YAMI BOLO
SNWMF 2003 -
Photo by
Lee Abel
YAMI BOLO was born Rolando
Ephraim McLean on October 1,
1970 and grew up in Kingston 13.
He acquired his stage name from
a female
acquaintance who noticed
that he loved to eat; she
mentioned that he was always "nyaming"
on food and began calling him "Yami"
in reference to that trait. The
name stuck and he became Yami
Bolo from that point on.
Yami began his career like many
youth in Jamaica by singing in
church groups. He was noticed by
Sugar Minott in the mid 80s and
began working with his set,
Youth Promotion, performing with
them and voicing specials for
the sound. During this time he
hooked up with Junior "Jux"
Delgado, who guided the young
Bolo and gave him the benefit of
his extensive experience in the
music business.
Yami’s first single, "When A
Man’s In Love", broke in 1985 on
Winston Riley’s Techniques label
and rode the popular "Ring the
Alarm" riddim made famous by
Tenor Saw. His next single,
again under Riley’s tutelage,
was released the following year.
That song, "Jah Made Them All",
began to make people take notice
of the still-teenaged Bolo.
During this time, Yami appeared
in sound system shows with
Stereo Mars sound and was
captured on a live video session
at a PNP rally singing over that
sound.
In 1988, Yami renewed his
association with Jux Delgado,
and became part of Augustus
Pablo’s Rockers outfit. With the
Rockers crew he recorded great
tracks like "Poor Man Cry" and a
remake of Burning Spear’s "Door
Peep" with the youths known as
Ruffy and Tuffy.
In the years since, Yami has
recorded with many producers
including Niney the Observer,
Trevor "Leggo Beast" Douglas,
Tappa Zukie, Lloyd Hemmings and
Sky High (of Sky High and the
Mau Mau).
Yami is one of the youngest
practictioners of the
"Waterhouse" vocal style, made
famous by Michael Rose and
Junior Reid (and to a lesser
extent by Don Carlos) and best
illustrated by the sound of
Black Uhuru in its many
incarnations. Yami’s sound is
perhaps closer to the Half Pint
school of Waterhouse
vocalization, but the roots of
his vocal stylings still show
the influence of the "stani
nichi oy" warblings made famous
by those Waterhouse singers
mentioned above.
Perhaps Yami’s most famous (and
exciting) record has to be his
duet with Capleton, "Put Down
Your Weapon" released in the
late 90s on the Fateyes label.
Not only did this single team
Bolo with the hottest fya burn
chanter of the time, but
showcased his vocal style and
delivery like no other song had.
|
Yami also contributed songs to
the soundtrack of "Life and Debt", a film about the continuing
dire economic crisis that Jamaica faces. He made a cameo
appearance in the film walking the streets of Kingston singing
"Be Still Babylon", a track from the Tappa Zukie produced album
"Cool and Easy". The soundtrack album from the film, recently
released on Tuff Gong includes another Yami Bolo song "Worldwide
Corruption", instead of the song featured in the actual film.
Also recently released is a
great album on the Roots Foundation label titled "Healing of All
Nations", which features Yami Bolo singing in a fine style over
revived riddims from the past. This is a must-hear album and one
of Yami’s finest efforts to date, produced by Linval Thompson,
and featuring hard hard riddims laid by original Roots Radic
band.
- Jah Bill
Selected Discography:
Singles:
Iniquity Worker/Version (Leggo 7")
Revolution/Version (Leggo 7")
Bring In the Gun/Version (Crown Star 7")
I Don’t Know Why/Version (Wacam 7")
Rough In the Ghetto/Version (Roof International 7")
Jah Fire Throne/Version (Roots Foundation 7")
with Sugar Minott: Rasta Soldier/Abortion (Patriot 12")
with Capelton: Put Down Your Weapon (Fateyes 7")
LP/CDs:
Cool and Easy (Tappa)
Produced: Tappa Zukie
Favorites:
Be Still Babylon
La Isla Bonita
Fighting For Peace (RAS)
Produced: Leggo Beast and Yami Bolo
Born Again (RAS)
Produced: Tappa Zukie
Favorites:
Dominion (version of Beres Hammond "Putting Up Resistance")
Jah Made Them All (Rockers International)
Produced: Augustus Pablo
showcase style LP featuring vocal version followed by dub
version
Favorites:
Jah Made Them All (may be a remake of the original recorded with
Winston Riley)
Tell Me Why Is This Fussing and Fighting
Yami Bolo Meets Lloyd Hemmings (Rockers International)
Many tracks in a showcase style featuring vocal version followed
by dub version
Produced: Augustus Pablo
Favorites:
Bowl Must Fall
Poor Man Problem
Who Rule and dub version included
Healing of All Nations (Roots Foundation)
Produced: Linval Thompson
Favorites:
Haile Selassie and dub version included
Healing of All Nations
Trigga Happy Kid and dub version included
Various Artists Compilation LP/CDs:
Augustus Pablo Presents Rockers International Showcase (Ryko)
Produced: Augustus Pablo
Yami Bolo tracks:
Door Peep w/ Ruffy and Tuffy
Poor Man Cry
Marcus Garvey Chant (Sky High)
Produced: Sky High
Yami Bolo tracks:
Marcus Garvey Chant
Marcus Link With Selassie
Yami Bolo
Links:
|
