A 30-year career seems like an eternity in dancehall music, a genre that has produced its share of flash-in-the-pan artists. But even for tried-and-proven acts like Terry Ganzie, there comes a time when you have to hit the pause button.
“Mi did tek a likkle exile from di business, everything fi me is music but it good fi tek a break an’ come back strong,” he said.
In January, Terry Ganzie returned to Jamaica’s live show scene with a bang. He turned in a solid performance and Rebel Salute which culminated with the release of new songs.
Need A Lotta Time Alone, War Everywhere and Life (done with Luciano) are some of the fresh songs he has on the market. The tracks were recorded for different producers in Jamaica and Spain; freelancing, Terry Ganzie points out, suits him better than early in his career when he was affiliated with different labels.
“When mi was with African Star, Penthouse an’ Startrail is like dem concentrate pon one artist an’ ignore yuh. Mi used to struggling pon mi own so wi jus’ concentrate now pon put out some strong music,” he said.
Terry Ganzie, who was born Vandorne Johnson, is from Hanover, a rural farming parish in western Jamaica. Growing up listening to artists such as Barry Brown and Super Cat, he started his career on local sound systems, then recorded his first song More Vibes for producer Ed Robinson’s Top Rank label in 1989.
Four years later, he became one of dancehall’s hot acts with the anthem, Welcome The Outlaw, produced by Lloyd “John John” James. Other hits followed, including Ragga Ragga for Bobby Digital and Ya Mi Born which was produced by Donovan Germain for Penthouse Records.
Terry Ganzie’s greatest success came in the 1990’s, considered by many as the golden age of dancehall. His contemporaries included Garnet Silk, Buju Banton, Capleton, Mad Cobra and Lady Saw.
Since the late 1990’s when he embraced Rastafari, Terry Ganzie’s songs have become more cultural. Songs like Fly away Home and Waan Go Home call for a return to Zion, the Rastaman’s spiritual home.
Terry Ganzie has no major plans to commemorate his 30th year in the music business, but has shows scheduled for the United Kingdom and Canada this year.
By Howard Campbell–
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