Kingston’s recording studios have never been short of artists anxious to ‘bus’. Cleon Williams can attest to that; he has been waiting for his big break for 30 years.
The singer, who hails from Olympic Gardens in Kingston, is confident Passionate Desire will do the trick for him. The song is produced by Gaffa Blue Records out of London.
“Mi put in a lotta work last year..record ‘bout 25 songs. All wi want is for dem to be released an’ get properly presented,” said the dreadlocked vocalist.
Passionate Desire is actually a cover of Dennis Brown’s Funny Feeling, a lovers rock classic released in 1978. Veteran musicians Mafia and Fluxy guided Williams on a different arrangement he and producers at Gaffa Blue Records were pleased with.
The single, released in October, is among a swathe of songs Williams cut for independent labels such as King Agony and Unity Entertainment.
Recording for different producers has been a fixture of his career. Early on, he did songs for singer/songwriter B.B. Seaton, Henry “Junjo” Lawes and Lloyd “King Jammys” James, but while he was known in dancehall circles, failed to get mainstream attention.
His 2020 recording sessions saw Williams working with an elite cast of musicians including bassists Chris Meredith and Leebert “Gibby” Morrison; keyboardist Paul “Wrong Move” Crosdale of The Firehouse Crew and drummers Kirk Bennett and Paul Kastick.
Though the big hit song has proved elusive, Cleon Williams said music has been good to him and he never considered a different career. He believes he has matured as an artist and person.
“When wi a youth win uh understand how di clock tick, wi jus’ love sing so people tek advantage of wi. But as time go on wi learn from di good an’ di bad.”
You must log in to post a comment.