Big Stone makes over Simmer Down with Beverley Kelso, Richie Stephens
Claude “Big Stone” Sinclair has produced a remake of the popular hit song,
Simmer Down that was first sung by the Wailers in 1965.
Sinclair, who is the founder and chief executive officer of Big Stone Records, said that he came up with the idea to have Kelso sing a revised version in collaboration with singer Richie Stephens.
“I approached her and told her we needed to do a song, and I thought the best song for her to do was the first song she did with Bob Marley, Peter [Tosh], Bunny [Wailer], and [Junior] Braithwaite. I said to myself that the only artiste that could sing on a track with her that has the substance, the leverage, and the class is Richie Stephens. When I called Richie Stephens and told him what I intended to do, he said it was a no-brainer and he wanted to be a part of it,” Sinclair told the Jamaica Observer recently.
He continued: “We went into the studio and laid the tracks. After we recorded
Simmer Down she flew back to the United States and I called her and told her that since her voice is out there it would make sense to do a music video to shine a brighter light on her. I invited her back to Jamaica and we got in touch with Terminal Media. I asked Terminal Media to give me a treatment for the video and they came up with it. I solidified it and George Phang put his two cents into it, and we said why not do the video on Septimus Street in Arnett Gardens? It was all an idea that was conceptualised by George Phang, Big Stone and Terminal Media.”
After the song and video were launched a few months ago Sinclair said it immediately drew the attention of the promoters of the Simmer Down Festival in Birmingham in the UK, who expressed that they wanted to honour Kelso with a lifetime achievement award.
He recently signed Kelso to Big Stone Records and said there are quite a number of positive things happening for her at the moment. He shared the story of how Kelso joined the Wailers and recorded the tune, adding that by next year a book, authored by Clyde McKenzie, highlighting her life, will begin to hit the stores.
Sinclair has called on the Government to bestow on Kelso a national award for her contribution to reggae music.
He said Kelso is credited for over 25 songs, having been an original Wailer joining at age 14.
The producer has high hopes for his remake, noting that the original was an instant hit.
