Max Romeo (JAM)
Max Romeo was born Maxie Smith in a lttle town in St Dacre, in the parish of St Ann's, in the north of Jamaica. From an early age, Maxie was blessed with the gift of music, and it surprised no-one when little Maxie grew to become the internationally-famous Reggae star Max Romeo.
At the age of 14, Young Maxie ran away from home, and drifted around for some time before getting involved in the music business. His first job was not exactly the stuff of dreams - cleaning out irrigation ditches on a sugar plantation. But life sometimes throws up new opportunities, and in 1965, Max was advised by his Mentor, a Mr Denham to enter a talent contest in the district of Clarendon. His success spurred him into leaving for the city, and Max set out on the road to Kingston in search of stardom.
In 1967, at the tail-end of the Ska era Max cut his first record. On I'LL BUY YOU A RAINBOW for the Caltone label, he featured as lead singer of a group called The Emotions. The other members were Lloyd Shakespeare (brother of Robbie) and Kenneth Knight. The single made #2 on the Jamaican charts and placed Max firmly on the map. Before long, Maxie hooked up with another producer, Bunny "Striker" Lee, who was experimenting with a new sound he called "Reggae."
The risqué lyrics were cut over a Derrick Morgan rhythm track, and in the process, Max unknowingly cut himself a major hit. WET DREAM was released in England on the Unity label, and astounded everyone - including Maxie - by storming up the pop charts to #2. The song's suggestive lyrics ensured it had no radio exposure, but deejays in the discotheques and dance halls played it constantly. On the strength of the hit, Max toured the UK and Europe, and cut his first album, A DREAM.
Max's follow-up singles like MINI SKIRT VISION failed to chart, the fickle 45-buying public having moved off in search of other novelties. After a heavy schedule of touring, Max finally returned to Jamaica, not defeated, but fired with new ideas.
Realising the power of music, he began to infuse his lyrics with a new consciousness and political awareness. Social injustice, the gulf between the rich and the poor, the oppressor and the oppressed, and mounting unease in his native island fired his music to new levels of feeling.
PRAY FOR ME, PUBLIC ENEMY NUMBER ONE and EVERY MAN OUGHT TO KNOW showed there was a deeper side to Max's music, beyond love and girl-chasing. His devotion to Rastafarian beliefs also became apparent in his music. Also, Max's composition LET THE POWER FALL was adopted by the People's National Party in the Jamaican General Elections of 1972. At a time when increasing numbers of singers were including Rastafarian themes in their songs, Max accused many of climbing onto a RASTA BANDWAGON. His REVELATION TIME was acclaimed as one of the best albums of 1975.
Max's record label Charmax continues to release new and classic albums and singles, and recently struck a deal with a British company to produce limited-edition CDs of a number of his albums. All are digitally remastered for optimum sound quality, and a total of 17 are now available, with new titles being added to the catalogue all the time.
At the age of 14, Young Maxie ran away from home, and drifted around for some time before getting involved in the music business. His first job was not exactly the stuff of dreams - cleaning out irrigation ditches on a sugar plantation. But life sometimes throws up new opportunities, and in 1965, Max was advised by his Mentor, a Mr Denham to enter a talent contest in the district of Clarendon. His success spurred him into leaving for the city, and Max set out on the road to Kingston in search of stardom.
In 1967, at the tail-end of the Ska era Max cut his first record. On I'LL BUY YOU A RAINBOW for the Caltone label, he featured as lead singer of a group called The Emotions. The other members were Lloyd Shakespeare (brother of Robbie) and Kenneth Knight. The single made #2 on the Jamaican charts and placed Max firmly on the map. Before long, Maxie hooked up with another producer, Bunny "Striker" Lee, who was experimenting with a new sound he called "Reggae."
The risqué lyrics were cut over a Derrick Morgan rhythm track, and in the process, Max unknowingly cut himself a major hit. WET DREAM was released in England on the Unity label, and astounded everyone - including Maxie - by storming up the pop charts to #2. The song's suggestive lyrics ensured it had no radio exposure, but deejays in the discotheques and dance halls played it constantly. On the strength of the hit, Max toured the UK and Europe, and cut his first album, A DREAM.
Max's follow-up singles like MINI SKIRT VISION failed to chart, the fickle 45-buying public having moved off in search of other novelties. After a heavy schedule of touring, Max finally returned to Jamaica, not defeated, but fired with new ideas.
Realising the power of music, he began to infuse his lyrics with a new consciousness and political awareness. Social injustice, the gulf between the rich and the poor, the oppressor and the oppressed, and mounting unease in his native island fired his music to new levels of feeling.
PRAY FOR ME, PUBLIC ENEMY NUMBER ONE and EVERY MAN OUGHT TO KNOW showed there was a deeper side to Max's music, beyond love and girl-chasing. His devotion to Rastafarian beliefs also became apparent in his music. Also, Max's composition LET THE POWER FALL was adopted by the People's National Party in the Jamaican General Elections of 1972. At a time when increasing numbers of singers were including Rastafarian themes in their songs, Max accused many of climbing onto a RASTA BANDWAGON. His REVELATION TIME was acclaimed as one of the best albums of 1975.
Max's record label Charmax continues to release new and classic albums and singles, and recently struck a deal with a British company to produce limited-edition CDs of a number of his albums. All are digitally remastered for optimum sound quality, and a total of 17 are now available, with new titles being added to the catalogue all the time.