Marcia Salmon, mother of Grammy Award-winning artiste Kabaka Pyramid, knew from an early age that he would have become a professional musician.

In an interview with the Jamaica Observer, she recalled him being exposed to spiritual music as a youngster.

“Keron (Kabaka Pyramid’s birth name) had a very early exposure to music because I was always playing gospel music on the trips to/from grandma’s house, for example. By age 10 he would quietly hum the songs, and later he expressed interest in joining the youth choir,” she said. “Around age 13 his passion for music became clear when he and his friends took over my den to create loud ‘beats’ with instruments,” Salmon said.

Kabaka Pyramid emerged on the music scene just over 15 years ago as part of the roots revival.

He is best known for songs like Well Done; Mi Alright (with Chronixx); Kontraband; Red Gold and Green; Can’t Breathe; and Nice Up the Dance.

He won the Grammy for Best Reggae Album in 2023 with The Kalling.

“Keron is the middle child [of three], and singing over him was the quickest way to get him to fall asleep. He learned to explore things with thoughtfulness and would rather not be in the limelight. As a child, he was contemplative, analytical, and mild-mannered. My friend recalls that he was a deep thinker, asking her lots of ‘why’ questions,” Salmon shared. “During his high school years, my ego was crushed when he told me he didn’t need my help with his maths and chemistry homework. He displayed an early fashion sense when he competed with me for time to use the sewing machine to make/repair something.”

Even though he showed artistic promise, Kabaka Pyramid’s mother was not sold on him pursuing music as a career. He earned a degree in electronics and computer technology from the DeVry University in Orlando, Florida.

“I was a bit hesitant at first, because of safety concerns, but my full support came after his first major performance at a festival in Toronto. At that point, I clearly saw his emerging talents on full display, especially how he worked the stage and kept the audience rocking to the music,” said Salmon.

— Kevin Jackson