Word Sound From Reggae Report
This fun survey went out to a dozen Reggae artists so fans could get to know them a little better.
Here are some classic responses from the early 2000s. Enjoy!
DEAN FRASER – sax master, singer, producer
If you weren’t an entertainer, what would you do or be?
A graphic artist.
What music do you listen to, other than Reggae?
Contemporary Jazz, South American guitar.
What do you do to relax?
Drive my truck, play dominoes.
What fruit or vegetable are you most like and why?
A papaya …it’s nice, not too sweet, and easy to digest.
If you could change one thing in the Reggae business, what would it be?
I’d love to see Reggae being given the same opportunity in the USA that they give the other kinds of music.
What is your most favorite sound?
Strings… violins.
What is your least favorite sound?
Weird singing, out of tune singing.
What is your favorite word?
Love.
What is your least favorite word?
Whatever.
LUCIANO – singer, songwriter
If you weren’t an entertainer, what would you do or be?
A pilgrim
What music do you listen to, other than Reggae?
Jazz, Gospel, Negro Spirituals.
What do you do to relax?
Play guitar and go to the countryside.
What fruit or vegetable are you most like and why?
A coconut…a hard nut to crack.
If you could change one thing in the Reggae business, what would it be?
More seriousness towards the music, because it’s really a spiritual thing and we should treat it that way.
What is your most favorite sound?
The wind brushing against leaves.
What is your least favorite sound?
To hear people quarrel.
What is your favorite word?
Jah Love.
What is your least favorite word?
Hatred.
JUNIOR KELLY – singer, songwriter
If you weren’t an entertainer, what would you do or be?
A roofer.
What music do you listen to, other than Reggae?
Old school R&B, Jazz.
What do you do to relax?
Sleep, play football (soccer), listen to music.
What fruit or vegetable are you most like and why?
A banana, but I like all of them.
If you could change one thing in the Reggae business, what would it be?
Marketing.
What is your most favorite sound?
Birds.
What is your least favorite sound?
Heavy metal.
What is your favorite word?
Jah.
What is your least favorite word?
Bitch.
LEROY SIBBLES – singer, songwriter, musician, pioneer
If you weren’t an entertainer, what would you do or be?
Electrical welder.
What music do you listen to, other than Reggae?
R&B, Soul, Hip-Hop.
What do you do to relax?
Find me some herb.
What fruit or vegetable are you most like and why?
A mango, they’re the nicest and sweetest, the ones in Jamaica anyway.
If you could change one thing in the Reggae business, what would it be?
Producers.
What is your most favorite sound?
Birds in early morning.
What is your least favorite sound?
The cop pulling me over.
What is your favorite word?
Love Jah.
What is your least favorite word?
Nigger.
HOPETON LINDO – singer, songwriter, producer
If you weren’t an entertainer, what would you do or be?
Be in the medical profession.
What music do you listen to, other than Reggae?
Oldies–like the Shilites, Sam Cook.
What do you do to relax?
Read and write songs.
What fruit or vegetable are you most like and why?
An apple, I’m a warm person, and an apple reminds me of a heart.
If you could change one thing in the Reggae business, what would it be?
Lyrical content.
What is your most favorite sound?
Birds in the early morning.
What is your least favorite sound?
Traffic.
What is your favorite word?
God.
What is your least favorite word?
Discrimination.
JOHN HOLT: (Deceased) – singer, songwriter, pioneer
If you weren’t an entertainer, what would you do or be?
A doctor.
What music do you listen to, other than Reggae?
Jazz.
What do you do to relax?
Go to the beach.
What fruit or vegetable are you most like and why?
Cantaloupe because it’s so sweet.
If you could change one thing in the Reggae business, what would it be?
Change the rhythm going on right now and bring it back to One Drop Reggae.
What is your most favorite sound?
Tenor sax.
What is your least favorite sound?
Off-key singing.
What is your favorite word?
Love.
What is your least favorite word?
Hate.
“GRAMPS” MORGAN (Morgan Heritage) – singer, songwriter
If you weren’t an entertainer, what would you do or be?
I would have taken my scholarship to play for (Univ. of) Miami Hurricanes.
What music do you listen to, other than Reggae?
Movie soundtracks, Fred Hammond, Capleton, Sizzla.
What do you do to relax?
Sleep.
What fruit or vegetable are you most like and why?
A peach, because it’s round and sweet.
If you could change one thing in the Reggae business, what would it be?
Being on time.
What is your most favorite sound?
Stillness.
What is your least favorite sound?
Noise.
What is your favorite word?
Love.
What is your least favorite word?
War.
UNA MORGAN (Morgan Heritage) – singer, songwriter
If you weren’t an entertainer, what would you do or be?
An entertainment lawyer.
What music do you listen to, other than Reggae?
R&B, Hip-Hop, Jazz.
What do you do to relax?
Aromatherapy.
What fruit or vegetable are you most like and why?
A grapefruit, because I’ve also battled weight problems and I want to help people get their weight under control.
If you could change one thing in the Reggae business, what would it be?
Timing…being on time.
What is your most favorite sound?
Stillness.
What is your least favorite sound?
Noise.
What is your most favorite word?
Peace.
What is your least favorite word?
Anger.
MIKEY GENERAL – singer, songwriter
If you weren’t an entertainer, what would you do or be?
Something with a humanitarian value.
What music do you listen to, other than Reggae?
R&B, Soul, Macy Gray, Jill Scott, Angie Stone… positive music, 70’s music.
What do you do to relax?
Play football (soccer).
What fruit or vegetable are you most like and why?
An orange, can be sweet sometimes or a bit sour, but I know I’m all nutritious.
If you could change one thing in the Reggae business, what would it be?
The slack music, the derogatory music… not all Dancehall because there is positive Dancehall.
What is your most favorite sound?
Birds singing.
What is your least favorite sound?
Confusion.
What is your most favorite word?
Love.
What is your least favorite word?
Hate.
KASHIEF LINDO – singer, songwriter
If you weren’t an entertainer, what would you do or be?
A basketball player.
What music do you listen to, other than Reggae?
Country, Pop, Jazz, Blues, the whole works.
What do you do to relax?
Watch TV, read.
What fruit or vegetable are you most like and why?
An orange, it’s my favorite.
If you could change one thing in the Reggae business, what would it be?
All of us could unite more, be as one.
What is your most favorite sound?
The wind.
What is your least favorite sound?
Thunder.
What is your favorite word?
Love.
What is your least favorite word?
Hate.
TINGA STEWART – singer, songwriter, pioneer
If you weren’t an entertainer, what would you do or be?
A professor.
What music do you listen to, other than Reggae?
R&B.
What do you do to relax?
Go to the beach.
What fruit or vegetable are you most like and why?
An orange, it’s citrus and it’s nice.
If you could change one thing in the Reggae business, what would it be?
One artist on one rhythm, not 19 artists on one rhythm.
What is your most favorite sound?
A good melody line.
What is your least favorite sound?
Dogs barking.
What is your favorite word?
Yeh mon.
What is your least favorite word?
A bad word.
SCOTTY (Deceased) – singer, songwriter, performer
If you weren’t an entertainer, what would you do or be?
A preacher.
What music do you listen to, other than Reggae?
Jazz.
What do you do to relax?
Write songs in the country in Jamaica.
What fruit or vegetable are you most like and why?
A mango…they’re the sweetest fruit.
If you could change one thing in the Reggae business, what would it be?
Better selection of songs being played right now that represents Reggae music.
What is your most favorite sound?
The drum.
What is your least favorite sound?
The guitar
What is your favorite word?
Irie.
What is your least favorite word?
A bad word.
If you like the Word Sound Questions & Answers and would like to see more, let us know at editor@reggaereport.com 1Love 