Recently, while listening to the local radio station here in New York, I overheard a conversation on the state of reggae music. I truly believe that from where reggae came from until today there is a sharp decline in the quality of reggae music. There seem to be individuals who would rather make a quantity of music which have no substance rather than make quality music that will be around for years to come.

Songs from the Studio One, Channel One era I feel will never ever be duplicated in the kind of quality music that was produced. Those kind of songs that were created then are songs that even when we hear them today still sound as fresh as the day we first heard them. But these ones that are rushed, which are the ones I consider to be quantity and never quality, after hearing them a few times we do not want to hear them again.

There is a difference between quality, which is done by taking the time to get everything just right and which is done using live instruments, and quantity, which is mediocre.

These mediocre songs, which are often made using a drum machine, are usually the ones we hear most on the radio which is a shame. I respect Beres Hammond, Luciano, Freddie McGreggor, to name a few artistes, who continue the tradition of creating quality music that will live on forever. But we really do not hear much of their songs, we tend to hear the ones which degrade our women by calling them names, and the ones which have subliminal messages that are projected to other artistes that they have some issue with.

It is sad to see the music I grew up on and love going in this direction. These music producers are more for greed in creating these inferior music than anything else. Many of the rhythms I hear lately only last for a week and we do not hear them again.

Lately, there has been so many and they just add to the inferior quanlity music that is out there. People sometimes complain that reggae music does not sell for many reasons, I truly believe that if people make quality music it will sell.

They would rather make mediocre music to supply the appetite of the few who want to hear crap. To all who are into creating music please remember that QUANTITY last for a little while, but QUALITY last for a lifetime. And to the artistes who are into creating music, if you want longevity in the music business make quality music.

Glen Harrison

jahmekini@worldnet.att.net

New Rochelle

New York