Sanchez performs tonight
SANCHEZ, arguably dancehall’s most influential balladeer, says more singers are needed to make the genre palatable.
The 51-year-old vocalist, who had a 15-year run as a hitmaker starting in 1987, headlines the Live In Concert show at Jamaica Tamboo in Negril this evening.
He believes the singer has taken a backseat to the deejay and singjay for too long.
“Everywhere I go, I hear the people screaming for it (more singers). Singers bring satisfaction and songs people can relate to,” he told the Jamaica Observer.
Sanchez said the loudest calls for more Jamaican singers came in the United Kingdom where he did shows in London and Birmingham in February.
“Dem love singer an’ dem not hearing a lot of singers coming outta Jamaica.”
The UK has traditionally been receptive to Jamaican vocalists. In the 1960s, Millie Small, Desmond Dekker, Toots Hibbert and Alton Ellis made their mark among the growing West Indian community.
In the 1970s and 1980s, Ken Boothe, Dennis Brown, Barrington Levy and Freddie McGregor had a number of hit songs there and inspired the homegrown lovers’ rock movement.
While deejays and singjays have dominated dancehall music for close to a decade, Sanchez said there is hope in the new generation of singers, such as Romain Virgo and Nesbeth.
Sanchez (real name Kevin Jackson) burst onto the scene with the Winston Riley-produced Loneliness. This was followed by a number of hit songs, including I Can’t Wait and Never Dis The Man.
He recently completed a new album with producers Lloyd ‘John John’ James and Lloyd Campbell.
Singers Chelsea Stewart and Papa D are also scheduled to perform on this evening’s Live In Concert.