Gregory Isaacs was in the midst of a comeback in 1988 when he was presented with a song by Hopeton Lindo that became one of his biggest hits and a fan favourite.

Red Rose For Gregory, written by Lindo, is also the title of the singer’s album which was produced by Gussie Clarke and released by RAS Records.

“I was writing songs for a Gregory Isaacs album for Gussie Clarke and my friend Nigel came to see me on his way from work one evening and shared a story that he came back from lunch break and saw a red rose on his desk with a note addressed to him from a question sign. He didn’t know who it was from and was afraid to ask the wrong person,” Lindo recalled in a recent interview with the Jamaica Observer. “That conversation gave me the idea to write a song for Gregory. That song was written in about 15 minutes and the rest is now history, as it became the title of his album and a major international hit for him.”

Gregory Isaacs (right) with Hopeton Lindo.

The single and album were released during a period of contrasts for Isaacs. He was battling drug addiction, but had returned to the charts with songs like Rumours, Rough Neck, and Mind Yu Dis, all of which are on the album.

Red Rose For Gregory is also the name of a popular live show staged in Kingston by the singer’s widow June.

Along with Mikey Bennett and Carlton Hines, Lindo was part of a successful songwriting team at Clarke’s Music Company. He was introduced to Isaacs by the producer and wrote songs for him, among them Rough Neck and Mind Yu Dis.

Isaacs, who died in London in October 2010, turned 75 on Tuesday. His widow, along with other relatives and friends, laid 75 red roses at his gravesite at Dovecot Memorial Gardens in St Catherine to mark his birthday.

Also attending was Terrence Wallen, the British actor who played him in The Cool Ruler: The Musical, a stage production based on Isaacs’ life that had a six-show run in the United Kingdom during May and June.

— Howard Campbell