Thirty years ago a budding deejay from St Elizabeth named Innocent recorded a song for producer Courtney Cole, whose Roof International was one of the hottest labels in dancehall music. That single, Whooe Whoo, launched the career of the artiste now known as Richie Innocent.

Whooe Whoo was not a commercial success, but it opened doors for the Kingston-born poet who had a change of moniker over 15 years ago when his sound became even more conscious.

To mark three decades in the music business, Richie Innocent released songs like The Passover and
Body Camera. He also staged the second Poetry: Echoes of Expression event in Queens, New York, in September.

“With a song on the radio like Bob Marley and those I looked up to in the music business, I felt that this was the beginning I needed and dreamt about,” Richie Innocent told the Jamaica Observer. “December 1, 1995 was the beginning, I am re-energised and ready to keep sharing in whatever way I can; be it poetry, books, and recordings.”

Whooe Whoo was released at the height of a roots-reggae revival in Jamaican dancehall. One of the leaders of that movement was Garnet Silk, a charismatic singer from Manchester who died there in December 1994 in a fire at his mother’s home.

Cole produced several of Silk’s hit songs, including I Can See Clearly Now (with Yasus Afari) and
Nothing Can Divide Us. The latter gave Richie Innocent straightforward advice early in his career.

“I met Garnet Silk on three occasions and he told me that I am going to make it but it’s going to take a long time because I am doing righteousness. This has been a standout moment that helps me as I keep writing and performing,” he said.

Born Richard Robinson in Kingston, Richie Innocent spent some of his formative years in Jones Town. As a teenager, he moved with his family to St Elizabeth which he considers home.

He recorded Whooe Whoo shortly after leaving St Elizabeth Technical High School. Since transitioning from Innocent, he has released a number of socially-based songs such as Where Are The Warriors, Hills Mi Deh, and Guns fi Drugs.

Last year he released Perseverance, his first poetry book.

— Howard Campbell