By Andrew Clunis,
Freelance Writer
DANCEHALL MUSIC received such tender care from the 1980s into the 1990s, that it took prominence over Jamaica's generic music form, reggae.
The fact is, if you promote a product enough, people tend to buy into it. Jamaica had reached a stage where young people could not appreciate a good singing tune. Now the tide is turning. The singers are coming back in vogue.
However, many have left Jamaica, frustrated with the non-appreciation shown by the wider industry.
"The music has been unbalanced for the longest time. The DJs were pushed up front and promoted heavily. Now we have reached the stage where people really need a change. The music needs a balance. Thank God that people are suddenly into well-written, well-arranged music again. We hope it continues," said Richie Stephens.
"It is a cycle", said George Nooks. "We always figured our time would come again; it was just a matter of when. People's desires have changed and after a steady diet of DJ music, they are welcoming back the singers."
Nooks should know, he has spent 11 weeks at the top of the charts with God Is Standing By.
Beres Hammond has led the charge over the past decade. Not just in terms of his own output, but through the work he has done with other artistes to help them to lift standards in songwriting and other areas.
Since his return to the scene in 1989 with the number one hit Tempted To Touch, he has been prolific. It was almost 10 years later before he scored another No. 1 hit, Can You Play Some More, and this can be attributed to the dancehall fever which surrounded him.
Richie said music is like a business and people have to be flexible, just as in any other business. The economics of music have forced some artistes to make agonising sacrifices. Many who have natural abilities have caught on to a new idiom, sing-jay, which is a cross between singing and deejaying. This has been made popular by people like Vegas. But it's a hard decision. Sing-jays know they can sing well enough, but the splendour of great harmonies and melodies do not a pay-day make.
Tanya Stephens is one singer who has taken a bold step. She has forsaken the glamour of the sing-jay world in an effort to optimise her talent. She has a brand new, substance-oriented album coming out for Warner Bros, Sweden. Richie is one to admit that he had to make an economic sacrifice between 'beautiful' music and dancehall. For most of the 1990s, his work was geared at the dancehall market. He's just about making a return to his coveted place as one of Jamaica's top balladeers.
His emphasis is now strictly on quality. "I have seen an about turn in the music. People are now showing vocalists the kind of respect they deserve. The singers were here long before every other form of delivery and the fact that even young people are showing appreciation for singers says a lot," he said.
"After a while you want to get back to some real singing, working your chords, having a nice saxophone solo. I am attending the School of Music to learn to play keyboards. I am not worried about charts again," he continued.
Wayne Wonder has just returned to Jamaica. He had become frustrated with the entertainment scene. During his sojourn in New York, he had the hip-hop and R&B community in awe of his talent. And he recorded several songs with some of the big names in those circles.
Half Pint struck back last year. Known for his piercing vocals and a string of hit songs, very little was heard of him in Jamaica over the past few years as he resided in New Jersey.
The release of his album, Closer To You formed the launching pad for a string of recordings in Jamaica. Songs like Be Good To Me have helped him to bridge a generation gap.
One of Jamaica's finest voices of all times, Sanchez was forced to leave Jamaica and reside in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida after police raided his house looking for criminals a couple years ago. He has not been active here since, but has taken his music all over the world.
A stellar album, Just Being Me, has helped to re-position him among his fans.
Freddie McGregor now resides in South Florida, although he still keeps a home here. He made a massive comeback last year, scoring several hits in the process.
Gregory Isaacs and Dennis Brown were each nominated for a Grammy award this year. Jamaican music lost big when Dennis, regarded as one of the finest singers of our time died.
He left a magnificent album, Let Me Be The One, as his final work.
Gregory Isaacs has kept himself in the mix of things and the album Private and Confidential certainly indicates his longevity.
Singing Melody inspired a string of young singers to improve their products. The phenomenal success of his cover Want You Back got people working on chord progression and expanded the zeal for the use of live music in their recordings.
He is a member of the group LUST, which is comprised of a bunch of gifted individuals. Lukie D, Tony Curtis and Thriller U have all done exceptionally well at points in their careers.
Ghost has remained a rather interesting character throughout his career. Some say he can't sing while others believe he is a unique talent who has all the basics of a good vocalist. The title track of his latest album Love You is testimony to his ability.
Morgan Heritage has pumped an amount of sensibility into the music. Members have been consistent over the last four albums and have helped to penetrate the dancehall with conscious reggae music.
Glen Washington is drawn from a totally different era. He is a late bloomer who is making up for lost time with the quantity of his work. Give Glen Washington an old Studio One rhythm and you're sure to have a hit.
Luciano had been quiet for a while. But when it rained for him, it poured. He finally delivered two albums a month ago. VP Records released A New Day and Jet Star released Great Controversy.
The albums have been overwhelming the marketplace, forcing the artiste into a two-month tour of the United States.
Mikey Spice has moved to Florida. His incarceration put the brakes on his career for a while, but when you are that talented, you don't stay down. Outside of his contribution to Grab Yuh Lass, he has recorded a cover of Bunny Wailer's Ballroom Floor and Bob Marley's Duppy Conqueror. Contemporary music's loss has been gospel's gain. Several of the leading singers have been converted to Christianity and are doing well. Junior Tucker is now a music minister in Florida. Judy Mowatt is fully devoted to the church and Carlene Davis is travelling and ministering. Chevelle Franklyn, who had been the leading young reggae singer for a long time is making a big impression as a gospel act.
Nadine Sutherland is still working hard at her career, but has taken on an alternate career, as a gym instructor in New York.
Pam Hall has always been a laid-back kind of character and she continues to make major contributions in terms of vocal arrangements and cabaret performances. A new album of love song covers has been released for her.
Spanner Banner lives in England, trying to get his career back on track and nothing has been heard from his brother Pliers in a long time.
It is widely felt that the veteran singers have not been doing enough top quality recordings to keep the public's interest in singers alive.
This list is by no means an exhaustive one, but some of the people who have been at the forefront in recent times.
