WHEN singer Jah Fagan walked into the recording booth at Techniques Records 21 years ago, he had high expectations for his first song What a Go Down, produced by Winston Riley.
The track was not a hit and for the next 10 years, Jah Fagan recorded for different producers, hunting the elusive breakthrough. For most of his recording career, he held nine-to-five jobs at the Ministry of National security and Pizza Hut, but in 2006 decided it was time to devote his time fully to music.
"The music did a bite mi, so wi jus' go inna it fully," said Jah Fagan.
His latest songs are Jah Jah Save Me and Red Again. The former is co-produced by Hasani 'Sniche' Williams and Errol 'Fargo Vice' Farqhuarson, who had a hit some years ago with You See Fargo.
Red Again is produced by Horatio Newton on the Youths Dem Cry 'riddim' and was released as part of a compilation album of the same. Both songs have given the 47-year-old Jah Fagan (born Lloyd Fagan) renewed hope for a crack at local charts.
"A good song dem an wi a get massive feedback. Dem tune ya a the breakout song," he said.
Most of his recent recordings have been done for Donald 'Don T' Thompson for the Dream Team, a production company based in the Whitehall Avenue community of St Andrew where he Jah Fagan grew up. A Who Dem, Chant, Gideon Boot and Nubian Queen were all produced by the Dream Team.
Whitehall Avenue, which has an outstanding dancehall legacy, shaped Jah Fagan's sound. He grew up listening to greats like Marley, Dennis Brown and Delroy Wilson and started his career on King Challenger, a hometown sound system.
No comments:
Post a Comment