Winston Francis Exclusive Interview

Phone Interview with Winston Francis recorded on the 23rd of June 2003

Paulo Matos : Winston Francis welcome to Solar Reggae and also to reggaeportugal.com.

Winston Francis : It's a pleasure Paulo, a pleasure indeed. so nice to speak with the people in Portugal, i was just watching the football the other day and it's a great country, respect man, respect to you.

Paulo Matos : Yes indeed, Winston first of all i don't have any problem to tell you that you are one of the best voices ever in the story of jamaican music...

Winston Francis : Laughs...

Paulo Matos : Almost 35 years career, Winston tell us how everything started for you ?

Winston Francis : Well i actually started in teh business at a very young age, i was only 7 years old when i've started, started as a contorcionist, but then i've moved on to music, doing a lot of singing competitions in Jamaica you know, with guys like Stranger Cole, Alton Ellis, Dennis Alcapone, and everything started from there.

Paulo Matos : Winston, Studio One was like a school to all teh youths who wanted started singing, have been important for you do some recordings at Studio One true ?

Winston Francis : Well Studio One is like an University, a lot of us learn there at Studio One, from Bob Marley, Derrick Morgan, John Holt you know, all of us was just like going to school, it was a great time because at that time everyone just love to recording, it wasn't a time to think about money, it was like working with each other, you know working for each other, it was a beautifull time.

Paulo Matos : "Mr. Fix It" have been a big hit for Studio One, and for you of course, also the name of the album released in 1971, this classic song have been important for you to start being known, and start making some shows in UK, true ?

Winston Francis : It was, it was, and the great thing about it, is that particular song it took me about 20 minutes to write it, and so many people have recorded since, has been recorded by John Holt, Dennis Brown, Sugar Minnot, the last two people that i've heard recording it was Beres Hammond, Max Romeo. Also The UB40, and from that i've received a such amount of payment, wich brought me my home.

"Mr. Fix It" Song have been played here on the Radio Show.

Paulo Matos : After Studio One what happened Winston ?

Winston Francis : Well after Studio One i've started doing a lot of live shows, because for me i love to perform in stage, i love to work with people, i prefer to take the message to the people direct, so after Studio One i've came to England and i was doing a lot of shows here, and also i went to places like Checoslovaquia during the comunist time, in Japan to, Germany, Sweden, and have been great working in thsi places, so i've just kept working, kept on recording, doing the things that i love best, to work with people.

Paulo Matos : That's true. You've linked with Dennis Bovell in the 70's in UK, wich work have you done with Dennis Bovell ?

Winston Francis : Well, i've recorded a lot of material with Dennis Bovell, cause Dennis as you know is one of the best producers in the world, he's a great guy, a great musician, a good writer, graet singer, Dennis is just over all the great person in the musical business, and i first recorded a track for him called "stand By Me", wich we did for BMG in France, and that particular track sold 90.000 copies on his first issue, and then we went on recording an album for BMG called "His Majesty Request" and then again have been a big seller for me and all have been produced by Dennis Bovell, one of the tracks that i love most is a track recorded by Sam Cooke, written by Sam Cooke called "Change Gonna Come", also one of Dennis songs called "After Tonight", it was just a beautifull album.

Paulo Matos : Yes. Winston you're mostly known by lovers rock songs, but you've done a great recording for Studio One in the begining of the 80's called "Let's Go To Zion", a true example of righteous consciousness ?

Winston Francis : Yes, Yes, a lot of places where i work today in Europe, everyone always ask "Let's Go To Zion", because it was one of the big theme songs of the rastafarian cult, teh funny thing is that i 've not recorded anymore cultural music since then, but i've just recorded an album called "Stand Firm", wich i did with a very good friend called Frank Spence - AJ Franklin from The Chosen Few and on this album that we record all brand new tracks and they're cultural songs, songs like "Zion Train", "Mama Woi", "Jah Deliver Us", Stand Firm", "Life Is a Hard Struggle", "Warrior" and songs like "Ethiopia", and all this are new songs that we've just recorded.

"Let's Go To Zion" Song have been played here on the Radio Show.

Paulo Matos : In the 80's you have stopped recording, what happened Winston ?

Winston Francis : Well, i've started working with and for the children, for young kids, because i've seen it was a problem in London, and because i was now residing in London i decided to help, so i went into youth work to helping them to start a new life, and it was quite enjoyable because is full feeling help other people in life.

Paulo Matos : Yes it's true man. "His Majesty Request" is an album like you've said, produced by Dennis Bovell but have appear under the name of King Cool, why have you used that name ?

Winston Francis : Well, when i did actually done the first recording in France teh record company thought i was a very cool character and they said well you appear like a King, so Dennis called me King Cool, and they just picked my name and called me in France - King Cool, wich is a honour really.

Paulo Matos : Yes, and they're true man. "Sweet Rocksteady" is the title of another excellent album released on LKJ label, have been a kind of tribute, a kind of nostalgia to some of teh best recordings from the unforgettable era of Jamaican music, true ?

Winston Francis : It is, it is, doing this album what i was trying to do is try to pay respect to some of my pairs, because you know i have very good friends in the business, so i decided to pay respect and tribute to this people, so i was very happy to record this album because pays much respect to great artists that have written some great songs in the past.

"Rain From The Sky" Song have been played here on the Radio Show.

Paulo Matos : Winston let's talk about the present, past is important but the present it's important as well, your new album will be released in August 2003 (September), a brand new, a strong album alongside another veteran AJ Franklin, "Stand Firm" is the title of the album, since almost 3 months that we're playing on Solar Reggae Show some advanced tracks like "Mama Woi", Winston teh album is so good, give us some details, who have produced, wich label, who are the musicians ?

Winston Francis : Well the musicians on this album they're some of the best in England at the moment, the drummer is a regular drummer and have played with almost everyone, is called "Horseman", the guitar is Black Steel, one of the best guitarrists, he also sings and does harmonies, really a great musician, the bass player is called "Broadfinger", and excellent bass player, and the producer is Terry Devine King and he's excellent, he's a great musician and writer, the songs themselves were written by AJ Franklin and myself you know, all brand new songs like you've heard and we looking forward to having teh greatest reaction doing live tours, i'm looking forward to come to Portugal man...

Paulo Matos : I'm sure of it.

Winston Francis : ...Working with you live, cause i'm just bubbling with enthusiasm, because i know thsi going to be a tour to do singing all thsi new songs.

"Take a Chance" Song have been played here on the Radio Show.

Paulo Matos : What do you expect from the future Winston ?

Winston Francis : I expect all the best because since i've started recording this album i've meet Paulo Matos, you know, i've spoke with him, i'm doing an interview with him now, and i know i'm looking forward to a great future and coming to Portugal.

Paulo Matos : 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, i'm sure of it, this interview on reggaeportugal.com ?

Winston Francis : I would like to say to all the people who listen to your programme, i wish all the best and contine blessings upon you and i can just see myself being in Portugal with all your people and i thank them very much for supporting us through the years, and big dem up, big up, nuff respect to all the people of Portugal, God bless you all, cause you're my people, and i love you.

Paulo Matos : OK Winston have been a huge pleasure we had this chance for we talk a little about your career, all the best for you, good luck for the new album with AJ Franklin, Winston Francis BIG RESPECT, Paulo Matos say so.

Winston Francis : BIG UP PAULO MATOS, THE GREAT ONE, BIG UP PORTUGAL, JAH BLESS EVERYTIME, RESPECT.

NUFF THX TO WINSTON FRANCIS, DONALD, LEE AND JOHN.