Enter your search terms Submit search form   Web www.reggae-vibes.com "Aba Shanti Interview" by Gregory Mario Whitfield. (2002). It was a dark and rainy winter evening. I met Aba Shanti full sound crew in a complex of towering housing estates, cold looking blocks of apartments which wouldn't have looked out of place in Cold war era, pre-capitalist Eastern Europe. Inner London sprawl. So this is the environment that contributed to producing the shuddering bass vibration of Aba Shanti dub plates I thought. It seemed fitting somehow, and matched the intensity and seriousness of sound that Aba Shanti made. Read more... "Admiral Tibet - Glory Be To Jah" by Chuck Foster & Ray Hurford (1991). Admiral Tibbet is a roots singer who came up in the dancehall era and helped bridge the gap between the Rasta music of the ‘70’s and the revitalization now being enjoyed in reggae with such artists of the heart as the late Garnett Silk, Luciano and the return of conscious themes to the dancehall. Read more... "Alaine, Music Is All Me." by Stan Evan Smith (December 30, 2007). At 29 Alaine (Laughton) is hot. At the top of her game as female reggae entertainer she’s had more hit singles than any other female reggae artist this year. Alaine is the heavy favorite female singer of the year. She’s the perfect combination of beauty and multi talent, she is also an actress, copping a role in the Whoopi Goldberg movie 'Clara's Heart. Tall and statuesque, she possesses a sweet and beautiful voice and, is songwriter with depth. Read more... "The Story Of Ambelique." by Jim Dooley (1999). Although it has been only in the last few years that Ambelique (a shortened Swahili name given to him several years ago) has become a known name in reggae, he has had a varied and lengthy career. From his earliest days, doing spoken-word introductions for Derrick Harriott, Ambelique has had a career that has spanned several different places and time periods. Read more... "Culture's Albert Walker" Interview by Jim Dooley (February, 1997). Observant fans will know there is more to Culture than frontman Joseph Hill. In fact, it was Albert Walker's idea to form the group some 21 years ago. In this interview Albert updates what is happening in the Culture camp as well as giving us the early scoop on his solo project. Read more... "The New Message From the Meditations: An Interview With Meditation Ansel Cridland" by Judy Hecker (March 9, 1999). At long last, there's a new album by the legendary reggae harmony trio, the Meditations. Called Ghetto Knowledge, it's just been released on Easy Star. So, on Tuesday, March 9, 1999, in New York City, I sat down with Meditation Ansel Cridland at the label's weekly party at the Black Star Bar to talk about the album. Read more... "Anthony Johnson: When You Live In Trench Town, You Don't Haffa Go No Where Else" Interview by Smart Monkey (February, 2002). Anthony Johnson is probably best known for his massive 'Gunshot' tune recorded for Jah Thomas at Channel One backed by the mighty Roots Radics with The Zap Pow horn section adding the now instantly recognisable hooks. 'Gunshot' remains a dancehall smash ensuring Anthony's name endures. Read more... "Rockers' Sounds 'Cross Town!" Augustus Pabo interview from the New Musical Express (1986). He arrives at the Music Works office in Kingston quietly, on foot, no entourage, no Toyota Turbo. Anyone accustomed to the gold-teeth and coke-spoon variety of reggae supa might walk straight past this thin, unassuming dread in the brown chords and earthman shoes. Augustus Pablo belies the contemporary myth that you have to wear leatherette trousers to make good music. Read more... "Rockers Rock: Interview with Augustus Pabo" by Ray Hurford (1986). The early seventies found Horace Swaby attending Kingston College (KC) with friends such as Clive Chin and Tyrone Downie. He and Tyrone's interest in music had already lead them into a local church where they practised their keyboard skills on the organ. Read more... "Interview With Barrington Levy" by Ray Hurford (1991). In the late summer/early autumn of 1979, Barrington Levy, with the help of his producer Henry Junjo Lawes, and Jah Life, reshaped reggae music to how it is known today. Read more... "Bernard Collins: Keeping On ..." by Carter Van Pelt (1998). The interview took place on Sunday afternoon, Sept. 27, 1998 from about 3 to 4:30 p.m. in a house near Sherwood and Constant Spring Road in Kingston. I was in Kingston for the Ernie Smith & Friends concert later that evening. Louis and Patty Chase from Reggae 1 Love in Miami arranged the interview and link up with Mr. Collins. Bernard is soft-spoken. He is smaller in physical stature than I imagined -- not the same as the cover photo of Heartbeat's Satta Massa Ganna album implies. He is a graying Rastaman -- as are many of his generation. Read more... "Black Uhuru" by Sandra Farah (April, 1998). Black Uhuru emerged at the perfect and ideal moment when Jamaica was faced with turmoil, confusions and difficulties. Throughout the late 1970's the country and its people were being faced with outside imperialist threats, political violence, a teetering and unstable economy, covert United States intervention and an angry, politicized youth. Reggae music no longer reflected change and was in need of its own uprising. Black Uhuru was seen through some eyes as the saving grace of this desperate time. Read more... "Bob Andy At Open Tropen" Interview by Marc Hutsebaut (30 June 1990). How did you get involved in music? Wow, I'd have to think about that … church is probably my best answer. I went to many churches as a child, because at various times I lived with various members of my family, so whatever member I lived with, I went to that church. But the one that inspired me most into wanting to sing was the Salvation Army - it was free, hand-clapping, singing, dancing - that was mostly in the rural areas of Jamaica, the parish of Westmoreland. Read more... "Bobby Digital Interview" by David Katz. How did you end up in the music field? When I was growing up first I was like a repair technician who does like fix radios, components and TVs. Read more... "Bounty Killer: L-O-R-D HAVE MERCY" by John Masouri (October 1996). Rodney Price, aka the mighty Bounty Killer, is on the line from New York, just a couple of hours away from hosting an album launch party for his brand new album My Xperience. It's expected to be a celebrity-studded affair, with many big rap and reggae stars in attendance. Read more... "Bounty Killer: Real Revolutionary" by Julian Jones-Griffith (July 1999). "The other day the bwoy dem cause the people to riot and expect us to keep quiet. We all know Jamaica is sitting on a time bomb that can explode at any moment. That's why I told them Anytime! Unno ready fi di revolution?" sermonized Bounty Killer to his attentive public at a recent stageshow in Spanish Town. Read more... "Bushman Interview". I was born in Stanton Housing Scheme, just behind these mountains round here, Spring Gardens we call that side there, grew up in Lisence, that’s just about three miles away from here. I was to and fro from Spring Garden to Lisence, from the age of about two years old, to and fro, like on holidays, I went back to Spring Gardens, but the school that I went to was Lisence All Age. My given name was Dwight Marvin Duncan, that I name wha backra give me. Read more... "Unchained Spirit" by Adam Ullian (Spring 2002). His voice is thunderous and piercing. With each lyric, he pounds away at our psyche and makes our bodies shake with rhythm. He has become the crown prince of Dancehall reggae in Jamaica, and is a force to be reckoned with in the Jamaican music scene. He is young, but mature and powerful, and his name is Buju Banton. Read more... "Mighty Simpson" Interview with Bunny Diamonds by Jim Dooley (May 13, 1997). I knew when I started to prepare for this interview that I could only hope to scratch the surface on the long career of the Mighty Diamonds. To do a complete job, a very large book would be required. As they have recorded countless songs for a variety of producers over the years, I decided that when I spoke to Bunny Diamonds, I would ask him about some of those producers - some well known and some not so well known. Read more... "Burning Spear" Interview by Billy Bob Hargus (September 1997). For almost twenty years now, Burning Spear has been an important voice in reggae in many ways. His distinct, wailing voice is an unsurpassed trademark that goes along with his preaching of the works of black nationalist leader Marcus Garvey in his songs. Spear has been steadfast in his view and his music, keeping true to them throughout his career, and led to a large international following: this kind of conviction is something that's sadly not seen too often in the music industry. Read more... "Burning Spear: African Teacher" by Carter Van Pelt (1985). Meeting and reasoning with the man Winston Rodney had been a personal goal of mine for some time. I got my chance before Burning Spear played the Grand Emporium in Kansas City on August 30th, 1995. I found Spear to be much as I had anticipated - reserved, distant at times, and very dread. Read more... "Cedric 'Im' Brooks" Interview by Jim Dooley (August 2000). Cedric Im Brooks has been involved in Jamaican music for over forty years now. Although he is probably best known for his many wonderful Studio One saxophone instrumentals, his career goes back even further to the early days of ska. From his work with the Vagabonds, to the formation of the Mystic Revelation of Rastafari, and on to his more recent Skatalites membership, Brooks has made a distinct and lasting contribution to Jamaican music. Read more... "Capleton: Fire is the ultimate!" by Nadine Reid/G.O. Crew Leipzig (July 2002). He's the Prophet and him neva inna no illusion. One of the real heavyweights in Reggae Music. Nadine tried to find out, why the fire caan cool and talked with the man from St. Mary about women, Sodom and Gomorrha and the 'no' feud with Beenie Man. Read more... "Charly Organaire" Interview by Rich Lowe (2005). Actually at age five, as far back as I can remember, I did recite quite a bit of poems in my neighborhood, large houses, some political party places, one of my earliest influences on the harmonica is my neighbour, Randal. He played a guitar and a harmonica, I was just a kid - but it swept me off my feet. So my mum bought me a plastic harmonica and it took me no time at all to learn playing songs on it. Read more... "Coco Tea Interview" by Simrete Selassie (1989). The man called Coco Tea was born in Rocky Point, Clarendon, Jamaica, on March 9, 1959. In many ways the background of this soft-spoken reggae singer is typical of many other Jamaican artists, but it is his concious lyrics and his professional manner of conducting his career that sets him above the pack. His voice is sweet, smooth and rich, just like, well, Coco Tea! He visited Los Angeles early 1989 to perform at the Reggae Explosion concert and took time out to talk to the Beat. Read more... "Dennis Alcapone" Interview by Ray Hurford & Geoff Sullivan (1979). Towards the end of 1960s in Jamaica, a new form of music was in the process of creation... Deejaying. Its origins were many but it was two men who popularised this new form: U.Roy and Dennis Alcapone. Read more... "The Dennis Bovell Interview" by Norman Darwen (February 1998). Dennis, how did you get started in music? We decided to form a band at school, when I was in the second year, just to play mainly at friends' parties and play mainly at school assembly in front of the other boys, show off basically. And this band won a talent competition in Stockwell, in London - against all odds, really. Read more... "A Tribute to 'The Crown Prince of Reggae', Dennis Brown" by Mark McGarry. Dennis Emmanuel Brown was born in Kingston, Jamaica in 1957. "He was dubbed "the Crown Prince of Reggae", and only his natural diffidence stood between him and even greater stardom" (London Times, 1999). Dennis acquired this title in the 1980’s around the time when Bob Marley passed away. Marley’s title passed on to one of his favorite musicians. On several occasions, Marley referred to Dennis Brown as his favorite reggae musician. Read more... "The Donald Manning Interview" by Carter Van Pelt (1997). The following is the raw transcript of the phone interview I did with Donald "Tesfa Gabriel" Manning of the Abyssinians on my radio program in Lincoln, Nebraska on March 29, 1997. It was nothing less than an honor to learn about this mysterious and crucial group from its founder. May the work of Donald Manning live long. Satta amassa ganna. Read more... "Earl 16" Interview by Ray Hurford & Dave Katz (1992). The following is the most comprehensive interview ever done with Earl 16. At the same time, it is probably one of the best "hard-core in-depth" style of interviews ever done with a reggae artist. The original can be found in More Ax 8: Mud Cannot Settle Without Water. Read more... "Earl Zero: Righteous Works" Interview by Steve Milne (1998). By the mid-70s the Greenwich Town/Farm section of West Kingston was bubbling as a hotbed of musical activity. Already home to such famous residents as producer Bunny "Striker" Lee and singers Derrick Morgan and Brent Dowe (The Melodians), the Farm was gaining further renown as the base of operations for some of Jamaica's most inventive young talent, including producers Bertram Brown (Freedom Sounds) and Errol "Don" Mais (Roots Tradition), singers Phillip Frazer, Rod Taylor and Sammy Dread as well as the Soul Syndicate band and more than a dozen dancehalls. Read more... "The Eskimo Fox interview: Creation rebel, Creation riddim" by Gregory Mario Whitfield (2004) I meet the Creation Rebel and African Headcharge drummer at one of the North London branches of the On-U Sound family. Eskimo "Mus'come" Fox is a Rastaman, and as such imparts a dignified, reflective and meditative vibration to those around him. Read more... "Blender Have Him Credential" Interview by Jim Dooley (1999). With the release of this year's 'Rootsman Credential' CD (Heartbeat), Everton Blender has succeeded in both expanding his musical range, and maintaining his unique voice. His career is a textbook demonstration in how persistence can pay off. As you will read, Everton Blender fans have lots to look forward to in the new year - more tours, and a forthcoming live album. Read more... "Interview with Fully Fullwood" (May, 2000). The following conversation took place in May 2000 at Fully Fullwood’s home in San Clemente, California. Fully, Frances, Tony, and Vickie were visiting in the studio. Frances turned on a tape recorder and recorded a good part of the conversation. The following is a transcript of that recording. When the tape recorder was turned on, Fully and Tony were talking about how the Soul Syndicate got started back in Jamaica. Read more... "Mr. Brother To Brother" Glen Washington interviewed by Jim Dooley (1999). Glen Washington has had one of the most up and down careers in reggae music. His contact with such diverse people as Joseph Hill, Stevie Wonder, Leroy Sibbles, Shinehead and Coxson Dodd has made for a very interesting story. Read more... "Horace Andy Hinds" interviewed by Carter Van Pelt (March 2000). Horace, give thanks for the time today. Yea mon! This new album Living in The Flood, it feels like a lot of effort went into the album compared to what I hear [generally out of JA] these days. We just went back in the studio. My idea was, 'I'm just gonna record like I was twenty-five years ago.' We could have done computer [programming], although a couple of the tracks we just overdubbed the live drums.Read more... "Ijahman Levi Tradesman" Interview by Ray Hurford (1982). During the Cultural Revolution which reggae music went through during the early seventies, many artists came forward who had, and probably still do have, tremendous talent.Read more... "Ijahman Levi: I & Jah" Interview by Carter van Pelt (1995). To say that Ijahman Levi is a deeply spiritual man would be an understatement. This is a man who lives his life in the Scriptures. For Ijahman, life is a constant fulfillment of prophesy. In the new book, Bob Marley: Songs of Freedom (Viking Studio), there is a compelling photograph of Jacob Miller, Bob Marley, Ijahman Levi and Junior Marvin sitting at the 1979 Sunsplash beach party. Read more... "Rastaman Vibration: Israel Vibration" by Jason Levy. Israel Vibration is one of the greatest triumphs to come out of the Jamaican reggae scene. Those familiar with the band feel the warmth of recognition and appreciation when the name comes up in a discussion of reggae music. That warmth and feeling is amplified for anyone who has heard or seen this special trio of singers perform their unique and powerful act in a live performance. Read more... "Press Along Rasta: Interview with Jah Bull" by Ras Salvador Navarrete. I first met Jah Bull through a friend of mine in 1994. At the time I was putting together a celebration to honor HAILE SELASSIE I'S birthday. I was already familiar with Jah Bull's music from his collaborations with Augustus Pablo and had heard an interview he had given on the "Reggae Beat" radio show hosted by Hank Holmes and Chuck Foster. Read more... Interview with Jah Cure. How you doing? I’m chillin fine. Rastafari mighty rule. I love the music you’re doing. Thanks man. To know that you could see through the eyes, you know? I was surprised when I heard that you are in prison. What’s going on? Read more... "Jah Shaka... The Indomitable Lion" by Ray Hurford & Colin Moore (1990). When people really talk about roots music – this is what it's about, because it's a way of life. It's a part of our culture. As a youth at school, I used to have a band, I never really start by having a sound system, I started with a band. And, from that, certain inspiration would come, with music you hear another person playing music, which you know to be good – because it gets into you – something with a feeling... Read more... "Jah Shaka : Spiritual Dub Warrior" by Vivien Goldman (2001). It's something like seeing the Wizard of Oz for the first time; all that mighty, awesome thunder and noise of great rushing waters, then a faint start when you realise the tumult is coming from one man. Shaka detests dealing in competition, and indeed every sound has its strengths. Read more... "Joe Higgs: No Man Could Stop The Source" by Chuck Foster. Joe Higgs's contribution to reggae is unique and all-pervasive. As half of the early duo Higgs and Wilson he was among the first Jamaican artists to record in the pre-ska rhythm and blues, boogie-woogie and even Doo-Wop styles. Read more... "Judah Eskender Tafari: Shining Bright" by Ray Hurford (1995). Coxsone Dodd released six classic songs with Judah Eskender Tafari, 'Jah Light', 'Rastafari Tell You', 'Always Trying', 'Conquer Me', 'Danger In Your Eyes' and 'Just Another Day' a 12", from 1978 till 1980, the first of which was the magnificent 'Jah Light'. He was then due to release an album - 'African Blood', it's never appeared. Read more... "Junior Byles: The Long Way" by Ray Hurford (1986/1987). Keith 'Junior' Byles was born in 1948, and grew up in the Jones Town area. When Junior left school, he worked first as a mechanic, and then as a fireman. Sometime around the mid sixties during the early rock steady era he made his first records under the name of 'Chubby' and The Honeysuckers. 'Emergency Ward' which came out in the UK on Rio (R75). Read more... "Incredible Jux: Interview with Junior Delgado" by Ray Hurford. »A lot of people still, them want I & I fe go drum and bass, mash up the music, do the music in a little kind of way, but it can't work because you still have enough Reggae soldier living on the front line - the music have to be made good. I don't care what they say or do time and money have fe spend on the music, it's the only way« Read more... Junior Delgado: Sister, Sister, Brother, Brother. Funny thing about life that a skinny kid can grow up to sound so mighty and fierce, without losing any warmth and tenderness. The beauty of age is range is opening up. Read more... "Justin Hinds: The Whispering Spirit" by Ray Hurford. "I used to work for the water sport concession, in my young days...I used to play bamboo joints and condensed can. When I was playing on the beach a lot of American used to come by and say you sound good man. One day, there was a guy by the name of Charlie Babcock, he's a Canadian and was a disc jockey on a station in Canada. He came to Jamaica, he got a job at the hotels as an entertainment manager. This was in Steer Town. He told me I sounded good, and that there was a party on a boat, it was called the Jamaica Star." Read more... "Hard Time". Interview with Keith Poppin by Peter I (2002). Keith Poppin is one of those names you've just got to take a closer look at. His career stretches back to the late 1960s, entering the studio at the well known address of 13 Brentford Road, Kingston, Jamaica. At the start of the 70s, his group Rocking Horse had a few hits for the Federal and Randys imprints, and then he went solo, hitting with such great shots as "Same Thing For Breakfast" (his biggest success so far, recorded for the Spiderman label), "Get Together" for the legendary Glen Brown, the hit song "Envious" for Phil Pratt, the superb "Some A Dem A Go Shame" for Keith Chin, and the roots classic sound of "Hold Not Thy Peace". Read more... "King Tubby" by Dave Hendley & Ray Hurford (1979). Waterhouse lies just west of Waltham Park, sandwiched between Washington Boulevard in the north, and Spanish Town Road in the south. This is the heart of Kingston 11, a maze of zince fence, potholed roads and suitably delapidated bungalows. This area has a reputation for being a gunman haven. Although, when compared to neighbouring Tower Hill, the general atmosphere is one of relative tranquility. Read more... "King Tubby's Reign" by Andrea Seddon. Osbourne Ruddock, known professionally and affectionately as King Tubby, the ‘Dub Master’ of all dub masters, is truly the Daddy of Dub, in every sense of the word. Not only was he one of the most innovative musical engineers of his time, but an artist, a pioneer, and a teacher to the procession of dub masters that would follow in his shadow. The list is endless of those he influenced first-handedly, including such noble names as Hopeton ‘Scientist’ Brown, Philip Smart, Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry, Prince Jammy, and Yabby You, to name a few. Read more... "Larry Marshall: Come Let Us Reason" by Jim Dooley. I want to ask a bit about your earlier days. I understand that you originally recorded for Top Deck - Philip Yap. Yes. The first song I recorded with Top Deck was in 1962. I don't remember exactly the month. I think it was in, like January or February month. And then later on up, it was independence, in August Jamaica was independent. The first independence in Jamaica, 1962, that song was out. Yeah, that song was out a couple of months before independence. It is a history in that time, until now. Read more... "Good Always Conquers Evil - The Musical Genius of Lee Perry." Article by Daniel & Seth Nelson. Lee 'Scratch' Perry - if you've heard the music that's been touched by him, then you're no stranger to the widely varying influences that have inspired him to create the music that he does. People have tried through the years to mimic, always unsuccessfully, the distinctive sound that seemed to emanate so easily from Lee Perry. Read more... Lee 'Scratch' Perry. Interview by Danny Kelly. (a classic from the New Musical Express, 17th November 1984). When Lee Perry – aka Scratch, aka The Upsetter– burned down his Black Ark studio, many people thought he had finally flipped his lid. But now he’s back, with a new LP, a new studio and a vengeful plan to bankrupt Island Records – whose villainy, he claims, brought about his past madness. Read more... "Leroy Sibbles: Mr Bassie" by Jim Dooley. Leroy Sibbles has had a career like no other in reggae. It could be argued that he is the single most influential singer and musician in the history of the music. His singing with the Heptones, and as a solo artist, is terrific, but that is only part of the story. Read more... "Linton Kwesi Johnson." Interview by Billy Bob Hargus (January 1997). Few musical performers have done as much for both music and politics as Linton Kwesi Johnson. There are many causes and struggles that musicians take up to support now and then but LKJ's whole career has been based on putting stories of struggle and oppression into his audience's lives as well as leading organizations to battle racism in his native England. Read more... "Linval Thompson: Natty Dread Are The Controller..." by Carter Van Pelt (1997). Sometime after Trojan Records reissued Linval Thompson's 1978 classic I Love Marijuana on CD, I contacted High Times magazine about a review, figuring it would be perfect for their readership. They suggested I try to get an interview, which I thought would be impossible, because no one has seen or heard from Linval Thompson in ages. Read more... "Lloyd 'Bullwackie' Barnes: From Treasure Isle To NYC" by Ray Hurford & Colin Moore (1996). “I used to hang around at Treasure Isle with Prince Buster. Although I used to listen to plenty of Studio One, I used to go anywhere that Coxsone used to go; you had King Stitt and Count Matchuki. I grow up on Studio One and Treasure Isle.” Read more... "Lloyd 'Bullwackie' Barnes: Lion In The Bronx" by Matt Fisher (2003). The echo lives on: in an amazing story of survival through changing times, XLR8R profiles the Wackies reggae label, a stalwart Jamaican-owned, US-based enterprise whose popularity in the '70s and early '80s may now be magnified, as a legion of electronic music fans embrace its minimalist dub aesthetic. Read more... "Burru Style: an interview with Skatalites drummer Lloyd Knibb" by Carter Van Pelt (1998). Lloyd Knibb's importance to Jamaican music can't be overstated. The inventor of the ska beat at Coxson Dodd's Studio One, Knibb created a sound that spread like wildfire the world over. In 1998, the musical debt to Knibb grows, as ska has proliferated to its furthest extent ever. The following interview took place on March 23rd, 1998 in Lincoln, Nebraska. Read more... "The Lloyd Parks Interview" by Jim Dooley (1986). Lloyd Parks has had a very lengthy and prolific career as both a master bass player and singer. From his first vocal group in the late 60's, to his continued success as a backing musician, Parks has probably come in contact with everyone in the reggae music business. There are not many reggae musicians who have been in demand for 30 years. Read more... "Lord Sassafrass: The Obeah Man Pon The Horseback!" by Rich Lowe. Usually during a DJ boom, you get three or four DJ's who take over the scene. Everything seems to revolve around them. Around them you always have a set of DJ's who could only be called imitators. These DJ's are just learning the trade. Before long they either come up with something original or give up. Read more... "Luciano and The Xterminator Crew" by Michael Lemay (April 11, 1998). Phillip "Fattis" Burrell is the producer of XTERMINATOR records and is responsible for the success the label has seen thus far. All musicians that have worked with "Fattis" have spoken very highly of him and his dedication to the production of reggae music. "The seriousness and zeal that "Fattis" has is so compatible to mine that we pull in tandem like a sculling boat team," said Luciano after working with "Fatis" on his hit song "It's Me Again Jah". Read more... "Rocksteady Legend Lynn Taitt" by Jim Dooley (2004). When one considers the biography of an artist, certain predictable patterns usually develop. This is not the case when one regards the career of Lynn Taitt. Taitt's name became synonymous with rock-steady in the 1960s, yet he is not a Jamaican. His guitar sound became one of the most recognizable sounds in Jamaica in the 1960s, yet guitar was not the first instrument he mastered. Read more... "The Mad Professor Interview" by Zetna Fuentes and Fela Small. (1999) The name "Mad Professor" conjures up an image of someone hovering over the controls in a laboratory, twisting the knobs and dials in pursuit of a new science. And in many ways it's true of The Mad Professor. In the reggae world, he's highly respected for his work with veteran deejays U-Roy, Ranking Joe and Dennis Alcapone, his prolific output of lovers rock, and brilliant collaborations with the father of dub, Lee "Scratch" Perry. He is also the founder of Ariwa, the largest Black-owned studio in the UK. Read more... "Marcia Griffiths: Reggae Queen?" by Jamie O'Brien (April 2002). "Coxsone also recorded the most gifted woman singer in Jamaica, Marcia Griffiths." (Barrow and Dalton, pg. 67). "It is a cliché to say that some Jamaican singers would have sold millions if only they had been born in the USA, but it’s undeniably so in the case of Marcia Griffiths, who no doubt earned more money as on the Marley’s I Threes than all the gems gathered here." (Barrow and Dalton, pg. 71). Read more... "Mark Wonder: Breaking The Ice" by Ray Hurford (2006). How did you become a singer? "Music as always been in my home, I used to listen to a lot of old R&B stuff, Al Green, Impressions, and with the reggae stuff it was Bob Marley, The Heptones, Burning Spear. I grew up on that kind of music, it inspired me". Read more... "Why you are WRONG about Maxi Priest." A reappraisal by John Eden (2005). "What? Is this some kind of post-ironic ironic thing?" - a fictional uncarved blog reader… Cos, obviously he's rubbish reggae, isn’t he? The apotheosis of crossover crapness – watered down JA vibes for tourists on beaches and that guy from accounts who made an arse of himself at this office party. Read more... "Interview with Peter Broggs" by Steve Mosco (2002). Peter Broggs first came to attention recording under his real name Henry James in the early 1970’s. Having worked with producers including Niney the Observer, Coxsone Dodd and Prince Far I, and a whole series of albums for RAS Records in America, he has continued to make his mark on the reggae business for more than 30 years. Read more... "Interview with Peter King" by Ray Hurford, Colin Moore and Eric Skanks (1986). Who inspired me? I used to like General Echo a lot, a helluva lot, Cause I liked the way he would chat a rhythm-comfortable and make you laugh. At the time slackness was kicking up dances, but he used to do other lyrics as well 'Soldier Take Over' all them kinda of things. A whole heap of lyrics, it was him who inspired me a lot. Read more... "Love Was All I Had". Reggae / Rock Steady Singer Phyllis Dillon Interview by Jim Dooley (1986). Although absent from the music scene for many years, Phyllis Dillon is gradually making her way back into the business. Dillon is still best known for the many classic rock steady sides she recorded for Duke Reid's Treasure Isle in the late 1960's. Her fans will be pleased to note that her current project is a recording that involves veteran musicians Lynn Taitt and Winston Grennan. I really enjoyed our conversation. As you will read, she is friendly, funny, interesting, and above all else, honest. Read more... "Prince Hammer"... interview by Ray Hurford (1982). Prince Hammer originally recorded under his real name Berris Simpson or Berry Simpson. One of his first records was ›Daughter A Whole Lotta Sugar Down Deh‹ produced by Glen Brown and M. Miller. This was the B.Side of Glen Brown's ›Two Wedden Skank‹ [Downtown DT507] an all time dub classic. Another for Glen was ›Tel Aviv Skank‹. Read more... "Prince Malachi - Up To The Time"... (July 2006). "I'm always working you know. We're always in the studio doing one thing or another. Never really get no break. If I'm not working for myself I'm producing for another artist or working as an artist for another producer." Read more... "Ronnie Davis - No Weak Heart"... Interview by Peter I (2004). "Underrated" is a term commonly used for a lot of Jamaican singers. This is a term that could easily fall in place for a singer of Ronnie Davis´ calibre. His stint as harmony singer in the Itals has more or less obscured his deserved place among the elite of the finest of the finest vocalists Read more... "Scientist: Blinded By Science" by Matt Fisher (2002). No prominent discussion of classic jamaican dub music - the spacey instrumental form of reggae that peaked in the late '70s and early '80s - can occur without mentioning a shy, electronics-fixated producer called the Scientist. His slew of influential solo dub albums on Greensleeves and other labels, as well as tireless work in the Channel One recording studio with hundreds of artists, has earned him a permanent spot in reggae's hall of fame. Read more... "Inside The Mind Of Scion Sashay Success" by Chuck Foster (2000). Scion Sashay Success seemed to burst on the New York reggae scene full-blown in the early eighties. His early recordings were produced by Percy Chin and Hyman Wright and issued on their Jah Life label. His first release, »Can' Leave Jah Alone/Dancehall Queen« came out on 12" in '83, followed by »Put It On/Take It Off«. Read more... "Screecha Nice" by Beth Kingston (1986). This is the story about how Screecha Nice's style got popular. It started on September 28th 1983 in Toronto. Brigadier Jerry was in town doing some dances and it happened that his birthday fell during his stay. Read more... "Sly & Robbie: Rhythm Method" by Brent Hagerman (September 28, 2006). Ever since its incarnation it's been an uphill battle for reggae to make serious inroads in the mainstream music pantheon, largely because it has faced below the belt criticism that has claimed all reggae sounds the same and suffered infantile stereotypes that propagate the notions that reggae is first and foremost the product of stoner culture, and is largely a feel-good novelty genre not fit to sit on par with serious music. Read more... "Spragga Benz: If a girl want to gwaan 'dread' tek it to the extreme!" by Nadine Reid/G.O. Crew Leipzig (April/May 2002). Germaican Observer: What is the name Spragga Benz all about? Spragga Benz: Spragga is coming from Spaghetti, because I was skinny and the Benz come up from a soundsystem that my friends own, by the name of LaBenz so mi just put them together. Read more... "The Style Scott Interview" by Smart Monkey. Style Scott's militant yet majestic rhythms have graced numerous Reggae classics over the last twenty years, widely acclaimed for his pioneering adventures in dubland with his studio and live project ‘Dub Syndicate’. He has also managed to continue playing touring and recording with the groups Jamaican counterpart The Roots Radics. Read more... "Sugar Minott" by Ray Hurford (1979). Sugar who? That could have been a typical response from reggae fans around the beginning of 1978. Reggae music's like that. You can be enjoying the current sounds or waiting for something due, and out of nowhere - an artist will just come along and change everything. Read more... "Sylvan Morris In Dub" by Tero Kaski & Pekka Vuorinen. »I started at Dynamics - roughly about fifteen years ago. I knew an engineer there Graham Goddall. He invited me down there, he wanted a technician to help start fixing up Dynamics Studio, at that time, the name of it was West Indies (Recording Studio) - WIRL. So this is where I started.« Read more... Toots & The Maytals by Sarah Badger. Toots and the Maytals have music history spanning over three decades, and in that time they’ve become almost as legendary as Bob Marley and Peter Tosh. The blend of music styles that make up the soulful sounds of Toots and the Maytals have come from many influential artists as well as the historical influence of reggae music and the group’s history. Read more... Trevor Hartley Interview... by Ray Hurford. What inspired that voice? »I always tried to find a way, a style that I could come into the market and sound different. My style come from a mixture, I listen to a lot of Sam Cooke, Curtis Mayfield. I've always admired the way these people voice as always stood out from the rest. So there is a mixture of so many artists. Marvin Gaye and so on.« Read more... "The Triston Palmer Interview" by Carter Van Pelt (February 1998). It was an interesting circumstance how I got hooked up with Steve (Ibanez of I&I Foundation). I was at the soundcheck for Ernie Smith, at the Pegasus last fall, and one of the engineers was playing the CD Born Naked. I ran over and had to find out what it was.Okay. Right. I want to get a full kind of career retrospective on you. I wondered if you could tell me about growing up in Waltham Park and how you knew you wanted to become a singer and things like that? Read more... "Daddy U Roy : The Man Behind the Name" by Julian Smith (2005). He is affectionately called Daddy, because he was one of the originals who birthed the music that now receives limitless accolades and awards from the highest of international music authorities. This genius is not easily fazed, only a smile and nod is the extent he uses his bragging rights. Humble, you could say that. Sure, that too. Proud, certainly. Read more... "The Wailing Souls - Keeping The Dream Alive" by Chuck Foster (2001). Though they slimmed from a quartet to a duo over the years the Wailing Souls have survived to be one of the most enduring of the vocal groups first established in the early seventies. Wisnton "Pipe" Matthews first recorded as a child-member of the Schoolboys then with partner Lloyd "Bread" McDonald in a band called The Renegades. Read more... "Conversation with Warrior King" by Larry Leiber (October 26th, 2005). Who would you consider to be your main musical influence to have helped you to become what you are today, and in particular "Hold the Faith"? Read more... "Willy Williams - The Armagideon Man" by Ray Hurford and Colin Moore (1983). When, in 1979, Willy sang "A lot of people won't get no supper tonight" the opening line from 'Armagideon Time' over the 'Real Rock' rhythm for Studio One, it was clear that this was a singer who was destined to become a major reggae talent. Read more... "Yami Bolo Deferred" Interview by Gregory Stephens and Laura Gardner (2000). I have always felt a special affection for Yami Bolo, a culture singer born as Rolando McClean in 1970. He began recording for Sugar Minott's Youth Promotion when he was barely a teen, so he has always seemed like a quintessential Jamaican "youth" to me Read more... "Reasoning with Yellowman" by Jack Tafari (2000). In a bold and calculated move to empower your humble homeless vendor, street roots gave I a press pass last month, the theory being that such a pass would permit I to pass through previously locked doors in the pursuit of stories related to homelessness and poor people issues. Quite naturally this pursuit led to an interview with Winston Foster, the one Yellowman, who was playing at Berbati's Pan. Of course, ev'rybody love Yellowman, especially de gal dem. Read more...