Azizzi looks to carry on father Max Romeo’s legacy
Taking shelter from the heavy rain beneath a gazebo at Ranny Williams Entertainment Centre on May 17, Azizzi Romeo listened to the tributes during his father’s thanksgiving service. He is determined to carry on Max Romeo’s torch.
The veteran singer, a standard-bearer for roots-reggae, died on April 11 at age 80. His service attracted a strong turnout of family, fellow artistes, musicians, politicians and music industry figures.
Azizzi, 26, told the Jamaica Observer that he has been approached by promoters in Europe to perform there this summer. His father was scheduled to tour that region, his happy stomping ground for almost 50 years.
“Since he passed, all the promoters from all over have reached out to us an’ requested dat we come an’ do di shows. Normally, when a great artiste pass, people look to their children to carry on, so possibly dis year wi start it,” he said.
Those children, in Max Romeo’s case, are Azizzi, his brother Romario and sister Xana. In addition to accompanying their father to Europe, they have recorded songs and EPs.
After Joseph Hill of Culture died in 2006, his son Kenyatta assumed the role as leader of that group. Leiba Hibbert, daughter of Toots Hibbert, who died in 2020, completed her maiden tour of the United Kingdom in April and May as lead singer of his group, The Maytals.
From St Ann, Max Romeo built a formidable catalogue through timeless songs from the 1970s such as Chase The Devil, War ina Babylon, Let The Power Fall, and Three Blind Mice. Like his roots contemporaries from that era, he was popular in Europe where he was booked for shows by Mediacom, a company owned by Michel Jovanovic of France, who attended last week’s service.
For all his accomplishments, Azizzi said his father retained a sense of humility.
“One thing I can tell yuh about him, he was humble before everything. If yuh come to di community dat my father lived an’ ask ‘bout Max Romeo, di first ting dem sey is kind, then humble. Yuh wouldn’t know him is a superstar,” he disclosed. “I learn one ting from him, always remain humble an’ level-headed, an’ stay away from di fast lane.”
