Reggae
belongs to the
peacemakers
Don Carlos says macho
By John Berger
attitudes have no place
at his concerts
Star-BulletinDon Carlos has a few simple words for fans who will see him at Sea Life Park Saturday: Violence and brawling have nothing to do with reggae, Rastafarianism, unity, or Jah.
"People come to a concert to hear reggae music to share love amongst one another. If they really listen to reggae it always bring a spiritual vibe to them, get them more calmer, more loving and more kinder. Reggae is the music to teach the people and heal the people," he explained in a phone conversation Tuesday.
The celebrated Ras Records artist co-headlines Saturday's Reggae JamDown '98 with Eek-A-Mouse and Carlos says macho posers should check their attitudes at the door.
Carlos comes to Hawaii celebrating the success of his new Ras album, "7 Days A Week." It contains a rich musical lode of messages regarding the importance of self-knowledge and knowledge of one's cultural heritage, the benefits involved in eating natural food and avoiding man-made chemicals where possible, and being one with Jah. True reggae music is rich with such cultural and political content, but Carlos adds fighting against corruption, oppression, greed and
"mashing up" the environment, doesn't necessarily call for violence.
Marcus Garvey, Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Nelson Mandella and Steve Biko and other spiritual revolutionaries used words or music as weapons in the struggle for equality, Carlos says.
"What I'm trying to say is stand up for justice. When I say 'fight' I don't normally mean physically weapon-fight. Stand up for justice can fight the revolution without violence. ... If you stand up and a man come brutalize you, you must defend yourself, but that is defense, not violence."
Carlos traces his own musical roots back to his youth in west Kingston. He became one of the neighborhood guys who hung out at King Tubby's recording studio and gradually made a name for himself as a studio engineer, song writer and recording artist.
Carlos was a founding member of Black Uhuru in the mid-'70s, and hit it big as a solo talent several years later with the international success of a song titled "Late Night Blues" and a subsequent album, "Them Never Know Natty Dread Have Him Credentials." Almost simultaneously, he became a hit in South Africa with a completely different album, "Suffering."No one knows how many copies "Suffering" has sold in Africa during the past 16 years, although estimates run as high 1 million. Carlos hopes persistent action against music pirates and other forms of copyright infringement will help reduce the problem.
Counterfeit albums and unauthorized compilations of popular songs by national and local artists have turned up in Honolulu swap meet-style markets as well. However, Carlos also views the problem from a Rastafarian perspective.
It will be a headache to collect past royalties, he says, besides some bootleggers really needed the money.
"Some small people can eat some food (by bootlegging) ... The Bible tell us some have to die for make some live."
While he'd like to control it more, if he sees someone selling bootleg T-shirts at a concert to feed his kids, "I wouldn't feel it wasted. You have to give and take. But (rich man) just do it for the money, that should stop."
Carlos' connections with South Africa include a recording made there last year. He speaks highly of the local musicians he worked with.
"Different flavor every time," he says of working with musicians from outside Jamaica. "When you hear something new your ears ring out. That's how I intend to deal with my product too, make it different each time but still of standard and quality."
Carlos' parallel success as a solo artist, member of Black Uhuru, and with his longtime writing partner, Gold, keeps him away from Jamaica about nine months each year.
"The bad thing about it is the traveling. It wear you down, but the good thing about it is meeting good people. My work is to go out and spread the message to people. I can't be like Jonah and want to run away from it."
Carlos is generally optimistic about the state of the world. He feels things are improving in post-apartheid South Africa and in Jamaica.
"They realize wrong ain't gonna carry dem too far, so they start doing right now," he says.
However, he warns that much remains to be done throughout the world.
The world's leaders don't fight for equality, Carlos says.
"They just deal for special people. Make your head spin around like a top to look around and see dem. But to see that and be concerned is good. That makes one more who is concerned and may get the chance to influence someone else. That is improvement."
Don Carlos and Eek-A-Mouse
Also featuring: Humble Soul, Natural Vibrations, Oooklah the Moc
