Two faces of Pam Hall
Tanya Batson, Staff Reporter
IMAGINE three young girls on a stage, filled with nervous energy as they prepare to sing.
Then just when they are about to start, the intro has been played and all that is left is for them to sing to their little hearts' content, when two of them freeze. One brave little soul must sing her heart out, because her friends are suffering from stage fright.
Pam Hall found herself in a similar situation and it constitutes her first - albeit reluctantly so - solo performance.
Pam Hall is more than a mere singer, though she does that so well.
She is a singer, a songwriter, an arranger, a producer and a promoter. Her name has become one of those which many Jamaicans have come to associate with music, even when they are not decidedly clear about what she sang - or, more appropriately, sings.
Of course, this may be in part due to the fact that Pam has delved into many genres of music.
She has gone into jazz, reggae and the blues. Additionally, having recently released the CD A Time For Love, she intends to later release a gospel album, a jazz album and a reggae jazz album.
Pam notes, however, that although she has dabbled in the blues, she does not see herself as a blues singer.
Additionally, she intends to produce the gospel album because gospel was such an important part of her early life.
Those who know Pam say that her reggae repertoire far exceeds the other genres. A Time For Love is also a reggae album.
She simply loves music. Nonetheless, she states: "I probably get more fun out of jazz because I can further extend myself."
She further explains that this is because there are more limitations surrounding what the reggae audience is willing to accept, as opposed to the jazz listenership.
Affair with music
Pam's affair with music, which has long blossomed into a life-long romance, began when she was around seven or eight years old.
She notes that she began singing in the usual places, that is, choirs at school and church. However, in her young years, she never performed as a solo act. Until high school, she only performed in duos or with small groups.
Interestingly, although she had been singing from such an early stage, Pam admits that she had always wanted to be a teacher and had occasionally thought of being a nurse.
"When I saw how myself and the other students tested the teachers I thought, no, I couldn't manage it," she said.
Thus her dreams of entering the noble profession were derailed. Even so, the possibility of teaching has not been completely erased. Pam notes that she may yet end up giving voice lessons. She has often engaged in this, but has never done so formally.
Her dreams of becoming a nurse were also sent off the tracks as it was another profession which Pam came to realise she was not suited for.
The reason? "Too much empathy. I would feel sick whenever anything happened to anybody," she said.
Pam Hall is a single mother of two. She has never been married and has no regrets about this.
"I wouldn't have minded the experience, but I'm fine," she says with a laugh.
So, being the dedicated mother that she is, although she dearly loves her music, Pam believes that it should not come in the way of her motherly duties.
Her son is now 21 and her daughter is 11. Pam, notes however, that she has had to turn down opportunities because of her family responsibilities.
"I don't believe in putting your work before your child," she explained.
Although her name is quite well-known, she faces same issue that seems to be plaguing other Jamaican female artistes.
She notes that, while she has earned and does receive respect in the music business, she does not get significant airplay.
"I don't know what it is with this whole Jamaican thing," she states shaking her head. She is aware that this situation is not unique to herself. "On the whole, I think females tend to be dismissed, ignored, sidelined by people on the air," she says. "Of course, there are people who will play female artistes, almost by way of concession."
Resentful
Nonetheless, although she knows that is the way of the business, she sometimes resents the way female artistes are treated.
This occasional resentment does not get her down, however. Taking it in stride, Pam notes: "I see it as a developmental thing. This too shall pass."
Fortunately, however, she notes that she has never experienced sexual exploitation, nor has she tried to exploit her body, to improve her ratings.
"Generally, when I go out there I want to look good, but I don't go out there to sell sex," she said.
Of course, she notes that there are songs, such as Peggy Lee's Fever, which require generous helpings of sex appeal.
However, she does not ooze sex as a standard side dish to her performances. She notes that this standard may be because she is "too naive" or simply because she "loves music too much" to do that.
Pam Hall's music career has seen her, like many female artistes, providing backing vocals for other artistes.
In this capacity she has worked with a myriad of local and international artistes, including Peter Tosh, Bunny Wailer, Jimmy Cliff, Tracy Chapman, Erikah Badu and The Fugees.
Pam notes that back-up singing - or harmonising, rather - is nothing to scoff at. She states: "You do see a lot of good singers who do back-up, but it takes special skills. You have to have a gift for harmony."
Pam's career has also seen her performing with, or working as an opening act for several major stars. She has worked with Tina Turner, Aretha Franklin, Ben E. King, Toots and the Maytals and Shaggy.
Even so, she notes that there are still avenues in music that she would like to explore, which she has not yet had the opportunity to.
Nonetheless, she states that she has remained true to herself. "I still remain basically Pam Hall," she says confidently.
