By Simone
Morgan-Lindo
Observer reporter
REGGAE singer Ras Denroy Morgan is imploring the Jamaican Government to be more supportive of our indigenous music.Speaking with the Jamaica Observer, the musician said without the input from the Government and other major stakeholders, reggae and dancehall will not realise its full potential.
“The Government needs to put more value on reggae music and the Rastafarian culture. The foreigners are more successful because they invest a lot of money and time into it, but we don’t have the resources to do that. So we are calling on the Government to be supportive. It’s hard to even get sponsorship for reggae/dancehall events sometimes,” he told the Sunday Observer.
Morgan, who is celebrating more than four decades in the industry, is currently in the island promoting his ninth studio album called Muzical Unity. The set was released last month.
According to the singer, the 16-track album captures his personal journey of musical and spiritual growth.
“I really enjoyed making this album as this is the first time that I am being this involved in any of them. I selected the songs myself and helped to produce the album. Many of the songs are still deeply rooted in my biblical philosophy, but there’s also a creative infusion of my reggae and my R&B components,” said Morgan, who was ordained as a bishop of the International Gospel Help Us Church two years ago.
For the first time the singer is also featured on melodic and spoken word recordings which is reflective of his enlightenment and ministry. Using inspiration from the Bible, the set’s track listing includes Prayer to the King, Halleluyah, and His Majesty Speech and Religion. The album also comprises a cover version of Bob Marley and Peter Tosh’s hit Get Up, Stand Up.
In addition to Morgan, Muzical Unity is also produced by Coozie Mellers, The Anthem Band, Jerry Anderson, and Sidney Mills.
Morgan said he is pleased with the feedback of Muzical Unity.
“The feedback has been positive. A lot of people are giving it a good reaction. I really hope it will have similar success to that of I’ll Do Anything For You,” he said.
Morgan found success in the United States in 1981 with the release of his I’ll Do Anything For You album, when the title track became a big R&B and dance hit. His peak period however, came when he signed with RCA Records in 1984. That deal led to the release of the reggae album Make My Day and marked the first reggae artiste to be signed to RCA Records.
The Clarendon-born Morgan has lived in the United States since the mid-1960s and is the patriarch of Grammy-winning sibling group Morgan Heritage.
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