Vernon Buckley, half of the classic reggae duo popularly known as The Maytones, continues to make his presence felt on the Canadian reggae scene, nearly five decades after migrating from Jamaica, through his work as a producer and head of Buckley’s Music Label.

That independent company has released many singles by some of the music’s biggest names.

The Toronto-based artiste has been busy in recent months, working with musicians such as Mafia and Fluxy, who are based in London. He has released several singles including Let it Go which came out on August 31.

It follows Time For Love and Strong Love, as well as When The War’s All Over, a collaboration with Glen Washington.

“Even though yuh don’t have any big budget, di thing has always been to make good music. Jus’ like we did back in di day,” said Buckley.

The Clarendon-born singer has lived in Canada for nearly 50 years. He migrated to that country in 1980, three years after The Maytones hit the charts with Money Worries, produced by Alvin “GG” Ranglin.

Living in Canada, Buckley continued to record songs with fellow Maytones founder Gladstone Grant and as a solo act. He also launched the Buckley’s Music Label which has released songs by artistes such as Washington, Leroy Sibbles, Ken Boothe, Sugar Minott, Jimmy Riley and Errol Dunkley.

The Maytones formed in Clarendon during the late 1960s. Throughout the 1970s, they were associated with Ranglin, who produced most of their songs including Funny Man and Madness.

In 1977, Buckley and Grant hit the charts with Money Worries, originally recorded by Ernest Wilson at Studio One. Their version is on the soundtrack to Rockers, the movie released one year later.

—    Howard Campbell