By Marsha Hunt

Junior Kelly Concert Photos: (c)Stella Magloire

It has been a pleasure to have added Junior Kelly to our site..Reggae Music Reviews.

With his hit single, "Receive" and the release of his new cd, "Tough Life", Junior Kelly is busy these days with tourdates that have taken him to Europe and most recently, Belize. For those who haven't seen his new video...I surly recommend that you see the "Receive" video, which was nominated in the best video category of the first annual Bigga Caribbean Music Awards.

I recently had the opportunity to interview Junior Kelly after he returned from performing in Belize, we talked about music and life. Let me share these moments with Junior Kelly with you.

First of all let me give you a little introduction. Junior Kelly, his real name is Keith Morgan. He is a Rastafarian and let me tell you he makes very nice music.

Marsha: Greetings Junior Kelly, this is Marsha Hunt from Reggae Music Reviews.Com. It is such a blessing to be able to talk with you.

Marsha: Would you please tell me about your early years, where you grew up and if you still live in the same area?

Junior Kelly: Grew up Kingston 13 at Harvey Road off Waltham Park Road, now I live in Spanish Town.

Marsha: Please tell me about the music you listen to as a youth?

Junior Kelly: Listened to Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Burnin Spear, Ken Booth, Alton Ellis, Dennis Brown, Aretha Franklin and Roberta Flack, Ray Charles and Ben E King.

Marsha: You are the youngest of your parents children, am I right?

Junior Kelly: Yes I am the youngest.

Marsha: Please tell me a little about the family?

Junior Kelly: Growing p poor but sheltered life with 3 brothers and one sister and Mamma and Daddy.

Marsha: And if there are any other family members in the music business?

Junior Kelly: The late Jim Kelly was murdered in 1983 Today.

Marsha: Your brother Jim Kelly was a popular D.J. I am aware of the family's lost and may Jah continually Bless the family.

Marsha: Would you please tell me about your brother Jim Kelly and his music?

Junior Kelly: Jim Kelly musical influence is mainly coming from his effort to be driven by reggae music also in that era there was Josie Chaplin, Super Cat, Muma Nancy and Brigadiere Jerry when tossing of the microphone was becoming popular he stood out amoungst his peers because of his efforts to come up with prolific ways to bring a topic across. Jim Kelly's influence musically in this time for me I see where words and topics that he used in that era still have effect and still find it's way in my work.

Marsha: Your last name is Morgan, I wanted to know if you are related to the Morgan Heritage Family?

Junior Kelly: Not related.

Marsha: Junior Kelly you have been very busy lately with the new album and much live performances. Let me ask you about two events you performed at recently, "A St. Mary Mi Come From? Capleton was the promoter. Please tell me a little about this event? And Culture Heat Wave 2K5? How the shows went and if you performed any of the new songs from your new cd?

Junior Kelly: Artist roster was so long for Capleton's show that I just was there supporting his effort. Culture Heat Wave was rained out and postponed.

Marsha: Where will you tour next? What countries?

Junior Kelly: Japan and Europe.

Marsha: Will your tour bring you to Southern California? That would be nice.

Junior Kelly: Feburary for California.

Marsha: I noticed that you have lots of singles out now. Let me ask you about a few of them. "Receive", you are having much success with this single. Would you please tell me a little about "Recieve"?

Junior Kelly: Receive was produced by Senior for for Altafan Music.

Marsha: Rasta Should Be Deeper. Would you tell me the meaning of the song?

Junior Kelly: Rasta losing sight and faith..we need to live upright.

Marsha: Love So Nice..This mega hit..would you tell me about this song and if it was written from a personal experience? And please tell me about the Stir It Up Riddim and how it came to be part of this song?

Junior Kelly: Sitting in an apartment in America my neighbours were having domestic problems and the police were called, while this was happening I was listening to Bob Marley Stir It Up and when the police told him to leave the apartment he turned to her and said 'look how I am treating you so good and this is the way you repay me'.

Marsha: I wanted to ask you about record labels. You are with VP Records and Downsound Records? I know about VP Records. Would you tell me about Downsound Records and what part they play in your career?

Junior Kelly: No longer with Downsound.

Marsha: Would you tell me about "Tough Life", your brand new cd?

Junior Kelly: It is a celebration of triumph over adversity and I know that every grassroot individual can relate to those lyrics.

Marsha: What is the direction of "Tough Life"?

Junior Kelly: To uplift Rasta and to be a source of strength and inspiration.

Marsha: Where was "Tough Life" recorded? What Studios?

Junior Kelly:Tuff Gong and Sly and Robbies studios, Main Street 321.

Marsha: Do you write all your lyrics?

Junior Kelly: Yes.

Marsha: The music..do you play any instruments?

Junior Kelly: Guitar.

Marsha: You just returned from Belize..would you tell me about that performance?

Junior Kelly: Smashing performance on that show, one hundred per cent of energy.

Marsha: In this last question I would like to talk about life as it is today. And bring some positive to the youth that visit Reggae Music Reviews.

Junior Kelly: Life is what you make it..if you say the glass is half empty you are being on the negative of things..it is better to say the glass is half full.

Marsha: Today there's so much violence in the lives of the youth, that it has become a everyday thing. In Jamaica, in Southern California just to name a few places. I would like to ask Junior Kelly to leave a positive message for the future..the youth.

Junior Kelly: A winner neva quit and a quitter neva wins.

Marsha: Thank you for your time and the opportunity to do this interview. Jah Bless.

Junior Kelly: You are welcome. Talk to you soon.