Reggae Happenins

Unknown Speaker 0:00
reggae happenings. i This is at record t. And this is rig admins podcast and today I'm chatting with a verse strong Bridgette in the rigor field men call Juna Francis and he's a legend in the business all he plays his classic reggae music on his radio station and talk about classic artists and 91.5. So I'm here in the studio at 91.5, jazz and more. And yeah, you know, I've been here since 1982. And glad to talk to you today about, you know, music, reggae music. I've been broadcasting since 1981 In this session, but I'm not broadcasting too much anymore. We're doing podcasting. Now, because to get my runnings and move up a little bit from broadcast and people get on different track, so I'm virgin. Everything goes to farm and everything good so far. I remember I came out here in 85. When I met you, that's when I met you yet. Right. So you had just a few years earlier moved to Vegas? Yes. So yes, Mr. Zhu and friends. I've been. I've been to the station a few times with various musicians. I've listened when I'm usually when I'm in your area. I've listened to the show. So I'm very familiar. Yes, sir. So yes, nice talking to you, man. So tell us a little bit about yourself, sir. Where were you born it? Yeah, born in Manchester to be specific farm district are 12 miles south of Mandeville, which is the capital of Manchester. Yes. And he is on Manchester man way up above sea level. And I moved for my my port of entry was no New York. I lived there for 13 years and then I move out here in eight to five we

Unknown Speaker 1:53
didn't get to that. I just want to actually revert your school days when Manchester school is up there. Did it go?

Unknown Speaker 2:00
I never liked school. I just went for the formality. I couldn't stay home. My parents were my parents who are abroad. But my my grandparents were very strict. When it comes to education, they really insisted that I go to school, even when it's raining. That to go to school. School. I remember my last three years in elementary school I had perfect attendance. What's the name of the school Ubuntu in

Unknown Speaker 2:26
shambles? caster camber? skacel? Yeah, we had a renewal Manveer in 2019 went exceptionally well. Oh really? Huge. Some people came from all over. Oh, this lovely man. And

Unknown Speaker 2:41
from the organizers on here, right? Yeah, from the school is

Unknown Speaker 2:47
where you penetrate in music at a time or in any forms of entertainment. It does man from from as early as I can remember I got I remember I saw a guy with a transistor radio. Yes, he came to the States and from work and and when he came back home, he had one that was one of the first transistor radios. So I saw this guy worked in a row and I'm playing music and you know, talking, but the radios they had back then were radio fusion and I think JBC so yeah, I drove up all right. Yeah, there was. Yeah, there was stationary. Yes. So I saw this guy with his radio. But my mom told me when she was going to England that yet if I behave myself, well, yeah, whatever I was just tell her but what can a child watch? But guess what? I remember specifically what you told me. So I told him I saw this guy with a radio. So I want a radio. I said you remember you said if I behave well, I'll get whatever I want. I wanted a radio. And that cool woman had to work a whole week to save the money to send for me to buy a radio. So I got to an early transistor radios and I was able to hear everything. Everything that was played especially it tapped in on Friday and Saturday night setting Saturday night top 10. So I heard by and large, a lot of ska and Rocksteady during that era. Yes. And that's the radio the love for radio started then and so from from there on. In Manchester. He was born at

Unknown Speaker 4:21
home Yes, yes, you go to school there and that's where your music develops from there. Where did you want to leave Jamaica the time I lived in I lived in Kingston for a little bit what

Unknown Speaker 4:35
I remember what I can remember I spent less than a year there would I remember would pick a venue we could hear

Unknown Speaker 4:42
the tone. We could hear the dub my stamp says Kingdom the sound at eight o'clock and I remember a friend of mine from country every Saturday night with coming from work he would said Monday that I'm going home quite this is like going to church to hear kinked up is but because what the house was dangerous. We didn't go up

Unknown Speaker 5:00
Yeah, so I never got to see Kingdom it. But um yeah water house. I remember clinking Avenue woodpecker Avenue and suburban Avenue. So you leave Jamaica at an early stage. Yeah, we got my mother to get me before I was 21 I was immigration.

Unknown Speaker 5:16
Immigrants and think after your past 21 You should go to retirement home.

Unknown Speaker 5:23
University you never get a chance to see King Tubus we died no and he was at his feet and he was warship he was glorified. He was everything.

Unknown Speaker 5:33
On the sound kings. taps on Brian Kingston. I used to follow that sound up in Grand spin and water house and on the beach sometimes. So tell us when you leave Kingston. Where do you went to? So my port of entry was New York City. So Brooklyn, New York. Come on, man. I'd migrated from England now to New York. Okay, and she was able to she was able to process my paper and gotten the help before I turned 21 Zakia 21. America didn't have much use for your dad. Yes. And so I made it into Brooklyn. Right into business. There was some reggae on the radio station there. Yes. But they started, you know, they like lots of basement parties. Yes, sir. We hit those weekly. Yeah. Did you develop any kind of music?

Unknown Speaker 6:26
traction in New York when it was due? Like, you know, I know you are you guys so much pushed into music you are in the radio business. Did you do in a radio broadcast in New York or any kind of production? Yeah. Oh, so let the backstory so when I moved to New York, I did the same thing I did in Jamaica. I bought a radio again. I have one of the first I was one of the first guests it on tape man. I still walk around it might just it Auntie if I didn't care what people think. Yes. And I started recording this shows and radio, commercial radio shows or on weekends. Yes, I remember specifically recording Jeff bonds and call on Tony during the weeks on weekends, rather, so that I could play them during the week. So that's how I got my music. After probably years in New York, my brother decided to open a record store Delroy Francis records to a park records. And he asked me to run the store for him. Yes. So while running this store I met or even Peter Tosh came by Yeah, he's a touch. Big. Yo, it was a good friend of my brother. The roots. radics. Yes. Lots of people. I'm sure. That was in the heart, you know, was on Utica Avenue. So it's in the heart of Brooklyn. Yeah. very strategic. Location because we're two blacks on the thruway Eastern Parkway. Yes. So a lot of people came through. So that gives you an idea of, of being a producer wouldn't meet all those artists. You know, developer chef. Yeah, produce. Yeah, right. I spend a lot of time I spend a lot of time with hip tones and hip tones always was out there. Were always encouraging me to do some producing. I also met another guy named blocker. Morwell. He was a good friend of being the bunny and they had a group called the morals. Yeah.

Unknown Speaker 8:15
Yeah, it was kind to a fault. Always give him a rhythm to put out so you know, he has a song, you know, become a producer. I never took advantage. But I decided one day to record the hip tones. Without rewrites. It was noggin. Maurice was the lead singer at the time. Okay. And I did us and then I did a poetry song on the backside of afterwards. I said, You know what, everybody is doing poetry. Let me try something that time, Linton Kwesi Johnson was kicking supreme in England. Yes, I was big in Jamaica. So I said, for the hiccup that I'm gonna write because I can't sing. I'm gonna write a poem and put music to it. So I bought to rhythm. A guy in Canada. One side is the hip to what's called Swing low, sweet chariot. Yeah, I took that gospel song. Amen. Yes. And regularize it. Right. And you know, of course, the melody. And I gave him the melody. Gave them Otis Redding. Melody. Yes. And I gave them words that day, you know, just put it to music man. That's what these guys do for a living. I hear so. So tell us a little bit about your music life. I mean, how many things did you do? You're ready, you're ready to DJ, or producer, songwriter.

Unknown Speaker 9:31
Singer, you're

Unknown Speaker 9:34
the artist,

Unknown Speaker 9:35
that you produce some of the artists that you really work with in your project. So let's again, go back to New York when I was in New York, I was because artists were always complaining about being robbed by produce and I never want to have that stigma behind my name. Yes. So even though there were good people have towards even getting some songs that it added that they haven't even been published. You know, they have them so

Unknown Speaker 10:00
We're here.

Unknown Speaker 10:01
Blackmore, well give me some songs you know, I said, I never did because I didn't want people to criticize me for a nuclear family and their friends said you know, sons you put up my dad's some you put up my friend's son, what, um, to the royalty check so I didn't do that. Again just the one thing I've you know bought paid outright credit towards outright for so I had the rights to it. Yeah, I've started helping when I've worked in a record store all kinds of especially the roots radio host used to come by so I would put together roots song for them, but that was really my interest at that time. Okay, roots. Right, so that wraps my call. Yes. And some of the roots deep roots artists that you want here elsewhere. I used to find your son for radio DJs. You told me some legendary some of them. Some of them loved virgin. Yes. Some other routes, songs that you won't hear on other station. Yeah. And so I did that. I did that. And I said, Well, if I'm putting music together for these guys, I can be on a radio typically that's that was my dream. Yeah.

Unknown Speaker 11:10
How many years you spent under broadcast and under radio, because I know everybody. Lots of people hearing about you wanted to know who you are. I know if you from that too. And you do a few interview with me one time on your radio station or the radio. So. So in New York, I had the opportunity, but I wanted to go to school and get trained. That was my thinking. And I don't know where that thing came from. So I left New York after 13 years, and I decided a friend invited me to California and I asked me what would I like to do with my life? I guess she thought working in record store was not a career. I didn't know it wasn't that I think being up around music doing anything was a career. So it's just I told her I wanted to go to school and I just said, Oh, California is the place because there was like $5 of credit for for junior colleges and said, okay, so I moved out here at five. That's when I saw you and I went back to New York and officially came back. It is six and I started studying broadcasting I met gave us sorry, at Mount San Antonio College. Yes. And that was in it. It was several I got on the radio, what station was that? They had a college radio there. I had to fight my way together, even though I was eligible, because I was playing reggae. So there were not so open to the idea. But I'm by by the winter of 87. Now I got down to kspc which is a bigger frequency. Okay. And they had they had a couple of reggae shows there. I tell JM Suzanne and Eve Roberta from Kara. That's where he got his start. Okay. But then everyone was listening to radio. So that's how I got my start. In 87. Yes, yes.

Unknown Speaker 12:53
I'm still there. Yeah. So you are you on the radio retro now? Yeah, beyond tonight, six to eight, Los Angeles time on kspc 88. Seven FM online. PSPC. That org? Right. So we're going to show you this is a lover's rock shore roots rock dance, or no, no, no, no, no, no, it encompasses My mission is to keep secure rock steady and early regular life. Because you can hear done on everything and roots everywhere. But I figure I want I'm trying to reclaim scan rock cities. So you're gonna hear a lot. A lot. Yes, you're gonna hear a lot uncompromising. A lot on the show. Okay. As a matter of fact, perhaps a third of the show is devoted to scan Rocksteady because I figured the Founding Fathers should be respected should gain notoriety worldwide. And people like Dan Lynch said that's the

Unknown Speaker 13:53
foundation those are names that I make sure you hear that mill is small mill

Unknown Speaker 14:01
roots. Those are the roots of Reagan

Unknown Speaker 14:07
foundation. Yes, yes. that preceded it. They did roots rock. We go back before roots. Yeah, my notes, discovered great, great, great, great things that you're doing for the reggae music. And don't give it up. And don't ever stop. You know, I been broadcast myself for 38 years. And

Unknown Speaker 14:31
I'm doing a different project right now. You know, the podcasts we're doing right now. 1.5 But that's not all. I'm also on Saturday nights I do okay, Excel you that broadcast que le y broadcast from Loyola Marymount University. Yes, I started a nice from eight until 11. Yes, by and large a Sam Sam for much. And to put the icing on the cake IRS. So do our show. Podcasts out

Unknown Speaker 15:00
The London City on Titanic scary idea. And that format covers music from the late 50s to I read in the past 1972 Yes. So you have all the legend audio or the classic Reagan music and yeah, those

Unknown Speaker 15:17
Dirac stated those are the music that capture the world don't have a star plate version, you are doing a very great job. And so what's your next project right now? Are you doing some production with artists in this time or you're taking

Unknown Speaker 15:33
the chance to play the music I have been involved in bringing artists and legends that stranger Cole, Derrick Morgan, Pat Kelly, all those artists have them in some capacity, both here in Los Angeles and in Mexico. So the next project is Derrick Morgan. He's coming to the Galleria theatre that's on the 28th of August okay heart of Lhasa. Right so I'm helping with that project. Yeah, he did a shorter with me Want me and I toes and from Artbeat music and somebody to catch Oh, my Michael rosary. They came through one way back. Way back.

Unknown Speaker 16:13
Keep on bubblin, Juna Francis and now you're gonna name Francis is my mother maiden name before she murdered Tara. So Francis told me that.

Unknown Speaker 16:26
Yes, sir. So Well, is it nice talking to you and missing and we know exactly what you're doing. So can you pick up while you're doing one more time on the radio? Tell us people where they could find you. And the light? Yes. So your kindness, your kindness and thanks for the opportunity. So Monday evenings on kspc at 8.7 FM online kspc. That organised from six to eight. Los Angeles time on Thursdays six to eight London time. I'm on tonix Kia radio, where I play nothing B and 1974. What are the back end time selections that were just fabulous soundtrack. You can hear there on Saturday nights I'm on KXL you at 8.9 FM and that's online that kicks that you would that come more contemporary artists I you know, because if we don't play somebody, contemporary artists reggae will die. So you'll hear us Riley and you know some business signal, and so forth and so on. In addition to the classic, that's nice, because if we don't meet somebody contemporary, classic, it must be the classic.

Unknown Speaker 17:40
You got to play the classic got a sweat.

Unknown Speaker 17:45
Right? Yes, yes, service. Everything is? Yes, I already knew everything is good and hope we have a chance to talk her soon and keep on doing what you're doing. And you know, we're gonna be praying your interview on the radio, 91.5 Jazz and more. And so people could know exactly who you are because you do a lot of great things for reggae music, and I know it's because I just seen it. And yes, I'm glad that on my first interview, we'll let the first one but this podcast will go on it's you're the man you know the roots of this raiga you know exactly

Unknown Speaker 18:23
where the record comes from. And you know, you're playing the roots music, the classic reggae music, Dan Germans and all the more Cox's and Duke read first production and this nice subversion Yes ma'am. I put him back in time selection man sweeter than the Gregorian chants.

Unknown Speaker 18:45
Classic Rock Steady answer to that radio program directors did not play for the American people because they didn't think that Jamaican music was on a par was an equal level with American music during the 60s and early 70s. So what I'm doing now is taking people back to the glory days yes, this music is just as good as an in some cases better than another. It is right now. Look at reggae music.

Unknown Speaker 19:14
Early Music was denied the appearance they never never never really advanced the reggae music because I was playing some I mean I was on there the SMO coxswains come through and my four minutes Whoa, whoa, this music you haven't written for so long music that grew up on Monday and is grown and the client acquisition EP tones and can move and you know, Cox's Music Man and John Oates and all them gets Manos refreshing. Yes. Everything is good.

Unknown Speaker 19:47
Memory. Yes, fine. All is good. Yeah. So We'll chat later. Right? Of course. Thanks for the opportunity against that. Everything is bliss. Yes, my name can't can't congratulations and keep up the good work you've been doing for almost four decades.

Unknown Speaker 20:00
To hear man you know the classified male or female reggae music in Las Vegas by the broadcasting Association yeah man your house on ammo Do you ever want to come to Vegas no you bless up big respect so thanks again yes sir

Transcribed by https://otter.ai