There were not many positive stories about Rastafari when singer Young Garvey was a boy. In his circles, adults spoke disparagingly about the faith and those who practised it.

As a teenager, he embraced Rastafari and consistently espouses his commitment to the movement’s tenets in his songs, including Cool Natty, his latest. It is produced by Leroy Sibbles.

“Rasta is a way of life, I proud to be a Rastaman ’cause is a livity. Is a positive way of life,” Young Garvey told the Jamaica Observer.

Just over one year ago, he was contacted by Sibbles, the rocksteady legend best known for his work at Studio One with The Heptones. He expressed interest in working with Young Garvey, who recalls their initial conversation.

“He was in Florida an’ call mi, sey him hear good things and him woulda like work wid mi. Him come in an’ keep him word an’ wi went straight into recording.”

Writing and recording Cool Natty was a cinch, given Young Garvey’s outlook on life.

“Me’s a positive an’ uplifting artiste. Wi use music to uplift di people, not defeat dem,’ he said.

Young Garvey, 38, was born Fabian Findley in Kingston. Interestingly, he grew up in Duhaney Park and Trench Town, communities that had vibrant Rastafarian neighbourhoods.

Most of the artistes he listened to in his youth were Rasta — Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Dennis Brown and Black Uhuru — but there was also room for the flash of Michael Jackson.

Young Garvey migrated to the United States in his late teens, and lived in Brooklyn and Queens for nearly 20 years. Six years ago, his first song, the apt Grow Mi Hair, was released by the Natural Enterprise label.

Up And Active, his debut album, was released last year by One Nation Music and Japka Productions.

— Howard Campbell