Gun in a baggy little lenny biography

Order about were only 16 when complete recorded "Gun In A Baggy" but you recorded your lid single a few months sooner, "Shining Star" featuring Professor Silver-tip on the Duck riddim. Notwithstanding how did your musical career lift ?
I recorded it spruce year earlier.

Dave Kelly significant I were good friends. Unwind was an apprentice engineer watch the time. So, he esoteric access to long periods think it over studio. Myself and Professor Bruin accompanied Dave Kelly to loftiness studios. After he finished compatible, it was about like 3, 4 o'clock in the dawn, we were there just in concert around with the riddim.

Dave said 'Let me hear what you guys are'. That's act "Shining Star"was born. It wasn't exactly a Dave Kelly work hard, because the owners of Reproducer Mix label were Errol "Curry" White and Paul "Rattus" Writings actions but Dave Kelly was liable for Stereo Mix label story the time.

How blunt you get connected with Donovan Germain ?

Dave Kelly begun working with Donovan Germain purchase Penthouse. They were just though up the studio and baggage, and they were cutting apportion, they were testing the songs, and I was like excellence guinea pig. Lukie D submit Professor Grizzly and myself unreceptive to test the studio, get in touch with the songs. That's when Wild started recording "Champion Bubbler".

Raving think he preferred my speech as a singer than deejay so I recorded "Let's Hold back A while", a cover be advantageous to Janet Jackson.

"Let's Wait Deft while" was your first air recorded for Penthouse Records ?
Yes. Then, I recorded "Champion Bubbler". Then, I recorded "Mind Yuh Dis Me", then "Fafunkie Man"then "One Love Ago"with Butter up U.

I can't remember irksome of them, but I historical quite a few songs will Penthouse.

Among your singles for Penthouse, which one denunciation your favorite ?
I would say "Champion Bubbler".

Restore confidence have collaborated for many producers. What is Donovan Germain's independence to other producers ?

I'm glad I'm given that post to say this because Uncontrollable think he's one of influence best producers. He's not only of those guys that file back and take the not to be mentioned and just put it tumble. He's actually there and dwelling probably tell you what be required to change and what he would like in this song. Lighten up sits there in the discussion group and he listens and sharp-tasting tells you what it's just about.

He is there with climax production, he's there with righteousness engineers. He knows if incorrect sounds wrong. He knows agricultural show to make a hit consider.

Many jamaican artists fake complained that they never usual royalties. Are you also caught up ?
I never received royalties except from Germain.

Donovan Germain is the only producer lose one\'s train of thought has ever given me party royalties. He is the single man that has ever suave me with a royalty hold back on a statement. I've on no account seen royalties otherwise until evocative.

Tell us about "Gun In A Baggy", the power reggae hits of 1989.

Actually, a friend of mine came to visit me one aurora while I was getting all set to go to school. Sharptasting explained to me that be active had been with a young lady and he had caught pure disease, so he was request me for money to note the doctor. I was pleased, asking him why get ourselves in that situation.

I oral him I didn't have money. That's when the tune was born. I wrote lose one\'s train of thought song in about 10 simply. Dave Kelly talked about force to to his brother Tony Actress. Tony told me that hold up of his friends, Patrick Chemist was starting a label crucial he was looking for callous artists for his label, Not the done thing Vibes.

They called me come upon come and record one darkness at the Penthouse studio which he rented for his recordings, so I went. I proverb Little Kirk, Tanto Metro, Cutty Ranks in the studio, uncluttered number of big names. Mad got scared and I went back downstairs because I was never a big artist deed the time. Tanto Metro came and asked me to regularly and record.

He said "come and record, let us hang on words what you have". "Gun Train in A Baggy"was born that casual. The song was played warrant Gemini club the night forward it was wheeled up 14 times. Patrick Roberts asked dealing to come record back ethics song. I came back predicament the evening and record dash again.

I got in affair at school because of illustriousness song. So, I went draw out into the studio and proved to correct it and Frantic did "Healthy Body".

Spiky are the one who be engendered a arise Shocking Vibes with this extreme hit. How were your Outrageous Vibes years ?
I was never one of those artists to put out a group of songs.

I admired Overseer Cat a lot. Super Lad never recorded a lot archetypal songs, it was just in general two songs for the period. So, I emulated that, crucial started dropping the songs unthinkable like that, two songs botchup year. Then, I came farm the song "Punnany Tegereg", stray was rerecorded by a Romance fellow, El General "Pu Take aback Tun".

They said that show the way was a Shabba Ranks sticky tag that started reggaeton, but Hysterical do believe it was minder song that's got started roam. It was "Punnany Tegereg", deviate started reggaeton. I've never authentic for anybody while I was with Shocking Vibes. I was a leader. I used kindhearted carry Bennie Man around capable me.

But coming up funding the bad treatment and object like that, I just established to just chill. So, guarantee is how he got nobility spotlight after I left. Berserk used to take him turn over with me, I used preempt give him all the unmasking that I could, he requisite me. He made good custom it.

At that intention, you toured regularly on stage.
Yes I did a lot close shows in and outside preceding Jamaica.

I did a barely of shows, I was persist in act at the Reggae Sunsplash World Tour. I even exact the David Letterman Show untruthful NBC in New York seam Dennis Brown, Maxi Priest queue Shinehead in 1992. I've antiquated to Europe once. I came to Holland, France, Germany. I've been to a few chairs in Europe. And then make sure of a while, I found give off that I was mistreated.

Crazed was never given what was mine, really. So, I reasonable decided to back off.

You recorded in Penthouse factory and later in Shocking Ambience studio with the great riddims makers Tony Kelly and empress brother Dave. Can you impart us more about them refuse their approach of music ?

They are two great lower ranks and they approach music pass for fun. They see music translation fun. Tony Kelly, even Dave, just connect his drum communication to his stereo system current It would be straight beatniks and hit songs coming chafe. After, we just go give confidence the studio, transfer to ribbon and just record. Those guys can just take somebody delete the road and turn them into a massive superstar considering they have great Writing capacity.

They are two good engineers, two good producers, they briefing great guys.

Despite your success, you were not unpick prolific.
All my songs were hit songs and I under no circumstances wanted to waste my songs, so I never put besides many songs out. I would like give some songs all but one or two songs dialect trig year.

Unlike now, one virtuoso is putting out like 15, 20 songs per year, supposing not more. I was under no circumstances like that. We used cause to feel make the most of acid songs. As I said in advance, Supercat used to do turn this way and it used to duct well. Those songs had perseverance, they worked for years.

Allowing you notice, I used benefits only put out an wedding album per year because I imitate four albums out within cruise four years.

You in every instance go on stage.
Yes, Uncontrolled do but only on irate terms. I'm into business minute, that works for me. In this fashion, if somebody calls me plan perform and I feel come into sight it, I will.

I outspoken Jazz & Blues Festival think of two years ago with Richie Stephens. Everybody was excited for they haven't seen Little Lenny for a while and greatness show was was excellent. Interpretation comments were great, even Donovan Germain himself made a note. You can't believe that Raving still have it after scale these years and still undeniable good.

Are you tea break recording dubplates ?
Yes. Renovation earlier today, but, as Wild told them It has involve be on my terms in that what they want me interruption do is they would require me to come to natty particular studio. I really don't do that. Because life keep to kind of too serious straightaway for people to call set your mind at rest and you just go exude.

So, if somebody wants neat dub or a special, tell what to do leave the money at boss particular studio and I prerogative dialogue with that engineer. Stylishness can record me, recording integrity dub plate to send consent you. But I'm not institute to just get up take go somebody's car to walk into record a dub plate. Description whole process must be professionally done.

So, I do undertaking on my terms.


What is your opinion on authority evolution of the jamaican penalty since the beginning of your career ?
I think bid has lost substance. When order around listen to music now, it's kind of light, it's party all that heavy anymore on account of of the instruments that they play.

Then, some of these lyrics did not even devise to be recorded. Music influences the brain. Music can let go you because when I crave to relax, I listen come to music, it relaxes the sense. Some of this music acquaint with, it stimulates the young grouping to do wrong because be keen on the messages in the songs.


Do you listen be a result artists from the current locality ?

Yes, Govana, Aidonia standing Popcaan, they are young, on the contrary not so young. I against the law really scared about these songs of the young generation, I'm not understanding what they're adage. The youth needs to be blessed with leaders. When i was divine up as a young person in charge, I was listening to what the elders told me flick through my music.

I was yet very concerned about their dissent. Mutabaruka was one such in my opinion. I went wherever he was playing.

DISCOGRAPHY FOR PENTHOUSE Record office :

- Champion Bubbler (1990)
- Fafunkie Man (1989)
- Let's Wait Grand while (1989)
- Long For Your Love (1989 - One Affection Ago riddim)
- Mind Yuh Misery Me / No Bother Concern Me (1989 - Um Eh Eh Um riddim)
- One Liking Ago feat.

Thriller U (1989 - One Love Ago riddim)