|
MORGAN HERITAGE LIVE AT THE KEY CLUB HOLLYWOOD June 18, 2008 PHOTO REVIEW AND INTERVIEW
Una and Gramps Photo (c) Jan Salzman
Morgan Heritage Interview
Jan Salzman
......
Slide Show Pics (c) Jan Salzman
Morgan Heritage Interview (Una Morgan, Roy “Gramps” Morgan)
Jan: Is there anything in particular you want to talk about before we start out?
Una: I guess for me…I’m happy to be back on the road because I’ve been on a hiatus for the last two and a half years since the last album. I’m now out with my brothers supporting it for the summer and it feels really good because this album is probably one of the most aggressive ones that we’ve put out to date. It’s appealing to a broader audience and we’re proud of this one. It shows how we’ve grown and continue to grow as musicians and entertainers, song writers and producers. So, it’s a pleasure to be here one more time, on the scene, with “Mission in Progress.”
Jan: Thank you very much. At what ages did you start to play musical instruments?
Gramps: The ages vary for each member. For Una as a vocalist, she started singing from birth, basically. My father (Denroy Morgan), our dad, of course, and dads notice certain things in their children. One day she was crying in the house and he said, “Buoy, you know what? She a go sing you know!” In english that means “boy it looks like she’s gonna sing.” From that everybody just kept growing…me at an age of three/four…
Una: Three years old he was on the keyboard going dun da dun da dun. Playing with one finger. There’s pictures of him in a cowboy hat playing from where he was three years old on the piano.
Gramps: It was our fathers wish, and God bless him and give him more life and strength and keep him amongst us guide us and protect us. He was a visionary and it was his brain child. He saw that…it looks like these kids are gonna have talent. He kinda just groomed it and groomed it until we arrived at this point.
Jan: You got together as Morgan Heritage in 1982. What ages were you then?
Gramps: Everybody was just…lot of members…we had nine years old, ten years old, six years old. It was young, babies!
Jan: Tell me about growing up in Brooklyn.
Una: Brooklyn set the foundation for us. Brooklyn has given us the edge. It has given us a song like “Brooklyn and Jamaica” (from the album Mission in Progress). It has enabled us to become the professionals we are today because it was in New York City that we got all the professional training…and in Massachusetts where we grew up…
Gramps: Big up Springfield Massachusetts!
Una: Everytime! But New York was that professional breeding ground where we rehearsed. Every summer and every weekend a week after school we would head down to New York to rehearse. We had great teachers like Clifford Branch, Carlos Garnett, the great Jackie Mitto that trained us, from, what Gramps said, when we were very young before none of us were even teen agers. We were pre-teen. It was a very good breeding ground for us to become who we are today. And every day we continue to grow. For me…I’m not the same singer I was three years ago. All of us have grown from that time until this time. So, it was a great experience growing up in Brooklyn and we carry it with us for life!
Jan: Speaking of Brooklyn…and the song “Brooklyn and Jamaica”…what do you think can be done about the violence in Jamaica?
Gramps: Well, the violence in Jamaica, it stems from many different things because there’s violence around the world. I’ve seen sometings goin’ on in Iraq on You Tube and it’s crazy. I’ve never seen notin like that in Jamaica. So there’s violence around the world. But there’s a lot that we can do. First of all, we have to get rid of poverty. We have to increase education. Because, education is not free in Jamaica and a lot of people cannot afford it. You find that a hungry man is an angry man. And therefore, a man becomes desperate and will do anything. When he hears his baby crying…a lot of people don’t experience that in America. To see their child hungry, and reach a point where you will do any thing to seek to get food for your children. Those are the real things that bring up the crime in Jamaica because it’s hard fi survival and education. You’re talking about generations on top of generations that aren’t being educated. So, those are the things, you’ll find, that will change Jamaica.
Jan: Your album (Mission in Progress) is fabulous! And your music is referred to as ROCKAZ music.
Gramps: ROCKAZ! It’s R-O-C-K-A-Z! Now, we have gotten experience touring with bands like, on the Van’s Warp Tour, Good Charlotte, New Found Glory, Rancid, big up Benji, I saw him today, a matter of fact, I passed up Sunset, bands like Bad Religion, No FX. We’ve learned a lot from them as well as they’ve learned a lot from us because it’s two different worlds. These tattooed suburban kids and this dreadlock Rastafarians came together and we rubbed off on each other. We ended up doing songs together on the “3 in 1” album for the band Good Charlotte and songs that are still unreleased for the band Floggin’ Molly from Ireland. And, we came up with the sound ROCKAZ. Because, when they met us they said, “ Your reggae music ROCKS!” That it has a rock edge. That’s why we’re able to do shows with Lenny Kravitz, we’ve done shows with Jewel, Metallica…we’re able to play along side of these people. Because it’s roots reggae but it has an edge to it. When we describe it as ROCKAZ, it’s reggae music with a rock edge. We mix it with hip-hop, mix it with roots reggae and mix it with rock and we smash it together and you get ROCKAZ!.
Jan: All right! What artists in music influence you the most?
Gramps: Well, different artists. First of all I have to big up Steel Pulse, because they were one of the bands that took reggae music to another level. When it came to the one drop beat. When they started to infuse different chords…because of their enhancement of their musical ability…it started to reflect on roots reggae music. When you started to hear different bridges and certain things in roots reggae, it created a sound. Steel Pulse, to this day, still has a unique sound. David Hinds is a great lead vocalist. And many lead vocalists in America and especially in California, they sound a lot like David Hinds. So, back fi reggae…The Wailers, the original Wailers when Bob, Peter and Bunny were together, we listen to a lot of R&B, being born in America and raised here, we listened to a lot of top 40 radio. We listened to Lionel Richie, Stevie Wonder…Una listened to a lot of Sade…myself, listened to James Ingram, Sam Cook, Michael Jackson, New Edition, so we grew up on a lot of American vocalists. It was the same thing even with Jamaica. When you listen to what Bob Marley was listening to, he was listening to Fats Domino and all of these R&B singers from North Carolina and Virginia and Detroit and St. Louis. A lot of artists in Jamaica, listen, vocally, to American albums ‘cause they’re the best vocalist in the world.
Jan: Yes, “Love You Right” reflects your R&B passion. What artists do you listen to the most now?
Gramps: I’m listening to FNB right now which is a punk reggae band. Which is kinda like our family ‘cause we grew up in the same neighborhood in Springfield, MA. They have a unique sound DJing on punk rock music…big them up. Listening to some oldies right now.
Una: Listening to Natasha Beddingfield right now. She has a bad single out right now with Sean Kingston that I really like. Rhianna, I like…Jason Rad, John Mayer…the list goes on and on as you can hear in our music, a lot of different music influences us. Even growing up listening to Genesis and Sting. Music is music and we come fi break the boundaries. The box that they like to put us in like, you’re reggae and you’re pop. We come fi bust up every barrier. We appreciate all kinds of music.
Jan: What’s in your CD player right now?
Gramps: Mine is oldies. I just bought some CD’s today. As a matter of fact it’s outside in the car right now.
Jan: What did you buy?
Gramps: Some Stylistics…it is a collectors’ CD, because music has changed so much. The producers nowadays…it’s very fast and the essence of song writing has changed a lot. I just wanted to tap into what Otis Redding was singing when sang certain songs…when these guys sang (he sings) “When a man loves a woman” (Percy Sledge). When you hear these guys and it sounds so passionate! Each word that they said you FELT the meaning to it. So, I went and bought like five oldies CD’s today. I was listening to dem and it was like, man they’re not making music like this today.
Una: For me it’s Alicia Keyes. This new album…it’s not as good for me. I think her first one got it right on, but she’s an influence for me, she’s a piano player and I think she’s grown as a vocalist and I can really appreciate her…as well as Mary J. Blige…my girl for life! Keyshia Cole, too.
Jan: Do you have any favorites from songs that you written…from Mission in Progress?
Gramps: From “Mission in Progress” I would say, one of my favorites is the Steel Pulse remake. To us we’re very passionate about that remake. You know, David Hinds and that whole massive, and what they’ve done for reggae music…in our opinion…they don’t get appreciated enough. A lot of people don’t talk about Steel Pulse, but they have done so much for this music. They’ve brought it to another level that even a young band, like Morgan Heritage, doing roots music can be inspired to even get up on our instruments. We could’ve been a vocal band like the Four Tops or something…or the Commodores , but we choose to pick up instruments and mimic what we seen (that) reggae music has offered to the world. We’re here to take it to the next level.
Jan: Just so you know, my previous interview on this tape is David Hinds.
Gramps and Una: Wow…sweet…big up!
Jan: Yes, I’ve known David for twenty years.
Gramps: Amazing.
Jan: Mission in Progress is a masterpiece work. It’s quite a variety of different styles but mostly incorporating a reggae base. Tell me how you got going with this wonderful masterpiece.
Gramps: Mission in progress, this masterpiece, came about…each album we put it together like a book. Like more teachings... like a book. We wanted to talk about the teachings of Rastafar-I. Not just to say Jah! Rastafari and eat ital and veggie chunks and cauky and red, gold and street and put on a Haile Selassie button. That doesn’t make you a rasta. It’s studying the teachings. It’s knowing that Rastafarianism is a Christian doctrine based faith. When we did that album we brought out some of the realities and some of the truths and the history of Rastafar-I. Of the teachings of His Imperial Majesty. That’s why we say we want the youths to get some more of His Majesty’s teachings. ‘Cause a lot of kids just light up a spliff and say Jah Rastafari, Selassie-I, and not knowing the teachings of what it takes. Mission in Progress came about in showing the history of who we are and where we’re coming from and what music has influenced us…and we’ve built and come into one sound. So, you’re gonna hear a song like “12 Shots.” And, the lyrics on that says, “This one is loaded with 12 shots that don’t play around. With the music that we’ve got to get Jah word around.” A lot of kids will gravitate to a song like that, buy the lyrics in it are just as conscious as a roots song like, “Mission in Progress” or “Politician.” If we’re not getting to the second generation then the mission has failed. And, this mission cannot fail. The mission must continue in progress. So it’s like, Mission in Progress is an experience, a moment. When you put it in it’s like, wow! Music has to make you travel. I would hate to listen to an album and it’s one vibe. It’s like watching a movie and it’s one scene repeating over and over again. It has to evolve and travel. So, you hear a song like “Love You Right”…and it talks about relationships and how I want to do right thing by you…you hear a song saying, “Why should we trust in Politicians”…and you hear a song saying “There’s a Mission in progress so we have to join arms”…so it’s a moment!
Jan: How long did it take you to put this album together?
Una: Three years. Some of it was recorded in Jamaica, some of it recorded in America, some of it recorded in the mobile studio that travels with my brothers, ‘cause they’re producers. For me…I was scattering all over the place…being a mom…being a business woman. The good thing is that my brothers stayed focused during the preparation of this record. What you hear is the hard work that they put in…what they’ve experienced. It is an experience, so, that’s what you’re feeling, you know?
Jan: What would surprise our readers to find out about you?
Una: (Laughs) I suck my thumb when I’m stressed. I think our music unveils to everybody who we are. That’s why it’s so important to me to stay true to what we put on these records. ‘Cause I don’t ever want the public to see me living what I’m not putting on my record. I went through my “Born Again” about five years ago…and the music that we put out…we’re only vessels being used by The Most High to uplift one another. If I don’t get back on that stage again, by the Grace of the Lord, I know that these words will always live on. You can listen to Otis, you can listen to Tina, Etta James you can listen to. And, that’s a major honor for me and a major honor for my group. It’s humbling. It makes you realize that we are here today and gone tomorrow. The fact that we are blessed to do this…I mean, it’s an extreme blessing and we take it humbly…and continue to pray that the Lord Jah bless us with the melodies, the lyrics, the words that shall always uplift people here…Iraq, Africa…I mean we were in Senegal and Gambia and pulled over 40,000 people in one venue, 30,000 in another venue. We haven’t even been there before, but our music was there and we were able to draw so many people…you know, the Power of the Most High. Unno tek him lightly mama.
Jan: I actually me Haile Selassie once. I’ll have to tell you the story sometime.
Gramps and Una: Sure.
Jan: What’s the biggest obstacle you’ve had to overcome?
Gramps: I would say the biggest obstacle is staying focused on the music and the mission. ‘Cause a lot of times it can be frustrating when you’re touring and losing money over and over again. And each year we pack up the bus…get on the plane…and still do it year after year. And I think one of the biggest obstacles is getting over that hump and knowing that it’s a mission and sowing seeds that we will reap later. It’s not a music is…it’s not a music that going to be remembered now…it’s like Bob Marley said, “You a go tired fi see mi face. And still today Bob Marley is the biggest selling reggae artist of all time. We’re not looking to reap benefits today, but sometimes, we’re only flesh, we’re all sinners we can get a lot of weakening (?). One of the biggest challenges, I think, especially for Una is going on tour…and our children, you know? Being a parent, and having a life like that is a big challenge.
Una: Probably, the biggest, for me, as a mom, as well. Moms and dads have to have different rolls, but because we’re the nurturers, we carry the life. For me that’s probably the biggest. To make the decision to take the hiatus was major for me. Being on that stage is probably the best thing for me, you know? I missed it but my children…to be a mom is a blessing…when you become a mother, it becomes the first priority for you. Right after God. That is probably the biggest obstacle for me. Just being here and having to know that my kids…you know? But we overcome it. With Faith we shall overcome everything.
Jan: If you weren’t reggae stars what might you be doing?
Gramps: I would’ve took my football scholarship to the Miami Hurricanes. I love football to this day. Not soccer, American football. Yeah man, I was a football player in high school and I was supposed to go to college. I went to Jamaica and got signed to MCA records in 1992. My coach, big him up, Mr. McLaughlin, he was an Irish guy and he told me…say…You can sing till you’re a hundred but you’ll never be able to play football not even half that age. So make the right choice it’s up to you. So I chose music.
Una: I was going to be an attorney. A music attorney. I did college…I was in John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City for three years and, like Gramps said, we got signed to MCA Records and that was through the door. Thank God we have a sister now that’s gonna be one, so my dreams are coming true through her.
Jan: What do you like to do in your spare time…if you have any?
Gramps: I like to watch DVD’s and go to the movies on our days off. We hardly have any time for leisure to do things. One of the biggest things we like to do is go to the movies. I can say that. We park the bus, on a day off, in a mall…we just go out and go to Walmart…(everybody laughs).
Una: Me too
Gramps: It’s true. Lots of DVD movies, man, other artists concerts, just have fun.
Una: Shopping…that’s pretty much it. I like to swim. I don’t get much time anyway…being a mom, an artist, a business woman…I don’t get much time but if I do I like to go shopping.
Jan: What’s your idea of a perfect day?
Gramps: Waking up…seeing the sunrise…have a prayer…give thank to Jah…no say give thanks for letting us see another day. Have some nice hominy corn porridge, some ackee and saltfish, sweet ripe plantain, and probably run in a de studio, make some music…take our time…not on any time schedule. Around 4 o’clock play some soccer and after that play some more music and probably watch some tv after that…a nice dvd, in an air conditioned room! (Everybody laughs.)
Una: A perfect day…wake up, pray, sing a little around the house and lounge with my kids! Lounging with my children…that’s a perfect day.
Jan: How old are your children? Well, I don’t really give out their ages but, one’s going to be a teen ager, my other one…he’s a preteen…my daughter, who’s my baby, I’ll tell you her age. She’s going to be nine in July.
Jan: Gramps?
Gramps: Well, dem a random, you know? (Everybody laughs) I got a teenager and I got a baby. And, I would like, maybe, two more.
Una: What?!!
Gramps: I’m from a big family. We’re a family of thirty children. We’re a very big family so we love family. Family is one of the biggest enjoyments that we have.
Jan: What makes you happy or makes you laugh?
Gramps: When I’m eating with my family…everybody…and when I see family that I haven’t seen for a long time or get to speak with them on the phone. Being onstage and seeing people understanding our message and feeling good and watching the music pierce their skin.
Una: Family…seeing my kids happy…making them happy. Food…eating food, cooking, I love to cook, that makes me happy.
Gramps: She makes good cornmeal porridge.
Una: When I cook I love to see people enjoy…that makes me happy. My brothers, laughing, joking, having a good time.
Jan: Do you have any special message for your fans?
Gramps: Thank you for the support. I gotta say that. Our audience has grown so much throughout the years. It’s been a journey, man. This is our tenth album, “Mission in Progress.” People have stuck with us throughout our growth, even as we continue (to grow), as artists we always continue to grow, and we’re always reaching for higher and higher levels because that’s how we are. We get into acting, clothing lines…we’re building a clothing line right now called Gideon Clothing, just to show you we’re always growing, but our fans stick with us from year to year. It’s a movement, man, we call them the Gideon Soldiers. Because, one CD and somebody doesn’t know about reggae and they say, “Hey, check out this reggae band.” We thank our fans so much because they’ve always been with us and support us, nuff respect.
Jan: What can we expect from Morgan Heritage in the near future?
Una: Everything. We’re musicians, we’re entrepreneurs, Gramps has a management company, I have a management company, My brother Leuce(?) has a booking agency, we have a clothing line, we’re producers, songwriters. We’re following the steps of Sean (P. Diddy) Combs, and Jay Z and Russell Simmons. We’re the reggae version of it. You know what I’m saying? And we’ve been blessed to have the best of both worlds. We’re American born children with the culture of Africa and Jamaica. We’ve been blessed to bridge the two worlds together. And, we’re just gonna take it to the next level, so look out for us! Gideon! Every time! Gideon music, Gideon clothing…
Gramps: Also, look out for Laza, our artist. He’s doing some serious work. He has some great records. He’s the first male artist on the label, other than Morgan Heritage, and our other artist, Irie Love, which is from Hawaii; we signed her…just looking to do some big things. Gideon Music is here; as well as many labels that have come before, but Gideon Music is here to stay and we’re gonna do a lot of great things for this music. We’re humbled and we give thanks.
Jan: Thank you very much for a wonderful interview. I put your albums on in the morning to do my work out.
Una: All right! Thanks ma ma.
Gramps: Bless.
Morgan Heritage at Myspace.com
CONTACT REGGAE MUSIC REVIEWS
REGGAE MUSIC REVIEWS AT MYSPACE.COM
HOME
Thank You Visitors
|
