There was a time when going to dances in Jamaica meant just that — dance. Partners “locked” on the dance-floor in true rub-a-dub style. Singer/producer Alvin “Ricky Di Lova” Ricketts longs for a return to those days.
That’s what drove him to produce the Should Have Known Better rhythm, a five-song project released in April by his Turbulence Intl Production label. My Girl Dat is his song on the popular, revived Studio One beat.
“I want to bring back a certain vibes inna di dance, ‘cause wi have man a dance over dey so, woman a dance over dey so. When mi used to go dance as a youth mi look forward to hol’ a daughter an’ rub-a-dub,” he explained.
Should Have Known Better is the first production by Ricky Di Lova whose older brother is veteran deejay Trinity, one of the top toasters of the 1970’s. Other acts and songs on the rhythm are Michael Fabulous (When You Smile), Rub A Dub Style (Milton Blake), It’s A Shame (Khausion) and Mr. Drought, a collaboration between Sativa D Black 1 and Saddam Aerodynamic.
For his debut production, Ricky Di Lova moved from the computer-driven beats he has recorded on for much of his career, for a traditional lovers rock sound.
“Mi love one drop, it put mi back inna di days. It put mi back in a comfortable setting,” he said.
Ricky Di Lova grew up in the tough Majesty Gardens community of Kingston, Jamaica’s capital. That area produced several artists of note including Trinity whose hit songs include Three Piece Suit, and The Meditations, a vocal group whose signature song is Woman Is Like A Shadow.
Influenced by lovers rock greats like Dennis Brown and Gregory Isaacs, Ricky Di Lova released his first song, Sharon, in 1993. Most of his early recordings were for producer Carl Hayles, but he also voiced for Whitfield “Witty” Henry and George Phang.
Since moving to South Florida 20 years ago, he settled into a conventional nine-to-five job but maintains his ties to music through his Turbulence International sound system.
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