Interview Recorded on 11th Of September 2000 :
Paulo Matos : BB Seaton is a pleasure, how are you ?
BB Seaton : Not to bad man, it's good being in your show.
Paulo Matos : Let me start this interview, asking you when and how you started in music ?BB Seaton : I have started years and years ago, 1959, i was a young boy and just living on Cornel college in Montego Bay, Jamaica, i went down to see Coxsonne, a guy called Richard Ace took me down to see him, we audition and recorded my first single in 1959/60, a track called "Only You".
Paulo Matos : With no doubt, The Gaylads have been one the smoothest vocal groups in the history of Jamaican music, tell us who were the members and how it happen became a trio ?BB Seaton : Well, after i was singing for a while, i've been at Cabaret On the north coast, the Hotel Era (?) of Jamaica, me been a writer, i was involved in the industry in Kingston, and well i team up with Maurice Roberts and Winston Delano stewart, Delano Stewart is the guy who did tracks like "That Slice", "You've Gotta Come On Back", some classic reggae music for Tip Top Records after he left The Gaylads, but the trio was Maurice Roberts, myself and Delano stewart.
Paulo Matos : Studio One, let’s talk about Studio One, the Gaylads first song have been recorded in the begining of the sixties, right ?BB Seaton : Yes that's right, The Gaylads first song were recorded from the sixties, we did tracks, a lot of Ska recordings with The Skatalites, these songs were played on the Sound System, as they weren't played on the radio stations a lot in Jamaica.
Paulo Matos : After that you started working for Studio One, what did you do there, you not only singing ?
BB Seaton : No, the first recording we made on Studio One was a track called "Lady With The Red Dress", right, i was the A&R for Studio One, and during that time i audition people like The Heptones, The Melodians, Lloyd Parks when he was with The Termites...
Paulo Matos : Only veterans...
BB Seaton : I also introduced Jackie Mittoo to Coxsonne.
Paulo Matos : That's was exactly my next question, you have introduced Jackie Mittoo to Clement Dodd of Studio One, do you remember that time ?
BB Seaton : Yes, i was working with a band called The Rivals,(?) Hamilton, myself and a guy called Honey Boy Martin, he was the lead singer of this band The Rivals, Jackie Mitto was the keyboard player...
Paulo Matos : He was a young boy....
BB Seaton : Very young, all of us were young at that time, when we were at the session (at Studio One) the pianist, a guy called Cecil Lloyd didn't turn up for the session and i told Coxsonne of Jackie Mittoo, and then we went to pick him up, brought him in, and was it.
Paulo Matos : In the begining of the seventies, you left Studio One and the Gaylads as well, right ? Have been difficult recording as a solo ? Or even better ?BB Seaton : Well, it was difficult in the initial stages, because when you already made a name and estabilish, to remake a name is always difficult, but when i left the group, the first song i recorded call "Accept My Apology" (included on Greatest Hits Compilation), it was a massive hit in Jamaica, and then "Between Love And Hate", have released "My Jamaican Girl" during that period.
Paulo Matos : I can tell you that some of my favorite songs from your career, are love songs, and let me say as well taht in my opinion "BB Seaton Greatest Hits" is na essential compilation for anyone that wants to discover your musical career, ....BB Seaton : Thank you very much...
Paulo Matos : ..."My Jamaican Girl" is a classic of Jamaican music, there is any story behing the message of the song ? Or you just make an homage to the Jamaican womens ?
BB Seaton : Well it was actually personal, i was actually married at the time, very young, and i was in love with this girl so actually wrote this song about her, but you know, every Jamaican man could say the same thing about the Jamaican girls, so it works internationally.
Paulo Matos : You have not reached sucess only singing, but producing as well, Delroy Wilson, The Melodians, Ken Boothe, Slim Smith and others ahve recorded for you, what do you prefer, being on the mixing desk or singing ?BB Seaton : Well, i like all sides of the music, right ? Because i'm actually on publishing now and running Sprint Records here, but i find the time to do everything, it is just sometimes being in the business side of it, takes away some of the music side of it, you know, but we do set up a Marketing Company to present the products to distributors worldwide, because we think there is a lacking in Reggae music industry, but my first love is music, i like to be in the studio recording as well, and write songs (laughs)...
Paulo Matos : Ok, When you write a song, for example "Don’t Let Love Pass You By" included on your latest compilation "Rootically Yours", is based in what ? In your personal experiences ?BB Seaton : Well that one wasn't personal, is just a message to the people out there, if you have someone don't be affraid to say it, reach out and took someone, don't let love pass you by...
Paulo Matos : Don't be affraid to love....
BB Seaton : That's right.
Paulo Matos : The beautifull "Dunn’s River Falls" is your latest new song, have been recorded in Miami, this is the first track taken from a new album to be released soon ?
BB Seaton : Yes that's right...
Paulo Matos : Can you give us the name of the album, or there's still no name ?
BB Seaton : No, i'm still working on it at the moment, i'm going into studio next week, Monday (18th September) to complete the last two tracks.
Paulo Matos : And it's gonna be recorded in Miami as well ?
BB Seaton : I'm actually be mix it in Miami, i'm going to New York and Miami on the 18th September so i'll be mix it there and i'm also involved in some Hip Hop things with my son, cause he's producing a group from Connecticut and his working with Boys 2 Men at the moment too, so i'll be there to make sure the things goes on...
Paulo Matos : Your son it sings too or is only producer ?
BB Seaton : Yes he sings, but he's main interested being a guitarrist and a sequencer and a producer.
Paulo Matos : Reggae music too ?
BB Seaton : No, he is into R & B, he works with Boys 2 Men, Puff Daddy, (?) Black, all this people.
Paulo Matos : You have produced as well the Song "I&I&I" from the veteran Ken Boothe,...BB Seaton : Yes, have been a pleasure work with Ken after a long break, Dory Hauser arrange that you know, she actually arrange the session, we went down to Jamaica to see Ken, Dory Hauser wrote the lyrics, i put the melody and some lyrics too and did the arrangements, then we call Ken and voiced in Miami at Heavybeat Studio, Willie Lindo, and you know mixed there, and that was it, brilliant track...
Paulo Matos : Yes, it's a very good track...
BB Seaton : Yes man, vocalism is really strong, like he ever was...
Paulo Matos : Let me ask you, will be a new album for Ken Boothe as well ?
BB Seaton : Yest that's right, we trying to do one together, we have done one together in 1972, that album is called "The Great Ken Boothe Meets BB Seaton And The Gaylads".
Paulo Matos : I have never heard it....
BB Seaton : I will update you with that one.
Paulo Matos : Ok, thank you.
BB Seaton : And we are trying to do the follow up that one, 28 years after.
Paulo Matos : Your new album and the album from Ken Boothe are to be released this year ?BB Seaton : No, it's to be released in 2001.
Paulo Matos : You are living in London actually, but i presume you still keep going sometimes to Jamaica,...BB Seaton : Definitely...
Paulo Matos : ... i have never been in Jamaica unfortunely,...
BB Seaton : You joking ?
Paulo Matos : ... (laughs), but from what i’ve been reading, Dancehall That Ragga Ragga Rules in Jamaica, what’s your opinion about this type of Reggae, or if we can call it Reggae...
BB Seaton :They don't call it Reggae, they call it Ragga, thank God for that... But it's another art form yeah, and it's just what thre youths came up with, you know, with other influences i would imagine ..., the music is good, i like the beat, but the message, the content of the music sometimes can be distasteful.
Paulo Matos : Yeah, they talk about guns, and that kind of things.
BB Seaton : That's right, you see it's not wordly...
Paulo Matos : To Finish this enjoyable phone interview, what do you like to say to the listeners of the show ?
BB Seaton : Well, i like to say that i would love to come to Portugal to perform for your people...
Paulo Matos : I hope some day, yes...
BB Seaton : ... and i'm imagining all of your listeners, i think you're a good presenter...
Paulo Matos : Thank you....
BB Seaton : Yes i've been getting your playlists and you play impressive music, and i would like to say for them, just keep the faith and listen to BB Seaton And The Gaylads...
Paulo Matos : Off course they will, if it depends on me, they will (laughs)...
Paulo Matos : BB Seaton, i wish you good luck on the next 40 years career (laughs), i hope you continue making quality Reggae music like you have done on your entire life, thanks for everything, Big Respect from Portugal BB Seaton.
BB Seaton : Thank you very much, Thanks for having me.
Paulo Matos : Thank you.
Some essential BB Seaton's releases and productions :
"Greatest Hits" "Rootically Yours" "Dunn's River Falls" Ken Boothe "I & I & I"
Big Respect to BB Seaton and Dory Hauser.
Paulo Matos, Reggae Portugal September 2000
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