Sadeke Brooks, Staff Reporter

Skyjuice - File

Veteran selector Sky Juice will be the first person featured on the Guinness Riddim Rulers roadshow series that begins today at the Dump Up Beach in Montego Bay.

As an established member of the music industry, Sky Juice, whose real name is Dalton Bogle, will show why toasting or selecting (with speech) is important in the dancehall, thus ensuring that it remains a lively part of any party session.

Sky Juice can be creative when he speaks on the microphones and this is one of the reasons he stands out. However, he does not believe he should behave inappropriately when he is toasting at events.

"You can talk many things without cursing badwords. You don't play for yourself, you play for the people. I don't believe in cursing badwords on mic or disrespect woman on the mic. You have to love them and show them respect," he said.

However, he claims that "sometimes you can't too blame the selector 'cause sometime de woman dem gwaan like dem nuh respect dem self".

Nonetheless, he believes selectors should curse less as many of them do so excessively. "When mi do a cassette, it can play all inna yuh house on a Sunday morning," he said.

This attitude comes from his need to respect his audience as well as show respect for Metro Media Sound System, which he has been a member of since 1986.

He became part of the sound system when they returned to Jamaica from a tour to England. The original selector, Snack Jack, did not return with Metro Media so there was a opening for a selector. Peter Metro introduced Sky Juice to Jimmy Metro. His first job was at Stand Pipe at the dance dubbed 'The Return Of Metro Media'.

This was well appreciated as it helped to continue his involvement in music. Prior to Metro Media, he used to hang out with various sound systems but learnt about the art of selecting in the 1980s on a sound called Black Zodiac with Danny Dread.

He learnt from others during his early years but he does not believe he is too old to learn.

"You have to go on the streets and the clubs to see what happening. Mi nuh stop go out. Asylum, Uptown Mondays, Weddi Weddi, Passa Passa, mi go everywhere di young people going.

You have to move with the time. Listen to other selectors 'cause you can't be too old to learn," said Sky Juice.

"More time mi step in a dance and play a Christian song, Luciano or Richie Spice. Sometime mi go way back like John Holt. Mi respect Mavado, Bounty and Beenie Man but mi believe inna foundation music. I believe inna di reality part of the music," he said.

He also plays 'souls' because he likes to see men and women dancing together.

These differences have helped his success and why people across the world continue to request him.

After Guinness Riddim Rulers, he will perform at his birthday celebration on May 3 at Rebel T HQ and later in Washington.

Taken from the Weekend Star, Friday April 25, 2008.