Despite the poverty that surrounded him as a boy, Alphanso “King Shark” Henclewood has fond memories of his years in Greenwich Farm, a working-class community in Kingston, Jamaica.
The area was a musical hot spot during the 1960’s and 1970’s. He learned the ropes from being around master producers like Bunny Lee and Bertram Brown.
Henclewood has lived for over 20 years in New Mexico where he operates Montego Records, which recently released a number of songs by veteran and emerging artists like Prince Alla, Donovan Joseph, Nanci Brodhead and Autarchii.
The dreadlocked Henclewood said he followed the formula of Lee and Brown while recording the songs, most of which were done at Tuff Gong studios in Kingston.
“Dem man dey did have consistency ’cause dem get di best musicians around at di time an’ get di best out of di artists,” he explained.
Last October, Montego Records released Look Where We Are, a compilation album showcasing acts from his hometown including Prince Alla. This year, he has put out songs like A Reggae Sentimental Journey by Brodhead, an American singer; Black Beauty by Autarchii and What A Joy by Joseph, Henclewood’s longtime friend.
He also released a handful of his own songs including Walk in The Light.
Now in his early 60’s, Henclewood was encouraged by singer Phillip Fraser to follow the path of Lee and Brown and start his own record label. In the early 1980’s, he launched Green Farm which produced songs by a number of acts including Fraser, Rod Taylor, Charlie Chaplin and Frankie Paul.
Henclewood started Montego Records shortly after migrating to the United States in the 1990’s. Though the music business has evolved in terms of marketing and recording, as a producer he still calls on the lessons he learned from his mentors.
“Di style a music Bunny Lee mek once yuh hear it yuh jus’ waan to dance. Bertram Brown was different; him did waan mek music fi help him bredin dem pon di corner,” he said.
Lee is rated as one of reggae’s great producers. His catalog is studded with hit songs by John Holt (Stick by Me), Delroy Wilson (Cool Operator), Johnny Clarke (Rock With me Baby and Move Outa Babylon) and Cornel Campbell (The Gorgon).
Brown’s productions were not as commercial but summed-up the Rastafarian mood in Greenwich Farm and Jamaica during the 1970’s. His Cornerstone label produced classic songs like Prince Alla’s Bucket Bottom and Ethiopian Kings by Taylor.
In addition to releasing more songs this year, Alphanso Henclewood plans to produce a documentary about Greenwich Farm through Montego Records.
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