As a boy, Jahbar I was surrounded by countless stars, many of whom he called ‘uncle’. One of them was Tarrus Riley who shares the mic with him on Starz, his latest song.
Produced by his father, Melbourne “Dusty” Miller for their Guerilla Lion Records, Starz was released in September. The song projects resilience, something the roots singer believes the youth in Jamaica need.
“It’s an authentic message of perseverance. Dis is for every youth ‘cause di youth is di future, but dis song really an’ truly inspire all walks of life, ‘cause remember, everybody is a child before di Almighty,” said Jahbar I.
Starz is driven by the music of My Guiding Star, a big hit in 1969 for The Heptones from Studio One. Miller thought it was a good idea for Jahbar I to write positive lyrics for that classic ‘riddim’ with Tarrus Riley handling the chorus.
Jahbar I first met Riley years ago when he (Jahbar I) was still in high school. He said the artiste checked on his progress over the years, and invited him to perform on his Tarrus Riley and Friends show at Emancipation Park in Kingston six years ago.
Riley was keen to join him on Starz which is expected to be one of the tracks for his second album, tentatively scheduled for release late this year. His first album, Jahbar I Deyah, came out in 2018.
Jahbar I’s father is the drummer and bandleader of The Firehouse Crew, a veteran recording and touring unit that got its start at the studio of legendary engineer Osbourne “King Tubby” Ruddock in the late 1980s.
During the 1990s, The Firehouse Crew — which has played on many of Jahbar I’s songs — was the house band at producer Philip “Fatis” Burrell’s Xterminator Records. They recorded numerous hit songs with that label’s major acts, including Luciano and Sizzla.
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