Before they were stars: Roundhead stays humble

Roundhead, the calm deejay from the Monster Shack Crew, attests to the theory of greatness from humble beginnings.

Born Otis Morrison to Zilla Sinclair, whom he lovingly calls Mama Zilla, Roundhead started going to dances when he was 10, but a lot happened between then and now.

According to Roundhead, his early years were very difficult financially and that has helped him to appreciate where he is now and what he has achieved. 'It was very much difficult. We grew a certain way that we are not too easily frightened over nothing, because mi memba we live whole heap a years without nothing at all. So now we even have something we nuh need fi create nuh excitement or show off wid anything weh we have roun' we, but we jus have to glad for it and give Jah all the praises', Roundhead said reflectively.

He continued: "Me caan lef God outta nutten, cause mi memba throughout the sufferation, enuh, mi always ah call pon God and even today day God always answer mi prayers." The God-fearing Roundhead remembers the days when his family literally had nothing to eat and the Lord provided. "Mi grow so strongly believe inna God, cause mi memba more time mi madda nuh have nutten fi cook and she tell we inna di house seh she nuh have nutten fi cook but the Lord will provide. And yuh know seh we ah go a we bed wid dinner? Ah dat mi a tell yuh, literally nutten nuh deh deh fi true, but she always seh the Lord will provide and mi always see we eat, so is like mi grow pon dat and know seh anything yuh want yuh jus ask God fi it, cause him ago give yuh it," Roundhead stressed.

Originally from Woodburn District in St. Thomas, Roundhead got involved with music in 1983, but began his professional career in 1990. The cool character told The Sunday Gleaner that being an entertainer is an innate ability. "It's organic, like something that is inside of me. From ever since me know my self mi a mek up mi own song and mi own story dem," he said.

The DJ moved to Tavern in the Papine area in the 1980s. His alma maters are Grants Pen Primary in St. Thomas and Donald Quarrie Comprehen-sive High School in Harbour View.

Roundhead is a very strong advocate for the legalisation of marijuana, to which he attributes his smooth flow. The deejay, who insists that he is not telling anyone to smoke marijuana, claims that it was not until after he started smoking the 'herb' that he started to look at things differently in life. He also credits the weed with being able to calm him whenever he gets upset. The deejay warns, however, that 'every tub siddung pon dem owna bottom', meaning not every person is going to see things his way or have his reaction to marijuana.

Before stardom, Omar Morrison was learning to be a professional welder. He became an apprentice at a garage in Tavern when he was 12, but got the chance to do his own work and make some money at 16 after he had mastered the art. He continued to earn his bread that way until 1990, the year that he recorded his first song, The Wickedest Sound.

"When I was growing up I remember my Mother always saying that I should learn a trade. Welding is a thing weh mi know to a heights, but mi still neva love it zeen, but a jus the talk from mi madda mek mi know seh mi haffi have a trade inna mi head. Mi neva love it like how mi did love music, but mi did know seh a nuh dat ah mi aim," Roundhead emphasised.

However, he is happy he learnt the skill, because otherwise the entertainer would never have known he had an alternate means of earning a living. "Well, it mek mi now seh if mi neva did ah DJ or was a star mi still coulda eat enuh and a dat most a di youth dem waan do nowadays to, because we affi listen to di old time parables, a dem wi affi live affa," Roundhead said. "When yuh Grandmother ah tell yuh seh yuh nuffi put yuh egg inna one basket and dem ting deh, some man woulda seh mi nah put mi egg inna nuh one basket, mi nuh have one woman. But yuh nuh waan mek nuh one aim inna life eeda, is a next segment a it dat," Roundhead said.

"Welding is job work enuh; if yuh nuh work yuh nuh eat enuh. It's not like a day's work; yuh will deh inna di welding shop fi all two week and yuh know seh yuh nah have no money fi get yuh zeet," Roundhead said, chuckling.

Does he still light the torch and don the goggles? "Not right now, but it's not like I wouldn't do it again in life, because I feel like when my house is all finished mi woulda get all mi own welding plant and have it inna mi garage. That mean seh certain little thing fi do roun' mi yard me can deal wid it. But it's not like I would resort to it as a life support thing," Roundhead explained.

Roundhead got his first hit tune, Bus Weh at 19 in 1991. A year later his first number one, Woman' came out. Otis Morrison was dubbed Roundhead by foundation deejay Brigadier Jerry.

To the young aspiring artistes who find themselves in the murky waters that once surrounded the 11-year veteran, Roundhead says: "Hard work and perseverance ah di key to success."

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