Reggae Happenins

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This is Reggae Happenings.

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Hi, this is Ice and Rag in T and this is Reggae Happenings Podcast. Yes, we are in the studio of 91.5 KUNV Las Vegas, University of Nevada. And so, how are you feeling today? Feeling good, man. Excited, man. Well, I want you to talk very slowly so we're going over everything right now, Mr. Paul. So, greetings to you, man. And I just want to say one love, one heart, one joy. Everything's lovely. Yeah, man. So, first question I want to ask you, Mr. Paul, is where were you born at? State, but country. Oh, Kingston, Jamaica. You were born in Kingston? Yeah, Jamaica. All right and uh you go to school in Kingston Jamaica or that's where you um

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you do all your. I go to school in Kingston Jamaica, Papine school I went to. Yeah so. I live and yeah I live in a jailer. Born in here. Yes

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So always a family thing and you know, you're a big family

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Yes Yeah Family or your father and mom still alive

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So we are these your parents live at right now?

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My father is still in London. My mother is in Jamaica, still with my sister.

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Aha. And old is she, 90 something?

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94, 94.

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94.

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She said, Izzy, if you can make me a cricket team. What? I said, easily she can make the best in this cricket team.

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Ah, ok.

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I like that.

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So how was your grade in school? Going to school, are you graduated?

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No, I become a trade man.

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What kind of trade you used to do?

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I'm a jureller, professional jureller.

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You make jurellery right now? And music?

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Yeah man, I still make it.

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Still doing it? What kind of jewelry are you making or make?

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I make ring, anything, anything you tell me to make in jewelry, gold or silver. Mm-hmm, gold or silver.

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Yes, nice to talk to you man. So, um, what did you start first, the music or the jewelry?

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Oh, I started out in the theater, where the Jamaica Playhouse, Zico Theater.

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Is it theater?

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That's the stage crew.

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Yes.

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Yeah, we work with Reggie Carter, Sheila Carter.

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Yes.

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And there was some name quality top actress and actor. I work with some either on stage or backstage, yeah?

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Uh-huh.

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And that's all you did of your music skill? Yes, sir. So tell me how many years now have you been in this music? Well um that's about 40 years. Yeah it's a long time. So do you travel a lot in the music thing?

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I was traveling to Canada but not to the music. I went up there and I got a whole lot of interviews and things. But I don't get any tours yet. I'm looking forward to that.

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You don't get no tours yet?

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No.

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Well I hope when we do this interview and people hear you all over the world they will realize that you're a strong artist. So where do you record it? Do you have a studio?

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I use different, different studio like the record I sang at Tufcon studio one time. I said sound 2016, I put record at Tufcon.

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Yes.

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And I used mixing labs one time. Most of the time I work, that means from Penn State, Fab 5.

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Yes.

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I use there studio a lot.

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So tell us, what kind of music do you play? Are you a DJ, a singer or a singer or some form of, you know, education?

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I'm a soul singer because I have a fan group called Sam Cooke.

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You do?

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Ben 10.

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You do?

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Nat King Cole. Yes.

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So you're a old school guy then, you're way back, you're coming way back?

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Yes

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Yes Paul So tell us How many albums did you make so far?

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I made two albums One with a young girl who I used to promote named Money For Gas

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That album

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Yes and I do an album with Paul Hamilton and friends Yes And I'm the VP of the two albums now.

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Yes.

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Yeah, and I left the two albums from them, supposed to do, I'll be told the 19th of July.

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With all this interview, you know, help.

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Sure, man. So, who produced that album for you? You did it or is it a compilation?

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It was a man, Carl Fraser from Canada. He came down to Jamaica, I was looking for somebody to help and then someone who close to my sister linked me up with a man and started working with him and somehow get things going

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that's what happened you know. Yes so what year was that album released? I think it was three years ago. Is that your first album? Yes. How many songs was on that album?

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one song on it, but different different artists, I did a job for them, I was working with some more young artists and things, so I put my one song on it, one word from Jack Stevens, a cover version I think Admiral Tate. So, Mr. Dudley Thompson from Roots FM, he was one of the registrar came to make, up Jamaica up to this day, we have a commercial on it so you can check out BP for this album and thing and every Saturday I'm going to show him or whatever it is that I'm giving young artists a chance to play and I'm going to play a couple songs from the album too and all of that and um S.F.M used to give me a whole heap of play yes uh put it this way you know. You need that. So you are... I need somebody to finance the thing, you know. Yes, I hear you. So your albums are roots singing albums, not a DJ type? I just say I'm a mix of a little bit of soul and ballad, more close to that. Rock spirit, the real type of reggae.

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So what's the name of your first album?

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The first album is about Paul Hamilton and friends, that's the only album I completed. From the beginning, and then the one with Money Fuckers. Your second album wasn't written? No, I don't know, my second album was written. Okay, you do some singles? Yes man, it's type in the ultimate parlor, I'm trying to find a song, let it be me, I'm featuring Nicky Burt, that song was done, Cherry Buckler and Betty Everett, I do two of them regularly. You send me by sample you can find that yes My girl that's original for me African Queen

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That's all So, yes

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What are you gonna release? Yeah, so when are you gonna release? Yes, I'm hearing you. I'm hearing you

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Yes, right. When are you gonna release another album? What's a date in that album? I was doing some writing you know with me and my

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daughter, Lisa and Hamilton. Yes. So, I put them up on the internet, like I write a chorus and I put that chorus into my bathroom. I call my bathroom

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bathroom student. Yes. Every time I post something that I did in my bathroom, most of the songs I wrote lately, I put up the chorus. Yes. That's the idea. The finance is complete.

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Okay.

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And I have them written.

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Yeah man, that sounds really, really good. Sipol, tell us a little bit.

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I could give you a little a cappella ensemble for a sample tune. Go ahead, go ahead. She was only sixteen, only sixteen. you send me all that you do all that you do all that you do yeah it sounds nice. So Paul tell me have you ever been DJ

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or singing in the sound system in Jamaica? No. Never heard of the sound system?

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I tell you the truth I used to hide you know. Yeah? Yeah man, I promise you that's a joke, that's not a joke. But lately my grandchildren, you know, they're so witty.

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So when I try to tell them that sort of thing, I don't say, ah, ok, you have to lie man, we don't see you on TV, you know, so I have to hit, hit, hit them on the chair and then move towards all of that.

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So that they hear me, they see me, and think, and enjoy it, all of that.

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So I feel more, I feel happy.

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I understand.

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So at the moment, I'm not in the mood to hide anymore. Support, tell me, I want to ask you something. You know, the way you are, you've been in this music for a long time, and you see the record would change from Ska Rock Steady.

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So what do you think about this record music in direction that is good right now? Reggae dance or whatever. What do you think about all these different type of music? What do you think about all the reggae that is going on different, you know, I say, from different parts of the world or copies and you know, they love the music so much, they love it so much. So tell us a little bit what you think about the direction that reggae music is going in right now.

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Um, like I put it, what's really wrong with people saying Reggae music is going in?

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Wrong or right way? There's no wrong or right way.

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See.

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People, the people that are more talented, they must stop watching other people, what they're doing and follow. If you know that you have the mood to sing Reggae music, you stay in that same lane and sing reggae music because music is music you know. Yes. See, even one song can turn you into a millionaire because you sing a reggae song like me, just sing um, I feel good. Yeah. And then you will take it to a Spanish country and sing it in Spanish.

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So it will go on the chart. The next person will talk about French, sing it in French.

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Right.

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It's the message that the music carry, you know.

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It's the message.

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Once the message is right, it cannot lose. It could be reggae, jazz, you name it.

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Calypso, you name it. Right now you could say, you know,

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you're hearing a whooping load now, it's about Calypso.

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Right.

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You make, I just make artists tomorrow get up and sing, or want a Sparrow's song. Yes, and in a vibe of people they can't it

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It's you know say what is that thing Calypso again?

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Yeah, that's working

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If you leave your clothes on the line

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For too long. Yes, you don't own it So if all we who say we are Jamaican producers, singers, lyrics and artist singing something else. Then another country artist will take it up and sing it and get a Grammy. Nothing wrong with that. No, nothing wrong with that. Yes. It's the same if they stop singing the soul. Like me, believe in the soul. We believe in the Nat King Cole thing and all of that. So some people say, why Paul you're a stylist for Pegasus. Pegasus in Jamaica is a big hotel. I know Vex because I know I'm singing in a different, I'm not singing about going on or what you, them things that I made, and mix with the music, lyrics and all that.

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I'm singing about the same, clean, Sam Cooke style of music.

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That's what I see. Yes, understandably. Yes Paul, so I just feel so good to speak with you from Jamaica and um so how is it running in Jamaica right now is um you know I mean the chart the chart is very high is um the dance or takeover Jamaica or you know it's uh just

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running the same path? I have to tell you the truth because the chart is my problem the chart is what some people feel to put up and if you go on the street and and and really check the other people and tell them they are different The child don't make a... it's like a roadblock

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they don't give the right thing the right opportunity

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in a right

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Yes

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I'm doing this from before Jimi Cliff movie come on the scene that there was a certain part of the movie when Jimi Cliff was trying to look at bus like, oh yeah give me a bus now. I tell him say if only play Mr. Hilton music.

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yes. The soul man say I only play Mr. Hilton music. I saw that movie.

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He must go right back to Mr. Hilton. Yes. Is those same vibes are still running in Jamaica or because there are so many stations now?

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It's still at Ives, it's still at Ives, it's still at Ives Reggie, it's still at Ives.

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Still there?

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Ah look at, I gave you, I can tell my grandchildren now that I toured so many places in the world. Yes. By interview. Sean came from England, gave me a big interview.

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Yes.

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And how, Jonah Smith from Canada, gave me a big interview. Yes. And then here comes you now. When I went to the rail station, mostly in Jamaica. Yes. I don't feel anything like this. Right now

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I don't feel anything. I didn't get it, I didn't hear that properly. What happened?

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When I went to Jamaica, this chap here. Yes. Mostly in Jamaica. They hear my talent and but still black men. Really? Because the envelope don't come. I... If you watch back and look at Ray Charles' movie, when Ray Charles was getting a big pay from a list jacket,

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the list jacket slide on in his chair and the producer dropped the envelope in his pocket.

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Yes, yes, yes, yes. So what I'm trying to say,

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if you are giving the people who really have talent to platform. Man, I'm mad with music, but I know about great projects in Jamaica.

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Yes, yes Paul, it was so nice speaking with you and giving us this chat man. So, I want you to keep on writing music, original music. Yes sir. Yeah, we'll play for you on the station here. I'm going to have you set up with Jason, he's gonna take your website and stuff because it's easy for him to deal with it. But it's so nice talking to you in Jamaica and we're gonna put you on this podcast and spread you all over the world, every nation to hear your interview. And I hope that you'll be blessed and you keep on writing music and uplift the world with good songs and as you say the old school writer just keep on writing music and produce music.

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Yeah I write, I write, I write, I write what's going on now in Sweden.

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Hmm.

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So if somebody have those type of reading, yeah, I write, I write a song, I write a whole what's going on in the country, the mood of the people and all, you know what I'm saying?

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So, at that time, I'm writing gospel songs too. I have a couple of gospels. I'm writing.

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Do you sing on other rhythms? You don't sing on other rhythms, right? Everything is original for you.

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At the moment, yes, but if somebody send me a rhythm, I would plan for it too.

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Okay.

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I just tell you, you know, it's music, you know.

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So, it evokes me, of my mind and my soul are set on the one who put me into the Tom Jones and the Frank Sinatra style.

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Yes.

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And you send me everything. Maybe the radio boy you send me, but boom I'm spending more than that.

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I hear you, I hear you, I hear you.

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So...

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You must tell about this interview please, then I can put it up on my page and...

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I'm going to talk to Jason and he's going to, you know, he's going to be contacting me because, you know, he's my phone is there from his he could work with all these interviews and website and stuff better than me so what else I gotta say to the world Paul, what you gotta tell the world?

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Las Vegas

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Not only Las Vegas, in Las Vegas nobody want to tell the whole world

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fans right around the globe, here is Mr. Ultimate Bar Hamilton. I'll tell about the sex with everybody. We can just come as one and unite. That would be nice. And in my country, every second there is somebody gets shot or whatever. It works. So, and I love, I hope that over a right around the world, other people at this moment are in a good mood in a sight. I am happy. So, Merry Christmas to all my fans. It's nice being given you. God bless you man.

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Nice talking to you Paul and I will get all the information to Jason and give that to you.

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Before you go, I'll give you another piece of my artist's name tune.

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Yeah.

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I was born by the river in a little tent. Oh, just like a river, I've been running ever since. It's been a long, long time coming but I know a change gonna come you know yes it will we'll see that

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change man. Nice, so you did those songs you did them over in reggae style. I don't

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I love my love my girlie, need you to be my queen. No matter what friends may say, you will wear my crown. Leave me, girl, and take my word. You belong by my side. Showing me you are in the blood For the rest of your life My love, my love, my girlie I need you to be my queen No matter what they may say, girl, you were where my crown. Some people say that I'm a fool. Why can't I find someone new? We don't need her My love, my love, my girlie Need you to be my queen No matter what they may say, girl You'll wear my heart Oh rocker, take you so I'm of your life. My love, my love, my girlie, I need you to be my queen. No matter what friends may say, you will wear my song. you will wear my song. Oh my love, you are my queen.

Transcribed with Cockatoo