This veteran DJ, who learned his trade at Youthman Promotion (Sugar Minott's sound system), has sung with the greats. After 20 years of career in reggae he has just released his first album, entitled "Let it grow". A meeting with a real rootsman.
Who is Buckey Ranks?
Buckey Ranks He's someone who spreads a message of love (one love) and of music.
When did you start spreading the reggae message?
Buckey Ranks I listened to Marley's tunes, but also Burning Spear and Peter Tosh. You see, Marley's sound is like Christian music and I grew up with that sound. After leaving home young to make my own life, because I'm a farmer and I come from the countryside, from Portland. I never say I come from Kingston. I started singing for a small sound in Port Antonio and I was encouraged to carry on. I was 15 and I sang on the jukebox versions, in exchange I got 10% of the profits. I made friends with a guy in my district named Mel Bank. He had a sound that played every Sunday, then I moved on to bigger sounds.
How did you get into Youthman Promotion?
Buckey Ranks A great many artists have come through Sugar Minott's sound and it's hard to make a place for yourself there. Many artists came and went with the sound as the travels went, and during a trip to London I decided to stay. I then sang for Exodus (from London), and before that I also played with Small Axe. I like soundclashes and I've won quite a few. I appreciate that verbal aggression. All the sounds wanted me as MC. I played with Coxsone Outernational alongside Super Cat, Nicodemus, Wayne Marshall, Daddy Freddy.
How come we're only discovering your talents on album today?
Buckey Ranks I did my apprenticeship a long time ago but quite a lot of people never paid me. I often sang for sounds without even being paid a taxi to get home, because I love music too much!! I must thank all the artists and the sounds that allowed me to make my place in England. Thanks to Exodus Sound and the artists I played with: Admiral Bailey, Chaka Demus, Colin Roach, Anthony Malvo, Peter Metro, Frankie Paul, and all the others. When Exodus wound down in 1885 I left for Miami with my own sound called Pioneer and I looked after a record shop. I also played in Washington D.C. in 1990 with Little Twitch. I came back to England and toured with Sting in 1992-1993 before deejaying for Asha World Movement. In 1985 I did my first international tour in Canada with Sammy Dread and Lone Ranger, the tour was meant to last 6 weeks and I stayed 6 months!! There, I worked with lots of sounds and artists such as Dan Angelo, Pad Anthony, Candyman, Horace Martin. And I went back to Jamaica, I played a lot in the countryside because there are too many artists in town. I wasn't recording but I kept singing on sounds, a bit like Brigadier Jerry. I must thank England even if it's Babylon, because that place allowed me to do a lot of things.
As well as being a singer, you're also an actor.
Buckey Ranks Since childhood I did gimmicks, I fancied myself as Clint Eastwood or other actors, and I always knew I would become an actor. All it took was being in the right place at the right time. At a taxi rank in Brixton, a lady asked me to pose for her, she paid me with African clothes. Another lady contacted me for a casting in Peckham, and I was given the lead role. I shared the billing with Mickey General, I started to modify the script freely to give it more credibility and they let me. That film, "We the Raggamuffin", won two awards... On returning from the United States, people came looking for me to make appearances in other films. I also acted in a play with Carl Bradshaw, who was in "The Harder They Come", and the house was full every night for 6 weeks. I carried on singing while I was doing cinema, for 5 years I took part in a big show in London that the State finally shut down. I'm currently shooting another film that should come out in 2001, the film is called "Wrong Identity". At the same time I'm working on the new album.
What's your favourite track on the album "Let It Grow"?
Buckey Ranks I like the tune Mama, which is dedicated to my mum, without whom nothing would be possible.
You have a tune called Fire Burn, this title brings the bobos to mind.
Buckey Ranks Believe me or not, I wrote that tune 8 years ago, well before Capleton or Sizzla used the expression. My idea of fire burn is to burn the system. This system that imprisons the ganjaman and lets the real dealers run free. I only burn verbally, it's not about physical violence. The tune Judgement Day is a Christian song, it's about purifying your heart in preparation for the coming of the almighty. I also have two tunes with A.J Frankilin, who used to sing in the group Choosen Few (signed to Virgin). "True Rastaman" is about the confusion surrounding rasta, because too many thugs give rastas a bad image. I wrote all the melodies and lyrics of the tunes. And I still have enough in stock to make 1000 albums!! I really need a distributor so the album can go all over the world. Besides, I already have another album ready, which will be called "Buckey & Friends", with lots of guests including Luciano.
The first single is called Hot Cup of Tea.
Buckey Ranks Yes, because that's the way I consume ganja. I have nothing against smoking it, but me, I prefer to drink it as tea every morning.
You have your own label, Tender Touch.
Buckey Ranks Yes, Tender, because I'm a tender soul in life, it's a name a girl gave me and it stuck. You have to treat women with care. You have to get to know them and know whether they suit you.
How did you get to know Luciano?
Buckey Ranks I met Luciano through a brethren who knew him, it was well before he became a star. I inspired him on his spiritual and conscious side, and it's the same for Mickey General, who met Luciano thanks to me. Since then we've stayed in touch and we talk once a week on average.
Your final message?
Buckey Ranks I hope to come to Paris soon. Love to everyone, whatever your country of origin, because we will all end up in the same place. One blood