Sylford Walker ADD

Sylford Walker Interview - Burning Babylon

05/21/2024 by Shrik Kotecha

The 1970’s in Jamaica witnessed the emergence of a plethora of often underrated singers and players of instruments including Sylford Walker. This period is often considered the heyday of roots reggae music symbolised by the teachings and messages of His Imperial Majesty, Emperor Haile Selassie I. Sylford Walker made his recording debut in 1975 for Joe Gibbs with Burn Babylon - a song written whilst serving a one year prison sentence for possession of marijuana.

Sylford Walker's distinctive voice crafts compelling stories of unity, resilience, and spirituality in his album. His thought-provoking lyrics and soulful melodies encourage listeners to adopt a mindset of positivity and communal progress. He has worked closely with producer Glen Brown recording many of his roots classics including Lambs Bread and Chant Down Babylon at 18 Dromilly Avenue, Kingston 11, the studio location of dub master King Tubby’s studio.

There was a lengthy period of time when Sylford Walker took a break from recordings but in more recent times, he has been encouraged back into the studios, working with Texas based Leon Cameron of Sunvibes Music to present a new album Good Encouragement in 2024.

Shrik Kotecha caught up with Sylford Walker to learn about his latest album Good Encouragement as well as reminiscing about his musical career over the last five decades.

Greetings Sylford Walker, thank you for speaking with me today from your home in Yallahs in Saint Thomas.

Yes I, it’s a joy to speaking with de I, what a great reggae combination!

How is life in the community in 2024?

Well you know… we have to just give thanks to the almighty God, giving thanks that there's no war. And you know, there's a lot of mangoes and things you can eat, you know.

Over the years, there are so many musical greats that have a connection with the parish. People like I-Roy, Count Ossie, the first female producer Sonia Pottinger….

Yes I! St. Thomas has like a very rich history as far as music is concerned. You know Morgan Heritage and all these people are from the same place.

Now you've just released a brand new album called Good Encouragement on Sunvibes Music. Tell me a little bit about this album then.

I was on some tour to Jerusalem and these places. So, it's like, you know, thinking about doing something for other people in the world and thinking I need to do something for myself then because without doing for yourself, there's still no one, you know what I mean?

True, very true.  The ten track album has all the hallmarks of what you are revered for by your fanbase worldwide.

Yes I. Yes I. The feeling is in the music, you know, and the love is in the music, you know, so I send the message across the world.

And within those 10 songs, you embrace the teachings of His Imperial Majesty Haille Selassie I, social commentary, songs of upliftment and something for the herbalists…

(laughs) Yes brother, it’s always a joy to make positive music.

Now this is your second album working with Leon Cameron from Sunvibes Records and there is a real family connection there between you both?

Yeah, man, it's very great, Leon is actually my nephew - my sister’s son. We been working together for over 10 years and Leon has the ear for roots reggae music. Yeah, man, He's loyal. He's loyal. I only tried to tell him that one day we got to do something together.

What thoughts or feelings go through your mind after releasing this new album Good Encouragement?

Well, you see, it's just all about thinking about good for the nation and for the world, because without good there is no world, you know. It's the world of goodness I'm saying.  I've been through it the roughest way and I think good can be coming from it. I just tried to do the good I can. (sings) “Do good my brothers and sister. Do good to your one another.”

There’s a song on the album that I really feel captures that emotion, the song Nice To Be Alive.

Oh god man, it’s boombastic, I love it because I think it's nice to be alive.

It is definitely, and tell us what was the inspiration behind the title of the album Good Encouragement?

It was a very great vibe with me and doing these things because if I'm doing something and it’s not good, I don't think I'll work with it. I feel the vibes, I feel the people, I see that the people is a part of me, so you know it’s a joy. If you don't feel these things, you cannot do it, so while there's life, there's hope. So, it's nice to be alive!

The album is brimming with positivity, and I really appreciate the live instrumentation played by Abbaba Soul on some of the songs - can you share with me a little more about band?

I was in Mexico for a good while and I keep a couple of shows there. I love the type of riddims and if you listen to most of this music now, there's no good music much again, you know. So, we gotta do what we can do to keep it alive because it's very great people that listen.

Jah Never Fails I features a mid tempo roots reggae riddim played by Abbaba Soul, I’m sure I can hear Dean Fraser on horns?

Yes I, Dean Fraser, the living legend, great musician! That my brethren all over these years. Also, Sly and Robbie from the Joe Gibbs days, those are my brethrens.

Now there is a second family connection on the album on an update of one of your biggest hits - Jah Golden Pen featuring Rachaad Amarjii - tell us a little about him.

He's my cousin. One is my nephew (Leon) and one is my cousin. When I was coming from Switzerland, I met him one time in a little studio and then he said to me, “Sylford you know that I love Golden Pen and I would like you and I to do it over”, and it takes a long time. Then I study it and study it and study it and then, you know, I see that he interested in music, and I just get him together and it was boom. Upto last week Friday I think I was in Portland and oh my man the people go for it, it was a joy!

You originally recorded Burn Babylon way back in 1975 at the Retirement Crescent studio owned by Joe Gibbs.

Yeah, by Joe Gibbs. You know this one? (sings) “It's a long, long, long, long, long... It’s a long time, I man a burn up the collie weed.” Some years ago, when I'm just burning herbs and Rizla wasn't around and there was a police officer by the name of Mr. Gardiner. He locks me up for that weed in jail for one year. So I stay in central, I stay in jail and build that song because I seeing that gunman and bad man who's more bad than weed but they didn't think that way. They didn’t think that way, if they see you with a spliff you’re gone, and now ganja is free (laughs!)

Talk me through how you then connected with Joe Gibbs upon your release?

Well, I wanna tell you, I walk all over the city and I found him at a little spot out by North Parade and then when I told him my position, he said go up back up to Retirement Road to Errol Thompson (that's the engineer) to record you now because your voice is very good, so that's the way I went.

Was Joe Gibbs the first producer that you approached, or did you have anyone else in mind to produce the song?

Well, I did have other people in mind, but it's like none of them didn't pay me no mind. So, I give thanks for him. I've been robbed still you know. But I give thanks.

That song Burn Babylon and Jah Golden Pen were massive worldwide but particularly in the UK where we had sounds like Coxsone, Jah Shaka, Fatman Hifi, Quaker City and many more.

Yeah, it's like the vibes is in the song, and the music. I'm a man that don't try to sing dirty records. I love my work to be clean and even babies can listen to the words.

Why do you feel that those songs resonated so deeply with fans of roots reggae?

Well for me it’s the vibes and that's the only way to be free within the music because they can't just say anything, and then the world goes for it, you got to go natural and culturable. So for me it's just a joy, you know, singing clean and then at the end of the day I end up doing 202 records for Joe Gibbs.

Vocally, you have that same mystical quality and richness comparable to artists like Winston Rodney and Joseph Hill.

Because when Joseph Hill was doing (sings) “What a live an bamba yay, When the two sevens clash, What a live an bamba yay, When the two sevens clash” I was there. Now, Burning Spear is one of my favourite artists that gave me the vibes to be in reggae. I love the vibes, Marcus Garvey words come to pass and it’s a lucky thing you never get swell headed. Very great, very great Winston Rodney.

There was also a song that you recorded for Glen Brown in the late 70’s called Lambs Bread which you have updated on the new album.

Yes I, that’s another powerful song and I do maybe 13 songs for him. But when I get back to him, I heard he died in New York.

What memories can you share about originally recording that song at King Tubby’s studio in Waterhouse?

Well, the memories is just that this riddim was his own. And then Glen Brown get them. I don't know if he buy them or what, but he got them and said "Sylford I want you to voice these song for me". I just burn two spliff and get there and do Lambs Bread. The problem for these song It's like people would tell you in Jamaica in these time that ganja make you mad and it gave you bad vibes and tings but I say all this bush was grown by god and I know if it wasn't great, then they would try to underate it.  So, I think about it and while I smoking it from the age of nine and every day I smoke it, I get a better vibe doing something great.  So, it's a joy for me to sing about it and use it. It's no bad vibes for me. If I had found it bad then I wouldn’t do it, I would never do it. Maybe I wouldn't be here today (laughs).

Which studios did you work from to record your vocals?

Well, we record in Oba Simba studio, he had a studio where we do the vocals. I also have a collab with him called Brain Food.

After Blood & Fire reissued your debut album retitled Lambs Bread International in 2000 and included the deejay cuts from Welton Irie there seemed to be a renewed interest in your works which led to a number of overseas shows.

That's where Glen Brown sell me out and you know a car lick me hard and from there, it's like maybe people think I'll die…

…but you're still here.

Yes I, I was working with a selector in Switzerland by the name of Asher Selector, great guy. He's the one who let me know Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, all over the place, Mount Zion, one of my biggest shows was in Jerusalem school room. It was very exciting and joyful. That's the fun for me.

This new album has another international connection - it’s all been mixed by ace producer and engineer Roberto Sanchez.

Leon is the man who will get these things made. He's one of the top producers over in Europe. Top engineer.

At this time in your life how significant is it to be able to release a new body of works?

Well it's a joy for me. It's a joy, these things that I've done, I know there will be a payday, but I didn't do it because I needed money. You understand? I do it for the love of God and myself and the world, you know. Cos music is love and love his music, so we got to hit it there brother.

Two really powerful songs both rhythmically and lyrically are Generation Of Viper and Don’t Kill Your Brother, listening to both songs, it seems like you wanted to get things off your chest?

You know getting these things together like that, I think it's the best because you know you have no one to war with, no one you know. When you sit down and look at life and know that we can live better, do better and get things much better, you know so we got to give thanks. You gotta give thanks and then people have that fun and that joy by listening Sylford - that's where I get my gift.

In your lifetime, you have lived through mento, ska, rocksteady, roots reggae, rockers, dancehall, the digital generation, and you are a self-confessed Reggae Fanatic, what motivates you to continue making reggae music?

Well, man like Winston Rodney, Alton Ellis, Horace Andy, Bob Andy, John Holt and all these great soldiers. I listen to them voice, I sit down and I think things together and then I put things together and you know I'm feeling good. Yeah, ‘cause my reggae connection is very good with the whole world my brother. That’s why I make the song Reggae Fanatic on this new album.

The album is out now and there are also plans for a limited double vinyl album including all the vocals and dubs via Diggers Factory?

Yes I, that will be a real joy and Leon is working on these things.

Now, there was a time in your life when you almost stepped away from making music. What were you doing in that time when you weren't making music?

Well, when I get my first set of children, there was nothing for me, and the music wasn't giving me no way through so I go to my bed and have a vision that I boil some roots.  And from I start boil the roots, people coming and it good for pain, good for everything, getting babies (laughs)! If you weak you get strong. My age now is 68. I drink my own medicine and I hardly been to doctor still.  It was going on for a good while until I see that I gotta get myself further, so I just pick up the whip and say Joe I'm going back in music, because you know, it was a joy and still a joy for me, you know.

Is there anything else that you want to share with your fans about this new album Good Encouragement?

Yes I, I’m asking everybody to just go out and get it, cos there's great inspiration in it and I think whatsoever they have to say, they can say it back to me and I will know what's up. ‘Cause it’s a joy doing this today, it's very great for me and I've taken a lot of interviews worldwide, but I love this one today. It's special. I can see it.