- FileGeneral Trees
Leighton Williams, Staff Reporter
GENERAL Trees has been missing from the public eye for a while now. However, he has vowed to make a return this year.
The deejay, whose real name is Amos Edwards, and who was known in the 1980s and early 1990s for Minibus, Gone A Negril, Peanut Man, 50 Dollar Bill, Eye No See, Lick Him But No Kill Him and Tarzan, has been missing from the local scene for the last few years. His last major outing locally came when he performed at Sting '99.
"I didn't have any tunes on the road, so I don't get a lot of shows. I recently released a song called Money, which has been getting some rotation on-air and I am happy for that," General Trees told The Sunday Gleaner.
The veteran deejay, who began his musical trodding in 1979, has performed on several shows abroad in places such as Canada, the United States and England. He admits that the fees he receives is not as much as he would have like, but still he takes on the projects and also does some negotiations at other times.
Trees said that for Sting '99, he was expecting to give a much better performance than he eventually did. He explained that he had rehearsed with one band, but on the night of the show had to perform with another.
"I still got some response. But it was not the response I would have liked. However, it's just the works," he said.
The deejay, who is also a shoemaker, explained that a part of the reason for his low visibility on the entertainment scene is due largely to his current stand-off with his former producer, Jack Scorpio.
Trees, who was unwilling to disclose the reason for the termination of such a fruitful association, said he was doing most of the work by himself at the moment. The solo productions should bear fruit later this year when he releases the album Gone A Negril.
The name of the album may sound familiar, since one of his hits of the 1980s will appear on the 14-song project. "Gone A Negril will be redone on a hip-hop rhythm, that's why I decided to give my album that name. I have already completed nine songs and the album will be out by June," he said.
"I feel proud because this is the first album I am doing for myself. I am working with Red Bridge from the U.K.," General Trees said.
Aside from his album, Trees does other gigs for friends as well as singles. He recently did Magnet on the 'Bless The Dance' project for his friend W. Willy 'Bob' Moore.
The 43-year-old deejay disclosed that the dancehall of the 1980s was different from that of the 1990s and now. He said that the dancehall of the 1980s to mid-1990s had more messages and was much nicer as well. "The dance was nicer, as man used to go to enjoy themselves. Nowadays, man don't dance with woman and there is usually a big space in the dance where you can walk through," he said.
In case you are wondering about the ability of the veteran dancehall soldier to fit in with the new era of dancehall, he is not worried about this factor.
"I don't have to worry, as I can hold my own space. I don't have to listen to people to come up with lyrics. It's true that some deejays can't come back, but it's not a problem for me as I am sure I can," Trees pointed out.
The deejay also told The Sunday Gleaner that he receives payment for his past works since he had joined Play Box Music, which has the duty of collecting his royalties.
