Back in the 1980s, Carl Meeks was a singer to watch thanks to hit songs for Redman International, one of that decade’s hottest dancehall labels.
Based in North Carolina, he still records and has several new songs on the market. Tek Life, Feelings For You and Never Fail are some of the fresh productions he has on the market, and he is keen to revive his career in Jamaica.
“Yuh done know, yaad a di place, no matter what. When yuh live abroad, yuh still want yuh music play a Jamaica,” he said.
The dreadlocked artist is back in the spotlight because of some of his older songs, including Youthman and Weh Dem Fah, produced by Hugh “Redman” James for Redman International.
Those songs are on Redman International: We Run Things, a 40-song retrospective album released in December by VP Records.
“Dem days with Redman was great, wi used to go to his house an’ hang out, an’ jus’ vibes to music. Wi had a lotta good times,” recalled Meeks, who lives in North Carolina.
Meeks has four songs on the Redman International collection. The others are Danger and Heard About My Love, the latter a collaboration with deejay Daddy Lilly.
Although he launched his recording career in 1983, Meeks came to national attention in the Tastee Talent Contest in Kingston two years later.
Meeks placed second in that event, which helped make Nadine Sutherland, Yellowman and Beenie Man stars. At the time, he was a forklift operator at Desnoes and Geddes, the Caribbean’s leading brewery, which produced Red Stripe Beer.
He was introduced to James by a mutual friend and their tandem was instantly successful.
Redman International had a golden run during the 1980s with songs such as Old Friend and Lady in Red by Sanchez, We Run Things by Flourgon, and Border by Pinchers.
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