As someone who came of age during the golden age of reggae, Keith Poppin believes it is important for artistes to be original. For over 50 years, he has shown that by writing his own songs.

Africa Calling is the veteran singer’s latest effort. The self-produced song, which salutes the Motherland, was released in July.

“My songwriting comes from my inner man. Sometimes I am inspired by happenings around the world and I express my feelings in my music,” said Poppin, who lives in North Carolina.

Best known for songs like Envious and Same Thing For Breakfast, Poppin was born in Westmoreland but raised in Allman Town in central Kingston, which was home to artistes such as BB Seaton, Carl Dawkins and members of the Fabulous Five Band.

He cut those songs in the early and mid-1970s when Jamaican artistes followed music industry trends and began composing their own songs.

While those tracks established him, Poppin also sang harmony on fellow artistes’ hits, including Storybook Children by Ernest Wilson, Blood And Fire by Niney Holness and Officially by Lloyd Parks.

Poppin migrated to the United States in the early 1990s. He said artistes were not afraid to share ideas in the 1970s, a turbulent period in Jamaica.

“My favourite memories of the ‘70s were us as artistes performing at the Carib, Regal and Ward theatres and just hanging out with other artistes at Randy’s record store, otherwise known as Idler’s Rest in downtown Kingston,” he said. “There were a number of record stores in the ‘70s where artistes could display their works and fans could purchase music. Today, music has gone digital but I will continue to do my part and hope other artistes from my time will do the same.”

– Howard Campbell