Less well known than his brother Charlie Chaplin, Wifred Chamber has nonetheless rubbed shoulders, in the shadow of the "Principal", with the big names of the late 70s and early 80s, without ever straying from the conscious themes that made his brother's reputation. Appearing on the Congos' album "Fisherman Style", released this summer, Ricky Chaplin was also making his first appearances on stage in France at the Ja’Sound festival. Accompanied by his sidekick Prince Jazzbo, this massive dread with a powerful voice seems delighted to be on the bill: the atmosphere in Bagnols reminds him, he says, of the Jamaican Sunsplash. So it is with enthusiasm that he agrees to take stock with us and present his latest projects.
It was your father who introduced you to music.
Ricky Chaplin When I was little, in the 70s, my father was the leader of a band. I remember watching him rehearse in the evenings. So it's something innate, because my mother was also the choir leader at church. My brother is Charlie Chaplin, who is also in entertainment, and my sister Debbie sings at school. And I also have two younger brothers, one raps and the other is a deejay.
Did your brother Charlie influence you in any way?
Ricky Chaplin He did, in many ways! I said it was innate, but he helped me express it and made me aware that it was in me. Watching him dance, listening to his tracks on cassette, all of that made me understand it was in me too. So he inspired me a great deal.
You toured with major sound systems such as Stur Gav or Jack Ruby's sound...
Ricky Chaplin Yes, in Jamaica at that time I worked with all the major sound systems: Socialist Roots, Stereograph, Stereophonic, King Jammy's, Jah Love Sound... There were a lot of sounds and I played with all of them. Back then you didn't have riddims made on a computer like now. We played as a band, acoustic. Live riddims!
The competition was fierce back then.
Ricky Chaplin True! At every dance you went to, they played the Burial (the funeral march, editor's note). In those days you had to be conscious, you didn't have the slackness. I come from a cultural, Catholic family. So it was strictly cultural, freedom music, reality music.
Yet Stereophonic was a sound known for its "slackness" leanings...
Ricky Chaplin Right, but we were trying to change that sound, from "slackness" to "righteousness". My brother Charlie Chaplin, Brigadier Jerry and I, every time we went on stage, there was no "slackness". It was a night like a Church Night.
With Stur Gav, the atmosphere must have been completely different.
Ricky Chaplin Yes, there was U-Roy, Jah Screw, my brother Charlie Chaplin, Josey Wales... We were a family. We only talked about love, preaching the good in the community. Letting people know there is more than what they can see, that Rastafari is the creator. What I really want is to see everyone united, White or Black, building their love on the same foundation. Because we all are one. No Scud missiles, no bombs, no guns. We only need guitars, drums, and love. That was our message.
Your first single was recorded by Fattis Burrell.
Ricky Chaplin Yes, it was This whole wide world. It was my first track. I did it for Fattis, whose label back then was Vena. After that single, he wanted us to keep working together and asked me for an album. We put together 10 tracks and called it "Skin up". It did rather well. I toured with that album several times, in the islands, in England... In fact, it's the album that made me travel the most at the time.
Prince Jazzbo is an old friend, going back a long way...
Ricky Chaplin Yes, Prince Jazzbo is truly a "backbone" of this music. Everything he touches turns to gold. I call him "Goldfinger". He has a studio, and if you go and record a 45 there, he'll give you advice, like not to use this or that word. And if you use it anyway, your song won't go anywhere! But if you follow his advice, the track becomes a hit. He's one of those I admire, and who inspired me a lot. I made an album, "Freedom", and he's the one who made it possible for me.
You had a hit together in California with the track Unity
Ricky Chaplin It was a track recorded for Cedella Marley, Marley's daughter, at Tuff Gong. It went to number 1 on the San Diego Black Reggae Charts in California for eight weeks. Then I remixed it and put it on the album "Freedom".
You recorded for one of Coxsone Dodd's sons
Ricky Chaplin Yes, that was with Junior Dodd. I recorded a song for him, Chant. That did quite well too.
More recently, you've been heard on the Congos album "Fisherman Style".
Ricky Chaplin I did a single, and a combination with Luciano. I also did one with Charlie Chaplin and another with Prince Jazzbo.
What are you working on at the moment?
Ricky Chaplin I'm launching a new label, which will carry the names of my daughter and my son, Kim & Richie Productions. We'll release the album "Freedom" on that label. I have a new 45 with me. It's called Your Works and it's doing well in Jamaica.
Any last words?
Ricky Chaplin Yes, I'd like to say to all Jamaicans, all the French, that what we need is love. The enemies know that love conquers evil. Evil can come out of Good, but Good can also be born from Evil. What we all need is to build our love on one single foundation. Black, White, we are all the same. If you cut my hand, you'll see my blood, red, and if I cut yours it'll be the same colour. I can't work without you, and you can't work without me. No more wars, no more bombs. Let's get rid of the bombs and replace them with guitars, let's get rid of the guns and replace them with drums.