INTERVIEW : MICHAEL ROSE
Interview by : Sebastien Jobart
Pictures by : DR
on Tuesday, January 06th 2009 - 10 706 views
Michael Rose is undeniably the veteran who is faring best in Jamaica. Former lead vocalist of Black Uhuru, which he joined after the departure of Don Carlos, the group would, alongside Sly & Robbie, be the first to win a Grammy, in 1984. Having gone solo (Junior Reid replaced him in Black Uhuru), Michael Rose recorded for most Jamaican producers, but also turned to the Old Continent with the Dutch band Twilight Circus and of course Raggasonic, with whom he built a fine reputation in France. Back in the spotlight with Shoot Out and then Real Jamaicans with Busy Signal, Michael Rose is as busy as ever. And as terse as ever in his answers.
Reggaefrance / You are the founder of the Waterhouse style, how would you define it?
Michael Rose / Well… Michael Rose is Michael Rose, and nobody else can follow. That's how we define the sound.
Generations of artists come from Waterhouse: Don Carlos, Junior Reid, Yami Bolo, Ward 21…
There have always been talents originating from Waterhouse. Since King Tubby... But more than Waterhouse, talents always emerge from Jamaica.
How do you explain this creativity in such a dangerous neighbourhood?
Well! This is it. In a war zone, you have to think fast. It's live or die. That's how it goes.
 Les gens s'étonnent que Michael Rose
utilise l'autotune, mais on s'en servait déjà
à l'époque avec Sly & Robbie ! 
How did you grow up there?
Like any child grows up in the ghetto.
It was one of your brothers, Joseph, who introduced you to music.
My brothers were the ones who sang back then. My brother was an architect, but he loved singing, he sang all the time at home. Unfortunately, he died in a car accident. That's how life goes sometimes… I held on to music, and I hope that my brother, if he were still alive, would be proud of what I've done.
After a first recording for Niney the Observer, you joined Black Uhuru after Don Carlos left.
I was the one who established the Black Uhuru group, with all those hits that followed one after another.
How did you meet Sly & Robbie?
My brother had known Sly for a long time. Me, I was doing the rounds of the hotels on the north coast, entertaining tourists with a group called Happiness Unlimited. I left the group, I went back to Kingston, because Waterhouse is where I was born and grew up. I told Sly what had happened to me, and he suggested we make tracks together. That's how we met, Duckie (Simpson, Ed.) and I.
How was Black Uhuru born?
Well… Puma worked in social work in Jamaica, she is American, from North Carolina. A friend, Kojo, introduced her to us. We started working together as Black Uhuru. Our first album together was "Showcase", in 1979, with Puma. It did well. Abortion, Guess who's coming to diner, Plastic Smile, Leaving to Zion, all those songs…
You were the first Jamaican group to win a Grammy, in 1984. How did you experience that?
The Grammy… well you know, it was a big step for reggae. It was as if the four corners of the globe had recognised the group. The Grammy allowed reggae to break through barriers. Reggae always has to fight, however hard we try.
Were you invited to the ceremony?
I was, but at the time it was Duckie who went to California to collect the Grammy.
After the Grammy, people saw you as the possible successors to the Wailers, but you split up. What caused the group to break up just as you were enjoying success?
We no longer got along. It happened to us the way it can happen to any group in the world… The group collapsed. Life goes on.
Were you interested in what the line-up became when Junior Reid replaced you?
Replaced? No, nobody can replace me, because Michael Rose is Michael Rose. When I left the group, Duckie suggested that Junior Reid join them.
For your part, you started a solo career.
At the time, I stopped singing for a while. People kept asking me when I would start working again. Then I started working with Sly again, and we put out a few tracks together once more.
You were seen in 2005 on a European tour with Sly & Robbie and Duckie Simpson, how did the reunion go?
It was OK. Sly & Robbie asked me to do the tour, and it happened.
Many people in France discovered you in 1996 with Raggasonic on a Frenchie production.
I haven't seen Frenchie since, I don't know what's going on. Frenchie, where are you? (laughs) Give thanks.
Recently, you returned to the Jamaican forefront with Shoot Out. Was the autotune your idea?
We hadn't really planned to go into the studio and record with autotune. It didn't happen that way. John John called me and suggested we work together. We prepared a lot, and the upcoming album will be good precisely because we prepared a lot. It was Demarco who composed the riddim for John John. Autotune is the sound of the moment, that's how it is. People are surprised that Michael Rose uses autotune, but we were already using it back then with Sly & Robbie! It's nothing new! You see me?
So you are preparing an album with John John?
The album has been finished since last year.
Will Feed the children be on it?
I don't know if it will be on the album, but we recorded a lot of tracks. There will be productions by John John and Demarco. It's a good album, it's called "Kingston 11". There will be Assassin (Living low), Busy Signal (Real Jamaicans), and a few others, but those are surprises, you'll have to wait for the album to come out!
Will Demarco sing on the album?
Actually, he does harmonies on some tracks, like Real Jamaicans. Baby G also has a track, Feeling so lonely. Also, King Jammy has an album "Soul of Michael Rose" coming soon.
Alongside your musical career, you also run a coffee plantation.
I always try to help young people, whatever the way, as long as it's positive. We thought it was a good way to help young people, it's not a question of money. It allows us to involve them, to put them to work. We sell our coffee to the government. They give you whatever they're willing to give you. Yet Blue Mountain coffee is reputed to be one of the best in the world. I have a beautiful plantation. When you come to Jamaica I'll show it to you.
Violence in Jamaica is rising steadily…
(He interrupts) Well, you only have to read the Gleaner or the Star, why ask me that question?
Because it has consequences for the music. Artists are accused of encouraging this violence, Red Stripe has decided to stop sponsoring concerts in Jamaica…
I don't know if that's the right solution. When you organise festivals like Sumfest, you need sponsors. They use the same deejays to do their advertising, and suddenly, they do a U-turn. I don't understand.
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