By Kevin Jackson/Observer writer—
Echo Minott—
VETERAN artiste Echo Minott believes the Broadcasting Commission’s ban of certain music from mainstream radio will not have a significant effect.
In October the Broadcasting Commission imposed a ban on music that, among other things, promotes or glorifies lottery scamming, use of the illicit drug Molly, and illegal guns.
According to Echo Minott their action will only help pique the public’s interest in those songs.
“It’s a different generation now and it’s not the same [as his was] because we never glorified drugs or guns — it was just domestic problems and the sufferation that people faced [his generation sang about],” said Minott. “If you have a good song, regardless of it not receiving airplay, people will find it.”
In 1986 Minott’s song What The Hell (The Police Can Do), produced by Lloyd “King Jammy” James, was banned from the airwaves for perceived jabs at law enforcement. The song was a hit in sound system circles and sales of the vinyl 45rpm helped it reach number one on the JBC Radio One and RJR Top 30 charts.
What The Hell (The Police Can Do) was Song of The Year on the JBC Radio One Top 100.
Minott said sectors of the society misinterpreted ‘What the Hell’, believing it disrespected police officers.
“That’s why the song was not fit for airplay. The ban only made the song get bigger,” he recalled.
Born Noel Phillips, Echo Minott is originally from Marverley in Kingston. He is also known for the hits Lazy Body, Love Problem, and a cover of British singer Lisa Stansfield’s All Around The World (which he did as Been Around the World).
Based in France, he continues to release new music, with his last studio albums being Raw Unplugged (2018) and Man A Do Road (2020).
Echo Minott’s is scheduled to perform at Rebel Salute in St Ann on January 21.
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