Music lovers who were all hyped to see Gregory Isaacs this weekend, were braced by bad news this morning, when his agent called in to the promoters at Love FM to tell them that "the patient by the name of Gregory" has been AWOL for the past week, missing presumed having a good time. So he never made his connection to Belize and would not be here for the concert. That was a real bummer for fans of the cool ruler but promoters scrambled to come up with a deserving replacement for the reggae icon. Into the breach stepped Junior Reid.
The former Black Uhuru lead singer and solo artists in his own right, says they gave him the call at midnight last night, and by 7:00 am, he was leaving Jamaica for Miami. The man who sang the anthemic 'one blood, told us about that song in the context of the reggae canon and what he expects to do at the show.
Jules Vasquez,
Explain the phenomenon of that song, I think it was released in 1992, I think, and it still has so much of a resonance to people; its an anthem, its like one love.
Junior Reid, Performing February 11th
"Well you see, you have to have one blood before you can get one loving because love has to come together as one blood and bring that one love. So it shows that nations are just one people, the father made us all, you understand me, so we are one blood because everyone man bleeds red. If you cut my skin you see blood."
Jules Vasquez,
How will you reach out to an audience whose been expecting Gregory, no insult to you, but Gregory has his fans and you have your fans and the two sets don't necessarily interject. How will you reach out to those who come out to see Gregory?
Junior Reid,
"I will just keep it natural. I will just go there and give them me. They will know that I am here trying to help out the situation, I am not here trying to be Gregory. I came here to be myself and I just now the people were hyped up and expected something so we have to give them something, we have to give them something good, and for the promotions sake I am here since I don't this to reflect bad on them. I am here for all those reasons and the season."
Jules Vasquez,
Brutal is certainly one of the most popular Black Uhuru albums and, I know there is the band situation as well, but will you be dealing with any of the stuff from the mid '80s when you were with Uhuru or will you be doing your solo material? What will you be doing?
Junior Reid,
"I'll be doing Black Uhuru stuff, I'll be doing stuff from Junior Reid, and I'll be doing a lot of stuff because I used to sing with Voice for Progress; I'll be doing a lot of stuff. They won't miss anything, they're going to get more."
Junior Reid will join Lovindeer on stage at the Princess poolside tomorrow.
