REGGAE SINGER Yami Bolo has just returned from a tour of France, which he has described as successful. Bolo went into the French interlands along with veteran DJ Dillinger and the Barry Llewelyn version of the Heptones.
The singer, who is considered to have a unique reggae voice, said the experience helped him to understand the extent to which reggae music has grown in the wider world.
"I toured there first in 1987 with Augustus Pablo, Junior Delgado and White Mice and I went back with my band in 1988. Over the years the love for the music has increased tremendously. The French people really like message-driven reggae music.
"Bob Marley paved a smooth way for us out there and we are just benefiting from that now. There is a reggae artiste there, Pierpoljak, who is doing wonderful things with the music. He is keeping reggae on the front burner in France. When I was there he was on the TV accepting a big national award. That shows you the extent to which they hold the music in high esteem," he said.
Platinum success
Bolo, who has been singing since he was a youngster, is an icon in Japan where he has had platinum success.
"I see signs of repeating that in France. The reception we got was unbelievable. We went into diverse places like Toulouse, Paris and high into the Alps. We did 15 shows in three weeks and it was terrific."
Back home, Bolo is concentrating on completing an album for Stephen Marley's Ghetto Youths label.
"In addition to that I am completing some stuff for the Yam Euphony label which is my personal label," he said.
Bolo achieved a rare feat as a producer, by recording a song with enigmatic reggae pioneer Lee Scratch Perry. He also has records with Gregory Isaacs and Shalom, yet to be released.
