INTERVIEW
Interview by : Benoit Collin
Pictures by : Karl Joseph
on Wednesday, August 04th 2004 - 9 763 views
It is sometimes difficult to talk with artists. Here is a very brief conversation with Ken Boothe, snatched after his performance at Jamaican Sunrise. "A quick but pleasant interview", Ken Boothe himself would say. Just enough time for him to tell us about his musical childhood and to touch on his relationship with Coxsone. We hope to come back at greater length to the second part of his career another time.
Reggaefrance / What are your influences?
Ken Boothe / My influences… I was born into a family of singers, where music matters. My mother is a singer. Her first child, a daughter, was the first to have a career in entertainment. I'm the youngest. I used to watch her get ready, get dressed before a show, and I loved it, I loved hearing people say her name on the radio.
Is that what made you decide to go into this line of work?
I really loved singing. When we got together with friends to have fun, we sang together. I sang at school, on the way back from school… In the evening I had to go to an institution, a school for boys. I went there every night, because it was the only place where you could have fun. We were children from poor families, even if there were some poorer than us. Our parents worked hard so that we could get an education, things like that. We didn't even have anything to play with. It was an institution that all the children of the neighbourhood came to. We went there to play football, cricket, piano, to box… Two of the great Jamaican boxers went to that place to train. It was a privilege for poor kids.
One evening, on my way home, I stopped by Stranger Cole's. He took me to the studio, where we recorded Uno Dos for Duke Reid, Stranger and I. We also sang From one to six counting. Then we decided to go to Studio One, where we sang Artibella and World’s Fair. That's when ‘‘ Sir Cox ’‘ discovered me and turned me into a soul artist. He asked me: ‘‘ Why don't you sing on your own? ’‘ I said to him: ‘‘ Are you serious? ’‘ He answered: ‘‘ Yes! ’‘. He sent me to the studio, and I sang Hoo Wee Baby and Lonely Tear Drops.
Was it Coxsone who asked you to sing covers of American standards?
Yes, Sir Coxsone. The first time I sang, I went to a ‘‘ dancehall ’‘ to hear myself. My voice sounded so strange to me. I had never heard myself before! I went back to the studio and did Run Coming Back, then You’re No Good. After that I had lots of hits: Come Tomorrow, Moving Away, Puppet on A String… In fact, Puppet On A String is the first song that allowed me to travel outside Jamaica. To England, in 1967. It came out over there and did well, which enabled me to do a show with Alton Ellis. Throughout that whole period I knew nothing but success. Afterwards there were ups and downs. I've been in this business for 40 years. I love what I do. And I'll know when the time to stop comes. To this day, I really enjoy coming to sing in France and seeing such a receptive audience.
In 1971 you left Coxsone… What were your reasons for leaving?
Financially, we started to become aware of certain things. We were a family, with my wife, and we had to bring up our children… So we decided to ask for more. But that's another subject that we could discuss another time, the financial side of my career with Coxsone.
Despite these differences, what does Coxsone represent for you?
What does he represent? I call him the Godfather. When it comes to music, he's one of those who made it shine across the globe. He was a pioneer. I went to his funeral, because I had to offer my condolences. Financially, he treated me badly. But apart from that, I'm still here, and he's the one who launched me. I have to thank him for that.
Your plans for the future?
I'm being offered several things. Shows, recordings… But whatever the project, it has to be good. Otherwise I don't do it. I love music. It's what I do best. As soon as it's about music, talk to me!
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