Lindo
AFTER each home victory on their relentless charge to the 1998 World Cup in France, the Reggae Boyz walked off Kingston's National Stadium to the beat of Territory, an underground song by singer Hopeton Lindo.
Territory was recorded and released in 1987 and remains Lindo's biggest hit. Recently, the Florida-based vocalist released Turf, his third album, which is distributed by VP Records.
Turf was produced by Lindo's Irie Pen Records and was recorded in South Florida and Kingston. He says it is important to keep the home link alive.
"I have been working mostly behind the scenes doing production and songwriting duties but with the release of Turf I am concentrating on my career as a vocalist and keeping current with the latest 'riddims'," Lindo told The Gleaner.
Lindo worked with members of the Firehouse Crew, Lady Saw, Gregory Isaacs and another South Florida reggae import, Annette Brissett, on Turf. Like the Firehouse band, he started out at the studio of legendary engineer/producer Osbourne 'King Tubby' Ruddock.
After initial recordings for Michael 'Mikey Dread' Campbell, Gussie Clarke and Lloyd 'King Jammys' James, the Kencot-reared Lindo hit the mark with the self-produced Territory, which he recently remixed with deejay Anthony B.
Latest 'riddims'
Although he makes frequent trips to Jamaica to stay current, Lindo says the reggae scene in South Florida has picked up since he went there nearly 20 years ago.
"The radio stations all have and play the latest tunes and current releases," he said. "A reggae act can keep current by being aware of the latest 'riddims' and trends."
Hits from the underground
Fade Away - Junior Byles cut this enduring message song at Channel One in 1975. Written and produced by session guitarist Earl 'Chinna' Smith, it became a classic thanks to extensive play in the dancehall.
Judgement Day - Another must-play at dances, this song was written and recorded in 1977 by Glenroy Richards, one of seven persons killed by security forces at the Green Bay firing range in February 1978.
Here I Come - Dennis Brown started all of his shows with this anthem which was first recorded for his DEB label in 1977. It never got off the ground until re-recorded by producer Tad Richards a decade later; the lighters come out whenever this one is played at dances.
Vanity - Sugar Minott made his name as a dancehall singer long before hitting the mainstream. Vanity, produced by Clement Dodd in the late 1970s, was one of the songs that introduced him to a radio audience in the early 1980s
