Ken Boothe—

REGGAE great Ken Boothe plans to cut back on his calendar of shows in 2016.

“I am taking a break, I have seen what extensive touring can do to artists, so I am taking care of my inner self. I can no longer do 15 shows on a tour, so I will satisfy with eight shows,” he said.

The singer, whose hit songs include The Train Is Coming, Everything I Own, Puppet on a String and Artibella, headlines ‘Memories by the Score’ at the Ashe Performing Arts Centre on November 28.

Boothe said he has seen the effects of rigorous touring on the health of artists while on the road.

“Music comes from the inside, that’s where the feel of it comes from, and I have to take care of my inner self. I have seen artistes pass away after doing many shows one after the other. I have been in the business 52 years, so I realize that you don’t have to be so dominant in the marketplace,” he explained.

Ken Boothe in 1968
Ken Boothe in 1968

Boothe recently did four shows in Japan.

“There were shows in big cities like Nagoya, Tokyo and Okinawa. I can satisfy with that. I try to take care of myself, I diet and take my supplements,” he said.

In recent years, artists such as Gregory Isaacs and John Holt have died while abroad doing shows.

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