March 21, 2002 – The nickname of "Mellow Canary" might not immediately bring the music forms of reggae and dancehall to mind for people not familiar with its owner, but for fans of Barrington Levy, who'll perform at the Reichhold Center for the Arts on Saturday night, it fits.
With "an outstanding, immediately recognizable voice, Barrington simply could not fail," a biography from Greensleeves Records in 1995 stated.
An article posted Monday on the ReggaeJamaica.com web site says Levy "personifies the term 'veteran.' As he opens his mouth and croons, generations of music lovers are immediately seduced."
Levy spent much of his time as a youth in Jamaica's Clarendon countryside, where he developed his signature riff, which some call "the Blue Mountain yodel." According to All Music Guide writer Sandra Brennan, "He learned to do it by experimenting with different vocalizations and bouncing them off the mountainsides." These days, in a literal return to his roots, he spends much of his time back in Clarendon, where he has a farm.
Influenced as a youth by Jamaican and American artists, Levy was playing the guitar by the age of 9 and performing in dancehalls at 14 in Mighty Multitude, a band he and a cousin formed. He was a backup singer with Byron Lee and the Dragonnaires for a time, then was "discovered" by producer Junjo Lawes, with whom he would have an ongoing collaboration. His first hit recording, "Collie Weed," made him a teen dancehall idol and led to other successes, including the 1983 smash "Under Mi Sensi," which spent 12 weeks atop the charts in Britain.
Another All Music Guide writer, Jo-Ann Greene, calls Levy "one of the great success stories of the '80s," saying that he "arrived on the dancehall scene and swiftly remodeled it in his own image. Although numerous DJs and vocalists would rise and fall during this decade, Levy was one of the few with staying power." He "made a sensational appearance at Reggae Sunsplash" in 1981, she said, "then returned in 1981." Meanwhile, his music was consistently topping the charts in Britain.
At the time, Greene says, roots music "was losing its grip on the contemporary Jamaican music scene, and the time was ripe — musically, politically and culturally — for a change. People had tired of the more militant rasta-fired visions and were searching for something lighter, but with the immediacy of the dancehalls, Levy provided the perfect answer. A veteran of the clubs, he brought the spontaneity of the DJ to his records, while returning vocals back to the sound system scene which had been purely the realm of the DJs."
In 1984, Levy was named Best Vocalist at Britain's Reggae Awards. His late '80s "greatest hits" release, "Broader Than Broadway," is considered by some to be one of the best reggae collections ever. In 1993, he signed with MCA in the United States and made a short-lived try at crossing over into the North American market.
The following year, he collaborated with Beenie Man on the singles "Two Sounds" and "Under Mi Sensi" that soon reappeared as hot dancehall remixes. After another pairing, with Mega Banton for "She's Mine," working with long-supportive producer Jah Screw, Levy recorded an album of shared songs, "Duets."
In 1996, the single "Living Dangerously" with Bounty Killer "rocketed up the Jamaican charts and set the pace at clubs around the world," Greene said. In 1998, the album also called "Living Dangerously" included as guest artists rapper Snoop Doggy Dogg and the California punk-reggae Long Beach Dub All-Stars.
While Levy is "closely associated with dancehall music," Brennan said, "he considers himself a straight reggae man committed to using his powerful lyrics and music to promote Rastafari's message of universal love and peace." And while anger, frustration and lust fuel the creative output of many '90s-style dancehall artists, she said, "Levy bases his songs on his observations of the daily lives and travails of ordinary people."
In the ReggaeJamaica.com interview, Levy said he has nearly completed work on a new CD, which he's producing independently and hopes to have out this summer. "A lot of record companies have shown a lot of interest to sign me," he said, 'but I decided that I would make ths album myself and deliver it to whoever I sign with. I'm tired of record companies giving me money to make albums, because they always want to involve themselves in the creative process."
The article also said Levy has been "given a new lease on life" by recent collaboration with rapper Shyne and his label Bad Boy on two successful singles.
Levy told ReggaeJamaica.com that Snoop Dogg will be a featured artist on the forthcoming album. The two "recorded a track together a few years ago, but it was never used," he said."We did another two tracks together — one for my album and one for Snoop's." He said one of their recordings will be on the soundtrack of an upcoming film. Also guesting on the CD, he said, is Bounty Killer.
Reggae, St. Thomas style
The opening act for Saturday's show, which the Reichhold is billing as Reggae Festival 2002, is the local group STARlion Family.
The group consists of six musicians — Jermaine "Kimbe" Bass, Delyno "Pressure" Brown, Rafael "Rafijah" Gris, Glenrone "Ickarus" Hodge, Nigel "Niyourah" Olivacce and Ron "Siras" Rivers — plus a fire dancer, Jahgon Blend.
"We are very excited to share the stage with an artist like Barrington Levy," Brown said. "He is one of our favorite artists we've watched on videos."
David Edgecombe, Reichhold director, said "the energy and productivity of STARlion Family … is the perfect complement to Barrington's approach to reggae. The pairing will make a unique offering." And, he added, the Reichhold Center is "proud of our commitment to cultivating local and regional talent."
The concert starts at 8 p.m. Tickets are $45 in the covered area and $35 in the open-air seating. Outlets are the Reichhold box office, the UVI bookstore in the Sports and Fitness Center, Parrot Fish Music, both Modern Music stores and Crystal & Gifts Galore on St. Thomas; and Connections on St. John. For charge-card purchases, call the box office at 693-1559.
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