Tyrone Reid, Staff ReporterI'm a product of my Mama's teaching, I'm ah live to be a better man
Nothing you can do or say can let me lose my way, no no no you can't
Baby Cham
Baby Cham is not the only artiste to write a song in praise of his mother. As a matter of fact, it is a common practice for successful Jamaican artistes to laud their mothers in their work. Positive lyrics about the women that endured the pain of labour and gave birth to performers is not practised solely in the realms of reggae, as it is prominent in R&B and hip-hop as well. Ghostface Killa's You're Appreciated and Tupac Shakur's Dear Mama are rap standards in praise of 'mama'.
So, since we know what the sons think about their mothers, what do their mothers think about the boys who battered their ears with amateur rhymes?
Fifty-two year-old Jenny Beckett, mother of Damion Beckett, aka Baby Cham, told The Sunday Gleaner that she was aware that her son had dreams of becoming popular but was unaware that it would be via the entertainment channel. "I was unaware that he wanted to become an entertainer, no not to my knowledge, but he used to tell me that he was going to be the next John Barnes and that he was going to get a scholarship to go away to play football," she said.
Mrs. Beckett said that at that time she was unaware of who John Barnes was and also perceived football as a violent game, so she discouraged Damion from participating. Her phobia nearly led her to getting a transfer for Baby Cham from Calabar High School to Wolmers High School for Boys, because at that time she deemed Wolmers' as a less sports-oriented school. However, because he lost his dad when in third form, she allowed Damion to continue playing the game he loved.
Mrs. Beckett recalled when Baby Cham used to sing in the shower. "He used to make a lot of noise in the bathroom, nuh care how yuh talk to him. He would just tone down then start right back up again," explained Mrs. Beckett. The proud Mama Jenny also remembered the days that she used to boast to her colleagues about her entertaining seven-year-old, the days when a young 'Deanny', as she lovingly calls him, would arm himself with his makeshift microphone (a mopstick) and sing and dance for the entire family.
Another mom who fell prey to what may be deemed as 'bathroom noise' is sixty-three-year-old Zilla Sinclair, lovingly called Mommy Zilla, mother of Roundhead.
Unlike Mamma Jenny, Mommy Zilla said that she had a hint that her son would become an entertainer. "In his early days my mind tell me that he would be something like that, because when him go into the bathroom he used to make a lot of noise," said the proud mother of four.
Ms. Sinclair, recollecting the days before her son's successful musical career, said: "It was kinda rough, because his father never stand by me, it was just me alone. But it not bad now because he stand by me. I don't work out anymore because he is my dependent."
The chances of music fraternity members being associated with Roundhead would have been slim if Ms. Sinclair had her wish. She wanted to ensure an old-fashioned yet secure means of earning an income for her 'wash belly' (youngest child). But Roundhead was to have none of it; he was determined to be a star. "I was wishing that he would take in the trade of welding, but he said that it was too slow for him," explained Ms. Sinclair.
As any other mother would be, Carmen Farquharson, aka Mama Carmen, is proud about having a celebrity child. It is important to note that Mama Carmen, the mother of singer Richie Stephens, is following in her son's footsteps as a recording artiste. She has already recorded a duet with her son entitled Mama's Blessing and a solo effort, entitled Singing for the World, is expected to be released soon.
Ms. Farquharson told The Sunday Gleaner that what is now was not the inevitable in Richie's earlier years. It was not until he was about 11 or 12 years old, after he had sung a song by Lionel Richie for her, that she discovered his hidden talent. She recalled that in her amazement she telephoned a good friend by the name of Joyce and immediately told her that Richie could become a singer.
So said, so done.
The mother of five, of which Richard is the eldest, said the gift of song is an innate ability. "It coming from way back. My mother was a great singer, as well as her grandmother," Ms. Farquharson said. Even though she had learnt of his talent from age eleven Mama Carmen is a staunch advocate of the old saying "yuh cyan put yuh egg inna one basket". "Even though we discovered his talent from an early age, I still had it mind for him to become an electrician. He usually did the trade with Murphy, a family friend," Mama Carmen said.
Reflecting on the struggles that life presented prior to her son making some headway in the musicbiz, she said: "It never nice at all. We were happy, but life was difficult financially." But now Mama Carmen gives praises unto God. "We have to give God thanks. Life is much better now. We can't bawl at all. We have to give thanks minutely and hourly," Ms. Farquharson emphasised thankfully.
