Bob Andy Exclusive Interview

Exclusive Phone Interview with Bob Andy recorded on the 10th of June 2003

Paulo Matos : Bob Andy is a pleasure having you here on SOlar Reggae, even by phone, welcome Bob.

Bob Andy : Thank you.

Paulo Matos : Respect man, Bob let's talk a little about the begining of your career, tell us how you started in music.

Bob Andy : Well i have started on a very young age, i've started trying to figure out notes and keyboards and old piano is what about, ten years, eleven years old, and then had a vey close friend called Don Evans and we started singing together at the age of 14, and when i was 17 we recorded a song for Treasure Isle, and then we set up to form a group, we were fascinated by the american groups, Temptations, Four Tops, specially The Drifters and The Impressions, and we just formed a group. We had many other guys in and out of the group untill we settle with 4 people wich included John Holt, myself, Howard Barret and Tyrone Evans, the group called The Paragons.

Paulo Matos : The Paragons yes.

Bob Andy : So that was my early begining.

The Paragons "Happy Go Lucky Girl" Song have been played here on the Radio Show.

Paulo Matos : You left The Paragons, you think sometimes we have to follow on our own, in your case on an sucessfull career ?

Bob Andy : Yes, they went to Treasure isle to do their thing, and i went to Studio ONe to do my things and the rest is story as they say. I went to Studio ONe and have enjoyed a good period there just doing harmonies and certain tracks that were there. I've started doing harmonies with Marcia Griffiths, and certain tracks to other singers, i've writted some songs, Marcia like them and she sung them on some riddims made there for me. So after that i've became very confident on my songwriting ability, and even more confident to start singing, cause i didn't start singing imediatly when i went to Studio ONe. So after i gain some confidence i went on to my first recording, a song entitled "Crime Don't Pay".

Paulo Matos : Your first song at Studio ONe, Yes ?

Bob Andy : As a solo artist yes, and then "Unchain", well i did a total of 12 songs while i was at Studio ONe, and it is those 12 songs that comprises the "Song Book" album.

"I've Got To Go Back Home" Song have been played here on the Radio Show.

Paulo Matos : Your first big hit in England have been "Young Gifted and Black" with Marcia Griffiths in 1970, on that time you were expecting that this song could be a hit, or just happened and Boom, a big hit in England ?

Bob Andy : Just happened, i mean, after we sung the song i never thought more about that untill we were in form a little while that after, and there was something happen with the song in thsi part of the World, and so Marcia and myself came to England and promoted teh song. Did top songs on certain other European TV, and in England we did a runn of clubs from London, Scotland and places like those.

Paulo Matos : And the song have been a big hit yes ?

Bob Andy : Yes, and we went back to Jamaica, i came back here to start a tour, Marcia came in 73 and we put the album "Pied Piper" together, and we had another big hit from that. We toured again on this country and some parts of Europe again and then we went back to Jamaica wich Marcia became part of The I-Threes and started touring with Bob Marley. And i've just want to do a Drama Course just to get mind away from music, caus ei wasn't sure of was happening with me after i put my solo career, and Bob & Marcia was basically finished at that point for then anyway and so, i've just never drive in desire to continue to...

Paulo Matos : Have been a hard time for you ?

Bob Andy : Well...Done it by choice, so you just do what you have to do and come like a soldier.

Paulo Matos : And fighting all day long, yeah ?

Bob Andy : Well, even if you're a wealthy person, there's always some struggle to life, there's things that they're not perfect, and we are always challenging things so it was a wild struggle out there you know, but we have to be confortable with ourselves, that's what i pursuit, peace within myself and confortable with myself, so soon that i settled reggae, i have started looking again.

"Young Gifted And Black" Song have been played here on the Radio Show.

Paulo Matos : Through the 70's you've produced very good songs for Delroy Wilson, Leroy Smart, Richard Ace, most of that songs are included on your CD compilation "Andy Work", Bob it's also a pleasure for you produce other artists, sharing other experiences, true ?

Bob Andy : Definitely, whe have just seen what have been done internationally, teh artists went together for various benefits, for Africa, etc, etc. SO it's always a wonderfull time when collegues can be together and the vibe of each other and do what they do best together, those are some of the most memorable times that i know, because it is easy when we have an admiration to someone that does what you do and when we have a chance to express that and share that privilege with someone on the same profession, it's always, it comes good, it's very rewarding, so of course i had good times working with those people.

Paulo Matos : Yes man.

Delroy Wilson "It's Impossible" Song have been played here on the Radio Show.

Paulo Matos : In the begining of the 80's you have released the album "Friends", i admit it's my favourite album from your career, "Rasta Come Of Age", "Rasta Reggae Music", "Spice Of Life", are truly classic masterpieces, in my opinion of course...

Bob Andy : "Spice Of Life" ?

Paulo Matos : Yes.

Bob Andy : Thank You.

Paulo Matos : What more have you done through the 80's Bob ?

Bob Andy : We had an album called "Retrospective", an album called "Freely", "Andy Work" like you've mention, in 1997 i did an album produced by Willie Lindo for VP Recs called "Hanging Tough", and i really enjoyed working with Willie Lindo along myself, i would like, to do a project with him again and i have some tracks now that i've tryed to release last year on an album, but i didn't do it because i think it wasn't well prepaired in terms od sleeves and i want to have another look at the work, i've also been doing a lot of shows in Jamaica, i have came from Japan a month and half ago and now i'm in England talking with you.

"Love This Life" Song have been played here on the Radio Show.

Paulo Matos : In 1997 you've back with another solid album produced by Willie Lindo like you've said, recorded in Miami called "Hainging Tough", "Love This Life" is a great song as well, but after that no more new albums, just a few singles "Who To Trust", "Zion" is also a great track, two singles for Jet Star label, what happened Bob, are you planning to release another classic album soon ?

Bob Andy : Well i don't think people release classic albums, people release albums and then the public make in to classics. So i can't seat here and tell you that i'm planning to release a classic album. I've liked the question in that, i like to think that i've still have my masterpiece within me and so i'm starting to work and see what i can craft and i hope i can craft my masterpieces stand.

"Who To Trust" Song have been played here on the Radio Show.

Paulo Matos : Bob you're in London at the moment, about 2 weeks ago, and 30 years after, Marcia Griffiths have performed with you both on stage, how have been the reactions from your fans, her fans, and from the media there in UK ?

Bob Andy : Fantastic, Janis and myself just went from "Weekly Gleaner" todays edition and the review went on the back page with pictures of Marcia and myself and excellent reviews, and the fans loved it, little bit disappointing in that they want as many people who missed out a fan performance with Phillis (Dillon) Marcia and myself, but have been wonderfull team up again, wonderfull to do the show, and supportive apreciated the fans were.

Paulo Matos : Bob this is a question that i always make to the reggae veterans that i talk with. How you see Jamaican music in these days ? Dancehall / Ragga, what's your personal opinion about Dancehall / Ragga ?

Bob Andy : Well, when someone ask me that question i give always teh same basic answer. Inna sense it has become the focus and some for a while there it place all kind of aproaches the music you know, cause it was a kind of sub-culture emerging and became rapidly, intensly and so it change the paradigme of industry really as far Jamaican music concern, So it took the people and myself a while get the attention of audience again, but as the new wave of beats and music, a lot of the works that they release were based on the foundation tracks that we have created on the 60's and the 70's...

Paulo Matos : that's true.

Bob Andy : Wich brought the music my time to teh forefront again, and so people like Ken Boothe, myself, Alton Ellis who did never stop working, but things intensified, cause suddenly again people wnated to relate to our brand of music, but i'm a great admirer of a lot's of deejays, artists that became poets and singers, we have Buju Banton is a great artist...

Paulo Matos : One of my favourites Yes.

Bob Andy : So is Bounty Killer, Bounty Killer is one of a kind very unique, i must say Shabba Ranks is my favourite deejay, you see what Shaggy has done and Sean Paul, and Beenie Man on his right is a master, and they've done works that we like and works that we don't like, i should put it on this way, they've done works that we approval of, and works that some of us don't approval wich in our kind of arena people either like or they don't like you, but they don't necessary find their lyircs distastefull, because my era never tolerate those kind of lyrics, but they are from another time and space, and each youth has his own expression and so we just have to accept that in our time we had our own expression, generation after has his expression, so we just have to deal with what it is and that's what i feel about it, it's another generation.

Paulo Matos : Yes Bob, to finish this phone interview, there's any message that you would like to give to all the listeners of the radio show and also to everyone that will check this interview on reggaeportugal.com ?

Bob Andy : I can say a personal note, they're certain things that i achieved in life, and i think that my pursuit is to be the best person that i can, and to make life easier to all those that i contact with. I mean being that way requires certain kind of discipline and some principles, and one of them is trying to be HONEST in all times, as painfull as it can be, a truthfull and sincere in about you do and if you bring these kind of elements or flavour for what you do, it's difficult to fail. Often times people thinks of economics, but there's sucess in many things we do everyday, and a sucessfull day is a day whe you manage not to feel any pain and you manage to share your love with all the people you contact with and you manage to have a straight, nice pleasing insid eyour head. Well that's the way i feel life. so that's my message you know and be the best you can, whenever you can, to ever you can.

Paulo Matos : Ok Bob honestly, have been a pleasure for me we had this opportunity for we to talk, all the best for you, RESPECT - Paulo Matos say so.

Bob Andy : Peace & Love and i've enjoyed the interview, hi there radio in Portugal, have a nice time.

NUFF RESPECT TO BOB ANDY AND JANIS.