The ManicaPost
RONNIE Davis belongs to that category of reggae singers known and beloved within the music but undiscovered by the wider world.
His versatile voice, equally suited to covers and his own material, played a central role in harmony groups the Tennorsand the Itals — the latter in parallel with his solo career.
He scored big hits such as 1975’s Wont You Come Home for producer Lloyd Campbell and the Itals’ Ina Dis Ya Time (cut on the same rhythm the following year).
He also issued a string of artistically strong sides via his On Top label, co-owned with Patrick “Pat Scabba” Sutherland.
Yet over the decades Ronnie has only recorded a handful of LPs as a solo artist. This August he released eighth albumIyacoustic with producer Sadiki Buckley (son of Ronnie’s contemporary Henry Buckley). It recasts highlights from Davis’ catalogue in an unplugged style.
Angus Taylor spoke to Ronnie on the phone early one morning at home in his birthplace of Westmoreland. The rooster could be heard crowing during the interview.
Mr Davis was warm and friendly but not a big talker, in contrast to many veterans who deserve broader recognition he seemed content to let his achievements speak for themselves.
The story which emerged was that of a gentle soul who wore his gifts as a singer and songwriter lightly.
Throughout his career Ronnie seemed happy to help others and accept their suggestions ,even when it came to being called Ronnie Davis (not his real name).
You grew up in Westmoreland originally… What was the year of your birth?
Yes, 4th July 1950.
Do you come from a big or small family?
Well, it is big. Big enough. Because my mum had six of us. And my grandmother had seven. Thanks to my mother I have one sister and five brothers. And my father had four boys and two girls. I was the eldest.
What did your parents do for a living?
My father was a driver, a mechanic. And my mum was just a housewife. They were separated. My father was living in Kingston and my mother was living in Westmoreland.
Did you grow up in a Christian home? Did you do any singing in church?
Well, not exactly. My grandfather used to be a churchman and my grandma. But I wasn’t really always such a church person. I would always hide! I wanted to play football or cricket or whatever game was going on. I would leave home and not return until they’d gone to church!
So where did you do your singing when you were young? Did you participate in school concerts and talent shows?
Yes. We always had concerts at school and I would always sing there. And then I first got involved when they had this Jamaica Festival. Pop and Mento. As a little boy. I was about 15.
What did you sing?
I sang original songs at that time.
So you were writing your own songs from a young age? Did you record any of those songs later?
I didn’t record any of those but I still continued entering. That was the amateur section of it. You have the Pop and Mento and you have the Festival Song competition. I entered that later. I entered with the Tennors. I entered with the Itals.
How did you do in the Pop and Mento competition?
I won. It was divided into regions. In in my parish I won. I then went into the second round which was held in Montego Bay. The third round was in Kingston.
I went to Montego Bay and I won there but I didn’t get to continue. I didn’t go to Kingston because my parents didn’t want me to go.
My grandma was kind of nervous about sending me to Kingston! She didn’t have the trust to send me. The big prize was if I went to town and won but I didn’t go. I didn’t reach there.
So what did you do next? Did you form a group?
Yes, we used to have a group. We called ourselves the Westmorelites. We entered festivals there. Then I left and went to Kingston.
I wanted to participate down there and do some recording. I was living in Kingston from about ’67 until about 1980.
You wanted to hear your songs on the radio?
Yeah. When I entered the festival the Paragons were in Westmoreland as guest artists on that show. When they heard me sing, Tyrone Evans especially loved what I was doing and invited me to come to Kingston.
Then I went to Montego Bay and met Derrick Harriot, who was there as a guest artist. I was supposed to go to town to do some recording withDerrick Harriot but I didn’t reach that time because of financial and things.
When I came back later Derrick already had the session and I never got to record. Then I met up with a man named Sydney Bucknor who was working at Mrs Pottinger’s studio. I went there with Tyrone Evans and we did some demo recording.
This was in 1967??
Yes. — reggaeville
….to be continued next week.
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