“BERES is my favourite male artiste and I have been recording him since 1989,” declares Penthouse Recording head honcho Donovan Germain as he reveals to Splash the rationale behind the double disc album paying homage to Reggae crooner Beres Hammond.

Entitled My Favourite Beres Hammond Songs, the project has seen some of today’s finest voices in reggae recording their favourite Hammond songs.

“Everyone wants to show appreciation to artistes after they are dead and gone. I want to show my appreciation to his talent while he can enjoy it too,” Germain explained.

With that decision made Germain set about looking for the talents he wanted to put their special touch on select Beres Hammond classics.

“I was looking for the better singers, not necessarily the most popular and also people who can appreciate the quality of Hammond,” said Germain about the ‘criteria’ for his selection.

With a career spanning over 30 years and recording some super hits such as Step Aside, Putting Up Resistance, Double Trouble, Sweet Lies, Rockaway and others, artistes had a wide range of songs to give their voice to.

Among the artistes chosen to sing their favourite Beres Hammond tunes are Tessanne Chin, Lukie D, Singing Melody, Tarrus Riley, Nikki Burt, Duane Stephenson, Sherieta, Stevie Face, Cameal Davis, Romain Virgo, Alaine, Jah Cure, Busy Signal, Marcia Griffiths, Torch, Nadine Sutherland, Hezron, AJ Brown, Tony Curtis and Richie Stephens.

With the project now completed and looking to be distributed by VP Records on April 26, Germain warns that music lovers should not make the, mistake of comparing the artistes interpretation to their favourite Beres song to the singer himself.

Recorded at Penthouse, the project features top musicians such as Robbie Lyn, Dean Fraser, Ranoy Gordon, Kirk Bennett, Stephen Marsden, Chris Meridith, Andrew Marsh, Computer Paul and Dwight Richards among others.

How does Beres feels about this effort by his friends? According to Germain “he is ecstatic to say the least!”

“Beres loves the songs and he appreciates the fact that it’s coming from the right place — my heart,” Germain said.

Beres Hammond is arguably one of the greatest reggae balladeer to record an album, particularly in the lovers rock genre. The singer has been thrilling music lovers with his husky voice since the 70s.

Hammond, who hails from Annotto Bay in St Mary, says he has been influenced by classic American soul singers Sam Cooke, Marvin Gaye, and Otis Redding. He was also influenced by ska and rocksteady music from Peter Tosh, the Heptones, and Ken Boothe — the precursors to Jamaican reggae and dancehall.

Beres Hammond’s most recent reggae album, A Moment in Time, was released in 2008 by VP records. The album include the hit single I Feel Good produced by his friend Donovan Germain.