Earl Sixteen
When did Earl Sixteen start in
the music business?
"Basically I start out under the street light outside my home on
Oakland Road in Kingston. at the age of 13 I listen to a lot of
American music guys like The Chillies Chuck Jackson James Brown
Jackson 5 even the Beatles were big stars of my early days. In
1971 the radio was all there was to play with while doing the
chores on Saturday mornings. I used to sing along to one
particular song "People Makes The World Go Round" that was one
that I new every width and breathe of so we use to gather on the
avenue and compete to see who could sing the highest falsetto. I
was encouraged by a friend to enter the talent contest at the
Bohemia nightclub, which I did in my school uniform behind my
parents back. At the finals after weeks of audition and practice
I met Michael Rose my class-mate at high school The Tamlins and
a few influential people in the business at that time.
After winning with the Chilite song I bought home my $25 and
told my mum about the buzz I got from all the cheer that I got
.I had to complete High school and while attending St Andrew
Tech I joined a vocal singing group with guys like Winston
McAnuff Paul Pollack Kenneth Hamilton and Franklyn Waul.During
mid-terms and holidays we went to Duke Rieds, Joe Gibbs Aquarius
and Studio One, eventually recording our one and only track for
Herman Chinloy, The song was called "Hey Baby" By The Flaming
Phonics. That was the name of group we had formed. We started
doing school barbecues and small concerts all over the Island.
We even went on Television to promote the song. I was 15 years
old when we played in The Spanish Town auditorium along side
people like Big Youth, Mighty Diamonds Tyrone Taylor Burning
Spear and Boris Gardiner Happening Band."
"I was asked to join the band as
lead singer by Boris because Tinga Stewart had just won the
annual Festival song contest and had to leave the band for
overseas tour. My first sols recording was penned by Maccnuff
titled Malcolm X for Joe Gibbs at this point I had to drop out
of school to pursue my career, I went with Boris to Canada in
1975 and when we came back we went to Lee Perry studios where I
did "Freedom", after that I went with Winston again to Derrick
Harriot to do "Dreadlocks Unite", and Charmaine. I started to
become confident and gathered a lot of experience from the band
as we played in every ballroom in Jamaica at the time. Over the
years I met a whole lot of people in the business like Mikey
Dread At The Control Campbell Augustos Pablo and the enigmatic
Clement Dodd."
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When did you start
working with Studio One (Coxsone Dodd)?
"It was about 1978 when most artist wanted to be on the Studio
One label as he had the biggest hits at the time songs like
"Fight it to the top" the Heptanes, Bob Marley "Stir It Up", Bob
Andys "Young, Gifted, and Black" and a host of number one. I
even had a chance to meet Alton Ellis and Ken Booth who were the
biggest guys in thebusiness at the time. After spending weeks on
the steps of the studio I finally got a chance to audition for
the man himself. He told me to take some of his records and
practice on the Bside as much as I could and the next time I
went back I did the monstrous Love Is A Feeling on the Heptones
rythme track fight it to the top. That is one of my most popular
songs up to date. I went on to do an Album Titled Earl Sixteen
Showcase. We still remain great friends and comrades in the
business."
So when and how did you come to England ?
"As I was first invited to the UK by Michael Campbell as a part
of the Dread At The Controls tour he was Invited by David
Rodigan so I arrived in 1985. I spent a small time meeting
people like Carl Palmer Mad Professor, Bert Douglas and
Mafia-Tone Records who were putting out some great hits at that
time. Shortly after returning to Jamaica I met (Wambesi) Roy
Cousins and did an album for him as he said I had a little name
in England because of the Studio One releases. I returned in
1987 and immediately started to work with Neil Fraser and he
told me one day that Paul Daley was looking for me to over dub
my voice from an old track I had done at King Tubbys which was
then released as Release The Pressure, That was on of the first
Auk underground collaboration with a Jamaican artist and it did
reallywell for us. I then went on to acquire a manager who was
working with Little Roy and Danny Red at the time and he
introduced me to BMG publishing, His name is Martin Poole, so
from moving with Martin I met Greg Roberts who has a band called
Dread-Zone which I am still working with at this time."
"Well up to the time I am currently working on my label Merge
Productionz which has a few 10" released and about 8 seven inch
45s plus were are in the studio with a brand new album for the
new year, it will be featuring a selected amount of producers
etc, Mad Professor, Gussie P, Ritchie Stevens, (Drumhead). Benji
Zepheniah. Just to name a few, so We keeping the oil in the lamp
over the years and for any further info please contact the web
site. It has been a pleasure
talking to you and I wish you all the best in the future. Have
Faith In Jah Rastafari. One Love To All. Guide Them Jah."
Earl
Sixteen Links:
The Music Of Earl Sixteen -
Track List |
