Wayne Robinson, son of the late singer Lloyd Robinson. (then) Lloyd Robinson—-LAST November, singer Lloyd Robinson, best known for the dancehall classic Cuss Cuss, died at the Kingston Public Hospital.

Five months later, his son Wayne regrets not having spent more time with him.

“He accomplished a lot musically, but as a father he came up short. I never really knew the man,” Wayne Robinson told the Sunday Observer from his home in Florida.

The 47-year-old Robinson says there is no resentment toward his ‘old man’. He is grateful he got the chance to spend three days with him while he was hospitalised in the United States last year.

“We spoke about every topic under the sun and it was then I got to know stuff about his life…but it was just too short,” he said.

Altemont Thomas ‘Lloyd’ Robinson began recording in the mid-1960s as a member of The Tartans which also included Cedric Myton (later of The Congos). As a solo act, he had hits such as Fire Fire, Cuss Cuss and Rocky Road.

Lloyd Robinson in the early days.

He also scored with Big Red Bum Ball which was done with singer Devon Russell as Lloyd and Devon. Big Red Bum Ball was produced by ska great Derrick Morgan for his Hop label.

Wayne Robinson, one of his four children, was born in Kingston. Most of his formative years were spent in Clarendon where his mother took him to live with his grandmother.

He migrated to the US in 1988.

His first contact with his father was by telephone in 2005. Their first meeting, at a New York City hospital, was bitter-sweet. His father’s addiction to alcohol and hard drugs resulted in psychological problems.

“After hours of talking to him, I got to understand the complete story of his life,” said Robinson.

He says he would like to get his father’s catalogue in order. His aunt, Lloyd Robinson’s sister, has written to the Performing Rights Society in England to get control of his father’s publishing but it is still a struggle to complete the process.

Wayne Robinson is reaching out to other artists who are consumed by their careers that they neglect their families.

“Take care of your children, it’s important to have a career, but family comes first,” he said.