The Jamaica Observer continues its 20-part series, 20 Days of Silk, which looks at the life of roots singer Garnet Silk. This month marks 20 years since

his death.

BEFORE Garnet Silk began production on his debut album for Atlantic Records in 1994, his friend and manager Michael ‘Jah Mikes’ Lee insisted on a change of direction for the singer.

“Wi wanted original music, mi tell Garnet sey him haffi come off the ‘riddim’ thing ’cause it was a different market now,” Lee told the Jamaica Observer.

Silk had become a dancehall star with songs on ‘riddims’ cut for different producers with multiple artistes. Those songs included It’s Growing, Zion in a Vision and Love is The Answer.

For the Atlantic project, Lee wanted his music to be exclusive.

Some of reggae’s top musicians were gathered for the singer’s most ambitious project. They included guitarists Mikey Chung and Earl ‘Chinna’ Smith; drummer Sly Dunbar and bassist Robbie Shakespeare and keyboardist Robbie Lyn.

Lee had been involved in music since the 1970s and worked as a producer with roots-reggae band Mystic Revealers. He also operated the Gong Sounds label and studio in Miami.

In the 1990s, Lee started Kariang, the company that began managing Silk in late 1993. They had known each other since the 1980s when the singer was known as deejay Little Bimbo and a regular on Lee’s Manchester sound system, Conquering Lion.

Lee remembered the recording sessions (which took place in Ocho Rios) as upbeat.

“Anywhere Garnet go the vibes were nice, he had ‘upfull’ vibes,” he said.

Atlantic Records were showing interest in reggae at the time through their Big Beat subsidiary which had Inner Circle and Dawn Penn on its books. They also released a handful of compilation albums.

Garnet Silk never completed the Atlantic album. He and his mother died in a fire at her home in their native Manchester on December 9, 1994.

Some of the songs from the Ocho Rios sessions were eventually released by Atlantic as part of The Definitive Collection album in 2000.

That year, Lee released Garnett Silk Meets the Conquering Lion: a Dub Plate Selection, a compilation of ‘specials’ the singer did for Conquering Lion.

— Howard Campbell