The history of reggae seems to have forgotten the name of Anthony Johnson (Steve Barrow gives him barely a line in his Reggae Rough Guide), but every true reggae fan knows his tracks for Midnight Rock: "Sitting in the park" or "Everyday is a gunshot". He now lives in London and has just become a father. A meeting with a veteran singer who is preparing to get people talking about him again.
For those who don't know your story, tell us about your beginnings.
Anthony Johnson Before I start, I want to thank Jah Rastafari, Emperor Haile Selassie! I was born and raised in Trenchtown. There, I hung out with Bob, Peter, Bunny. Knowledge, Alton Ellis, the Heptones, Ken Boothe and Leroy Smart. I was influenced by Alton Ellis, whom I call Aston. And by Knowledge, who taught me to play the guitar. In Trenchtown a lot of artists were recording; Coxsone and his Studio One weren't far, nor were Treasure Isle and Channel One. I recorded my first tune for Bunny Lee. It was called "Free Black Man".
We've never heard of it.
Anthony Johnson I saw Bunny Lee again not long ago; he told me he never released the tune and didn't know where the tapes were. You know, he has so many. The first person to launch me in England was Linval Thompson with the tune "Africa" in 1972; Rodigan played it at the time and people thought it was Dennis Brown. I had a friend called Rusty who knew Jah Thomas; when Thomas came to England, Rusty told him about me. It was at the end of the 70s. Back in Jamaica, Thomas asked me to record a tune for him on the "Sitting and watching" riddim; it was called "Loving a woman" (he sings the tune). That was my first hit on Midnight Rock. I carried on with "She affi come a me", "Feel like dancing". Then in 1982 I had a big hit with "Everyday is a gunshot".
That's really the tune people remember.
Anthony Johnson Yes, and plenty of sounds still ask me for it as a special/dubplate even today. People seem to have forgotten my other tunes, yet I've made so many songs!
Even your first album bears the mark of that tune…
Anthony Johnson Yes, the first album came out on Midnight Rock in the 70s under the title "Gunshot"; it's impossible to find on vinyl but has just been reissued on CD by Jah Thomas. I also have an album, "Togetherness", that has just come out on Prestige, and I'm working on a new album.
Because you also have your own label.
Anthony Johnson Yes, it's called "Heights", but I'm thinking of another name because "Heights" has been inactive for a while. Yes, it's called "Heights", but I'm thinking of another name because "Heights" has been inactive for a while.
Your album with Robert French is less well known.
Anthony Johnson Yes, it's a Jah Thomas production on Midnight Rock that came out after "Gunshot". At the time there were a lot of musical outfits such as Zap Pow or Soul Syndicate, and those people knew what they were doing. Working with the Roots Radics was easy because all I had to do was turn up with my lyrics and they'd find the melody. I've done so many tunes, I've sung at Tubby's and I'm a bit like Dennis Brown, you know. Yes, it's a Jah Thomas production on Midnight Rock that came out after "Gunshot". At the time there were a lot of musical outfits such as Zap Pow or Soul Syndicate, and those people knew what they were doing. Working with the Roots Radics was easy because all I had to do was turn up with my lyrics and they'd find the melody. I've done so many tunes, I've sung at Tubby's and I'm a bit like Dennis Brown, you know.
You also made an album for Jammy's.
Anthony Johnson At the time he was Tubby's apprentice, they called him Prince Jammy. Jammy came to see me because Tubby had told him I was a good singer. There are hits on that album (he launches into a lyric on the Lecturer).
You've toured England, Canada and elsewhere. Do you feel the audience knows your tunes?
Anthony Johnson You know, in Jamaica they bet more on the deejays than on the singers... It's a bit discouraging in the long run.
Let's talk about your recent work. You've just recorded a tune on the Cuss Cuss for Jah Warrior / Patate Records.
Anthony Johnson Since my childhood I've always been original, I have no difficulty writing because I come from the sound scene. If you ask me for an album for today, I can write it for you within the day. You just need to have the vibes. But music is too much of a business these days.
Do you think you'll repress your old tunes one day?
Anthony Johnson I could repress them, but I first have to settle a number of things. It will come one day.