While touring Japan with The Mighty Diamonds in 1995, Tony Curtis told the group’s lead singer, Donald “Tabby Diamond” Shaw, of his intention to cover Africa, one of their classic songs. He said Tabby readily gave him his approval.

Curtis never got around to recording the song during Tabby Diamond’s lifetime. He did so shortly after the 67-year-old Tabby was killed by gunmen near his home at McKinley Crescent, Kingston, on March 29.

“Africa jus’ strike a chord in my head; di soul, di feeling. Mi tell him dat is my song an’ mi woulda like do it over, an’ him sey, ‘Yeah man, singer, is a nice song. Yuh can do yuh ting’,” Curtis recalled.

The Mighty Diamonds recorded Africa at Channel One during the mid-1970s. It was written by Ranchie McLean, bassist for The Revolutionaries, house band at that Kingston studio.

Curtis’ version, produced by Nuh Rush Records, is scheduled for release today. He told the Jamaica Observer that he discovered The Mighty Diamonds through their Channel One songs like Right Time and I Need A Roof.

Tabby Diamond was one of the original members of The Mighty Diamonds which formed in Trench Town in 1969. Lloyd “Judge” Ferguson and Fitzroy “Bunny” Simpson were other members of their classic line-up.

Simpson, who suffered a life-changing stroke in 2015, died three days after Tabby. He was 70 years old.

The Linstead-born Tony Curtis has made his name as a solo artiste and with harmony quartet L U S T which also includes Lukie D, Thriller U and Singing Melody. His solo hits include Faith and High Grade.