Black Prince

BLACK PRINCE: THE MAN, HIS MUSIC AND HIS MISSION.Black Prince’s new CD “No, Youthman, No!” is released on his label, Master Peace Records. The CD conveys a message regarding the human condition: law and order, infidelity, teenage pregnancy, broken love, neighbour and parent/child relationships. Black Prince conveys his messages by singing tenderly of love and loss, joy and sorrow. He wrote and performed all the songs and music on this CD.As well as “No, Youthman, No!” Black Prince has completed three, fourteen-track albums. One is a Reggae CD called “Peace Train”. Another is a Rhythmic Soul CD called “Crazy Love,” The third is an album of love songs called “It’s All About Us.” Black Prince aims to release two singles between Christmas 2006 and Easter of 2007. In “Cool Down, Bad Boys,” he delivers a message to the youths engaged in gang warfare. In “Peace Train,” taken from the album of the same name, his concerns are with the prevalence of knives, guns and drugs among vulnerable youths in Jamaica’s local communities.So who is Black Prince?Born in 1951, and originally known in the business as “ Pow Pow”, Black Prince’s journey has taken him through a long, winding road from his birthplace in Lennox Bigwoods, Westmoreland, to the bright lights of Kingston in pursuit of his dream in the music industry. Along the way he has overcome the effects of polio, mastered many musical instruments and styles, apprenticed as a music engineer, produced recorded music shows, and mentored rising singers, dancers and musicians. Now he is taking a step further to launch his career as a songwriter, singer and producer.Black Prince’s musical career spans a number of genres, and took him through many places, and experiences. The Crooks Brothers first introduced him to the business in 1966, at the age of 14. He toured Jamaica with them for four years as a Rumba Box player in their band. With some experience behind him, at the age of 18, he felt confident enough to leave the band and he moved to Kingston.During his musical growth, Black Prince had many idols, including Gregory Isaacs, Berris Hammond, and Dennis Brown. But most of all, he admires Bob Marley, not only for Marley’ s enormous musical talents but also for the philosophical themes that he explored.From the age of two, Black Prince had the sense that he wanted to sing. He attributes his love for soul music and “sweet love songs” to his mother who “sang the old romantic songs of such artists as Ben E King, Fats Domino, Brook Benton, Curtis Mayfield, and the Impressions around the house.” By the age of seven, they were inspiring him and by nine he was starting to write his own songs.He called his first song “Water in My Cup,” after Eric Monte Morris’s “Oil in my Lamp.” Once he started to compose his own music, he wanted to perform as well. He shares this childhood memory. “I was an active member of the school choir. I also enjoyed singing and entertaining out of school. I was supported by my friends who frequently paid to hear me sing”. He recalls how his interest in singing and entertaining led him to organize song contests among his friends.In 1971, he formed the Apostolic Singers—a Gospel group that performed in churches, at concerts, weddings, church halls, and at live gospel stage shows. He learnt to play the guitar and began to write Gospel songs.In 1972, as singer he recorded two Gospel songs, “I Love Jesus” and “Where Should I Go?” for Down Beat Records. “Where Should I Go” was his first single. In 1974 he released another single-- “I’ve Found The Answer” --with G&G Records. The song did very well in the charts. In that same year (1974) he joined another group called The Progressive Gospel Band, and was their lead singer and guitarist for three years. He also worked as backing and lead singer with Fred Bryan and the All Stars, Optic Revolution, Fab Five, Bare Essentials, Black Rhythm, and Unique Vision.In 1976 he moved into production, apprenticing as a recording engineer at Joe Gibbs’ Recording Studio in Kingston. Black Prince’s shift to Reggae began in 1984 when he teamed up with Dervin Whyte and formed the Controllers. They performed mainly at live shows. In 1986, The Controllers gave an award-winning performance at the JCDC show in Kingston where the group won a certificate of Merit for their performance. After the show, Roy Dunbar, the leader of Optic Revolution approached the group and asked Black Prince to join his band as a permanent member. He did join Optic Revolution and stayed with them for six years.In 1988 Black Prince worked within the hotel circuits as singer and entertainer on a regular part-time basis. Now, he was sharing the limelight with such artists as Hugh Roy, Carl Dawkins, Josie Wales, ARP, Michigan, and Smiley.In 1990, he started to work with Corporate Image Productions. Here, his work description varied. He helped to organize the Tastee Talent Contests. He was involved with the selection and training of young singers, and dancers, managing the stage, arranging, and also performing. He resigned in June 2006 after sixteen years with Corporate Image Productions, to give himself the freedom to concentrate on his music.Black Prince aims to establish his unique style of music in Jamaica and abroad. “I want also, to start an academy in Jamaica for unknown musical talents,” he says.Black Prince adds, “When I can no longer perform my music, I want to find talented young people, write for them, train them, and prepare them for the music industry. I believe that the industry is going through a transitional phase. Singers will want to perform their songs live instead of miming to them. Having worked on talent shows for years, I know how to scout for fresh talent. I know how to groom and train them to become effective performers. My advice to all young artists is to be self-disciplined, to believe in themselves, and to follow their dreams. And most of all, to keep away from drugs.”