Writer Olivier Stephenson honours the musical icons in this truncated 2005 interview with Coore who passed away on January 18, 2026. Cooper predeceased Coore on October 12, 2023.

How did you meet Ibo?

Well, Ibo went to Jamaica College (JC) and my two [older] brothers Michael and Ivan went to JC and I remember Ivan talking about this guy, “Boo” Cooper, they used to call him, who played organ in the [school] chapel, and that he could play Jackie Mitoo’s music, and all that kind of thing.

We in my neighbourhood decided to form a band called the Alley Cats and one time when I was in Liguanea and Ibo was walking up to Mona and he said something to me, like, ‘I hear say you in the Alley Cats’ or, ‘you have a band called the Alley Cats?’ and we started up a conversation. He had a band from Mona called the Rhythms and I went one day up to Mona and stood outside the gate and heard them rehearsing and from that the relationship just became more and more.

What was your reaction when you first learnt about you and Ibo being honoured with the Order of Distinction?

First of all, I would say that it’s a great honour for me. I was extremely pleased in a way in kind of two minds…one mind said to me, they knew of my work in Jamaican music over so many years. Then there was another voice that said that it’s a great honour. It wasn’t something I expected, really, so, you know

… As far as Ibo is concerned, it’s pretty much well-deserved for him, too, in more ways than one, even from the point of view of his Third World contribution, but, also, to his contribution to the music school in Jamaica. He’s made a hell of a contribution in terms of teaching and putting the pop music programme together.

I would say he has had a fair degree of success, because to teach in Jamaica right now, a lot of the young people don’t really want to learn music, they just want to go on the mic and chat. But being able to inspire that sort of thing and keep the students focused and to carry them through the paces, and so forth, I think is a great contribution by Ibo.

How would you assess your career over the past three decades?

I would say that there’s nothing to complain about, really, obviously, everybody’s career has its highs and lows, we’re artistes, and you know how that goes. So, within a 30-year span I would say that I have had more highs than lows, by far…

I wouldn’t say that we’re rolling in cash like plenty other artistes, but we’re rolling in experiences and we’re rolling in life – and I don’t think you can buy that. And being able to do what you love doing for 30 years and being able to live off of it for that time, I think is really something quite special.

We have basically just played music and we’ve been able to stay afloat, you know. All of my kids are well educated and have all good opportunities, and so forth – there’s a lot to be thankful for.

Where did you envision a career in music would lead you?

Well, I always saw myself as a musician from an early age and I saw myself as somebody who would dedicate their life to that field. I’ve had other loves still. I’m a great lover of sports and a great sports fan and all of that.

But it’s a great blessing to be in the field of entertainment, so, God willing, there’s at least another seven, eight to 10 years of touring and playing more music and leaving behind as much music as I can.

I’d like to do a couple more solo projects, diverse things, because there’s a lot of music in me that I’d like to leave for my kids and my family and I don’t think all of it can be expressed through Third World.

I’m the type of person, that, friends I know show me a lot of love and I know I care for my friends a lot and we have great understanding and [I would] really want to be remembered as that kind of person: Nice guy, you know [laughs].

What would you say has been the highlight of your musical experience, to date?

Well, I couldn’t say it’s one, it’s many. Obviously, earlier on in my life, meeting [cellist] Pablo Casals and being able to go to the Casals Festival in Puerto Rico was definitely a highlight. Because I was able to see Jacqueline DuPree play the cello, I was able to see Casals himself play the cello, I was able to see him conduct.

I was able to see Miroslav Hanzorski, I was able to see Daniel Barnbow play, [opera diva] Maria Callas, sing; Alexander Schneider play the violin, Ishtak Stern, Isador Cohen… I was able to see some of the finest classical musicians the world has ever seen.

I would say that another highlight in the younger part of my career was the whole business of being able to open for Bob Marley. That was fantastic – being a big fan of Bob. And after that, of course, we got in with Stevie Wonder, too, was a great thing, that was well.

Third World has enjoyed tremendous success in New Orleans. Sense Of Purpose was a big hit there. And we’ve played in some of the greatest places there, as well, the Civic Center, we’ve done the New Orleans Jazz and Blues Festival three times, we did the Superdome twice.

I would say that you really look at highlights according to eras, and so forth, different things. But, there have been a tremendous amount of highlights. I’ve been blessed to go to many great places and do many great things musically. We got a platinum record in Japan for You’ve Got The Power, with Try Jah Love.

When you started out learning to play the cello did you ever imagine becoming the leader of an internationally popular reggae band?

No, not really. I imagined that I could be a great cellist, but as far as the pop music was concerned I was just quite happy to be just a guy playing in a band in Jamaica. That was my real love, playing reggae music and playing that kind of music, R&B and all of that – that was my absolute love.

How did your mother feel, having taught you the cello for all those years and then seeing you make that transition?

Well, Rita didn’t actually teach me the cello, you know, she was a piano teacher, but she fostered that whole thing. My cello teacher was actually Noelle Foster Davis, but, of course, Rita would listen to me play and she would hone the planting [of the ] fruit, as it were.