Ghost

Love You Concert - 2006

Reggae music really has taken a turn for the better. It’s been like a slow train coming, but you know it’s the train with the sweetest songs on it. Reggae music is always for me been about love whether it is Roots and culture, which represents the world of Rasta music or lovers and you don’t get better than that unforgettable track from Ghost called "Love You". Having always been a fan of all genre’s of reggae including Bashment, Ghost really came with the bashment crew, which is Monster Shack with General B and Round Head. This concert was about Valentines Day. This kind of dance in the Midlands is getting rarer and rarer there has only been a few live concerts recently.



Time and what is happening on the streets are making it hard for the promoters. I do believe that reggae music will come around again, It’s like Robbie from Sly and Robbie’s Taxi gang label said to me the music makes twists and turns but always comes back. Well it’s on its way back and it’s full of love and guidance at last the music its self has just reached out and touched us all. Bad boy lyrics are for Saturday night at the sound clash. We want love Jah Cure said Love Is check out the lyrical content of some of these more up and coming artists like:- It takes nothing at all to hail the king by Fantom Mojah.

The Show

Along for this show was Tony Curtis, Singing Melody, Ken Booth, Ghost and Gregory Isaacs who was apparently paid but did not turn up but not to worry the show was brilliant. The band consisted of Mafia and Fluxy Britain’s answer to Sly and Robbie. Tony Curtis is a bit of a comedian he made us laugh and sing and we loved his set. He really put a smile on my face I enjoyed his antics on stage. Singing Melody was also very good an old hand at wooing the girls with his captivating vocals and Ken Booth very dapper and a perfect gentleman. He got the audience singing all his classics. For me the show was not missing anything by Gregory not turning up. Ghost introduced his brother and they did some country and western kinda reggae stuff.

The crème de la crème was Ghost what can I say I had already witnessed him burst into song in the hotel room and to watch him conjure up this voice that is so powerful. I cant find the words to describe the way this man breathes in from his feet literally to his chest then out into the air as he forces it out with a shake of his hands. This power is transformed in to a voice that is ghostly to say the least.

The Interview

The interview took place in Ghost’s hotel room at the Holiday Inn. Ghost spoke freely about his past and what he has planned for the future. Not at all a cover version king, but a very talented individual with a very powerful voice which I witnessed up close.

How did you get your name?
I got it when I had an accident in the country and when me came back to town they said I looked like a ghost with a broken tooth and a haggard expression.

Where are the crew? (Monster Shack)
There in Jamaica Well this show is not really meant for bashment thou I would love them to be here this is a singing package about Love You Concert we will work together again soon.

How does it feel to be independently doing a lovers dance and not a bashment?
Well it’s ok Id like to work with my dups. but this is about love and I’ve always wanted to do something like this.

With the music industry changing the way it is, how do you manage?
It’s kinda complicated you have all these studios, you got Penthouse down der so and a next one up der so and the young producers do a hide in a house ting an ago round me well when it comes back around we will see.

Have you met Celine Dion?
There is another cover on the album of Celina’s I had an email of her, she didn’t agree with the cover being called a different name its called To love you more not Waiting for you but it is too late to change it. I hope she does not mind too much.

What does Cher think of your cover of I believe (1999)?
I hope she likes it. I’m sure she does. Then Ghost went on to tell me about meeting Michael Jackson’s brother. I was going to LA one day and I ran into Germaine, Michael Jackson’s brother at the air port and said tell your brother he’s my idol my names Ghost I’m an artist and Germaine answered Ghost my brother loves your music. Then we shock hands talk and hold a vibes for a few minutes before he went to catch his plane.

Is "So Strong" on Bobby Digital(1992) a cover because I haven’t heard it by anyone else and it is so powerful?
I actually heard in Africa and thought that I have to do that song. It was a video about what is happening in Africa and it have lyrics that have a deep meaning so me haffi do it. Then to my amazement I got a burst of so strong the record level went off the scale. This blew me away cus I got a real soft spot for this tune.

What happened to Monster Shack?
Well de shack blow down so now we have a new building it’s big so no more Monster Shack it’s now Monster Empire. No storm can blow this building down.

Which producers have you worked with?
Salam Reny is the producer who worked on my albums. He’s dealing with rupee’s things; his father is actually Van Gibbs, he worked on the Fugee’s first album.

What about Q45?
That’s Ellie’s manager He has a lot of energy. Then a burst of song from Ghost “Gwaan Energy God” dat Elephant Man he’s my dups. Like wise Buju’s my dj too! He has a track with me on the new album.

What about Beres Hammond?
Beres is my dups but he’s a hard man to hold down. He’s the boss, Beres is my pups referring to Beres as the daddy. Giving Beres the status he deserves as the daddy of lovers rock. Also Kevin (Sanchez) and Mickey Bennet is my musical director.

What was it like working with Sly and Robbie?
Well dem is like working with Bob cus them is from that era. They did Bodyguard (1995) which was my first real big hit Gadafi that’s Merciless manager he was supposed to do it but him never come up with the goods so Sly and Robbie did it for me as a favour I just saved the money and paid for the studio time. Love Honour and Respect to Sly and Robbie.

So if Hon Bob Marley was still alive and you met, what would the conversation be about?
If he were here things would be different. I would poor out my heart to him. He would be the teacher for me and tell me how I fi go bout my tings and how me fi handle my self on stage. I would ask him where he found his lyrics from and how the business works. How do I get those meditations? Bob was really, well what he did was dame to be an him not being her was dame to be too. I had a very bad car accident last year I was on my way to Miami. For a gig and my tyre blew out. The vehicle mash up smash up! I did have on my seat belt but me come out with out even a scratch. All praise to the most high! Ghost talked about being a youth in Jamaica and coming from country he admits he was a bad boy but grew out of it because all he wanted to do was sing.” It was hard cus me never get any singing lessons or vocal training at all”.

What’s your future plans?
To keep myself away from drugs. Well I have a single out now that’s doing well in Jamaica called Sandra then there’s I swear which is a single on Yogi’s Fe we music label. Then there’s another single, which will go on the new album Ghost Stories I am so looking forward to this album it’s going to be Hot like Fire! With tracks like Sandra and I Swear and the lyrics on other tracks like, Love is coming home and I’m right here at your door. Ooch, Slamming it on top of my play lists as soon as it’s release.

By Jayne Jay aka Mystry Lady