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.
Yamis first single, "When A Mans In Love",
broke in 1985 on Winston Rileys Techniques label and rode the popular "Ring the
Alarm" riddim made famous by Tenor Saw. His next single, again under Rileys
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 Pablos Rockers outfit. With the Rockers crew he recorded
great tracks like "Poor Man Cry" and a remake of Burning Spears "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. Yamis 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 Yamis 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
Yamis 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 Dont 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
Additional links for this artist:
www.yami-bolo.com
Listen To The Music of Yami Bolo
- Track List
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