celebrations, you did a Gaylads reunion album, right?

A: Yeah, me and BB we did some works for Coxson, that would be the songs you mentioned earlier. That's the work we did for Downbeat, that we were doing during that time. Then he said that Mr Dodd wouldn't release the album or something like that. But they released in some place, right?

Q: Yeah, some of the songs was out on 12" (another one-off number entitled 'Eternal Love' showed up on a Lloyd Campbell label, Joe Frasier, some years back).

A: I'm unaware of it. Like I say I haven't since that time been to the studio, or spoken to Mr Dodd. And if I did, he wouldn't mention anything (laughs) of the works that I did!

Q: But something drastically happened when you were ready to go to Japan in '97, didn't it?

A: Yeah, then I got a stroke. I got a stroke, and we would be leaving on the Wednesday and on the Monday evening I got a stroke. Then it pushed me further away from all of that, y'know what I mean. Especially like travelling and all of that, y'know. I don't want to be a part of it.

Q: But you have recovered from it pretty well as far as I understood, after going through some rehabilitation.

A: Right, with my medication it's working.

Q: What are you able to and not able to do these days?

A: Just about anything I wish to do. But I gotta take my medication.

Q: Of course.

A: I think that's contributed, through I stop taking my medication for over a year.

Q: So you were on medication before the stroke, had a weak heart long before this.

A: Yeah, yeah. I was diagnosed to take this medication for my pressure is high and what I've done had contributed, but I stopped taking the medication.

Q: Right. So you had high blood pressure previous to this then? Make sure you take that stuff now, you hear me (chuckles)!

A: Yeah, and then it just come and hit me with a bang, y'know. It's like - wow! Could've been dead, so every day is a blessing (laughs)! I'm taking one day at a time.

Q: If you would summarize your career and what you've experienced within the music business, what would you reflect upon? After all the trouble that all the artists have to go through, it's just the business when all is said and done, it's something you all had to go through. And you have made some of the most timeless and enjoyable compositions ever in Jamaican music, with the Gaylads and by yourself, even more so by yourself I should say. Evergreens.

A: Well, I would say that my contribution is still there, it will be there, but it's that... it is kinda lukewarm. You know, you go into something and it's (laughs)...

Q: Bittersweet?

A: Yeah (laughs)! Yeah, the nice thing about it is just that OK, how you deal with it when it started, it was good. And when it goes on there's a lotta trippery, fuckery and selfishness. It leave a bitter taste, yeah, of the whole thing. But it's a learning, I see it as a learning, it's just a everyday way of life and it's a learning, y'know. And like I said I was kinda reluctant going into it, so... So, maybe if I had a different attitude (laughs) I reflect maybe things would've been better, so it's just a learning point. All I can do is take it as a way of life and hopefully as I say to my kids: it's better to go a hundred and ten percent, than none at all. In whatever you do, y'know what I mean?

Q: Sure. So what are you doing these days when not being actively in the music, you work at the hospital, right?

A: Yeah, yeah. I drive for the hospital on a part-time basis. I am only able to work part time (laughs), and so I have to get myself comfortable with what I get and make it work, y'know. I take a day at a time. That's how it works, through I get whatever one does and it comes out to OK, you are a thirty percent contribution (laughs), that's what it comes down to. You gotta be satisfied with what you get, y'know what I mean (laughs)! So that's how it is, I just gotta be satisfied.

Q: But I think you can be assured of the fact that you still have one of the most respected names in the music, you and the Gaylads have a lot of admiration and appreciation for all the great works that you did back then - I mean if anything your catalogue speaks for itself, both solo and with the group, there's no question about that.

A: Yeah, I appreciate that.

Q: One of the best voices I've ever heard in the music, it's just a pity that it got cut off short by this, but such is life I guess.

A: Yeah, I appreciate it, Peter. I hope I can get a copy, so... I will make sure to check it, y'know. It's been a pleasure.

Q: Definitely a pleasure, and an honour for me - you are one of the most soulful of the Jamaican voices, so thank you.

A: Yeah, it's good talking (laughs)! Hey, I hope it bring some spark with somebodys reflections... I hope something good comes in the light of this conversation, y'know.

Q: That's the intention, it's about time your work come in the spotlight once again.

A: And even though I tried to, I hope I did make a good interview of the whole thing?

Q: You did and I'm very grateful for it, I'm sure your longtime fans are too.

A: Yeah, Peter, it was nice talking...

It warms the heart in getting into conversation with some people because of their humble and good-hearted nature, and Delano's definitely one of them. And here's a man who is ridiculously overlooked for his contributions to the music, it's about time the Jamaican music industry wake up and honours those who truly deserves to be honoured, Delano Stewart's one of those names. He's on that list of endless talents this island has produced over the years, The Gaylads as one of the most influential entities of Jamaican music is another. Both deserves what they should've received years ago if everything was right, but it seldom is. Maybe it would be too much to hope for but wonders never cease as they say...

When trying to write this summary of Delano I found it rather difficult. When you learn of the evil that existed and obviously still exists (and always will) within the business, regardless how many times you've read or heard pretty much the same thing about what happened to some individuals along the way - trusting it is based on facts and nothing else - it always tends to be more emotional than you'd prefer if you choose to take side for whoever it may be, and to write something like this while being upset for someone else turns out to be, in the end, a bit pathetic for the viewer. I've seen these kind of writings myself over the years - the 'in-defence-of' type - and I didn't want to join that club, it's easier to fail in pure embarrassment than succeed somehow. Still, I have to say this, and it's my two-pennies-worth: Delano is not one of few who has met with pure rip-off's and misdealings, he's one of many. This has become and is in fact the very nature of Jamaican music business; it is a pool full of sharks ready to take a bite if you don't watch out. I guess you can't make that change down there, the business is more often than not ruthless on its performers, but elsewhere in the light of a more organised side of the business, it is a disgrace to see one of reggae's best albums ever being put out in Europe in the year 2000 (or 2001 to be exact) and not even compensating its author for what it's worth. Those who did should be ashamed of themselves and nothing else! Probably that never crossed their minds and it never will because 'moral' is a joke in these circles, it is common practice and moral consideration couldn't be farther in this case. What is conscience when you've got dunza (money) to think of? Anyhow, unscrupolous folly-mindedness aside, I have to say it is kind of a double-edged sword. Another part of me have to congratulate the crew behind it; they did a very fine job in restoring the sound of this classic record to what it is; a great stylist at the peak of his powers, extending the original line-up of tracks with contributions by the late Aubrey Adams, Patsy Todd and the Big Youth toast to 'That's Life' as mentioned in this interview - undoubtedly a great release, thorough liner-notes, and a feast of top class entertainment throughout, even if I personally could have been without the Todd vocal... Listening to a track like 'The Riddle' makes me wonder what you need modern dance music for - disco, techno, house or whatever it is - when a song like this simply whips up a storm! A later tune like the sublime 'Heart of Stone' shows he hadn't lost an inch of his ability, it's full of soul and showing great potential at a later stage in life. Shelly issued 'Spinning Wheel' on his Third World imprint in the UK around the same time and that's another 'shot at the hip', unquestionably reggae music at its best.

You might've met the dark and gloomy times in your all too short career, Delano, but bear in mind that this music goes way beyond that, it is music that has and certainly will stand the test of time in many, many years to come. May the Almighty forces continue to give you that joy in the morning you once sang of for as long as your heart are willing to. Remember that you sang 'Wish It Could Last (Forever)' back in the days? At least regarding your music, I predict it will last for as long as the music keeps on pumping out of the Jamaican borders. Your music will survive you, that you can be sure of, because people always find their way to where the treasures are. Your treasure will be there for generations to cherish, the treasure which spells Winston Delano Stewart. Respect.

7" single information courtesy Roots Knotty Roots.