WESTERN BUREAU:
AT A frank discussion at the workshop 'Everything You Didn't Know About the Music Business', Bowlegged Lou of Full Force Enterprises called on the Jamaican musicians to diversify the music and not narrow down their artistry to being known as a DJ or reggae singer.
"If you are into reggae form, crossover, be versatile, do not confine yourself to one category, fuse the music with something else", he said.
Bowlegged Lou, one of the guest presenters of 'Cinema In A Yard', organisers of the Jamerican Film Festival, said a reggae artiste can put the music with another artiste such as Leanne Rhymes or Pavorotti. Without altering the sound but exposing the music and getting it out to a number of people.
He warned that singers are to start thinking bigger and not confine themselves to only a certain type of music. "Versatility is important, when Pavarotti was unable to sing at the Grammy's, they called in Aretha Franklin, to sing Opera, the lady of soul was great and showed her flexibility".
The actor best known for his role as the bully in 'House Party' said the Latin music is just getting its due after years out in the cold. He said the trends in the music business and technology affects everybody.
Alluding to the fact there are a lot of ups and down in the music business, he said, "when you stop making hits you are gonna be like old news".
However, he said if you want to make it big, you have to be strong, no matter how many doors are closed into your face, you are not to give up.
"Hype Williams who is now a big time video director, but when he worked for Lionel Martin, one of the premier black video directors, he use to get people coffee, juice, he was like a 'gopher'. He said, "all this time he was taking notes and observing his boss, so if you believe, you can achieve your dream".
Song writing was one of the contents of his speech, "I saw Johnny Kemp and he told me he almost cried when he heard his song on N Sync's CD".
His bold presentation went as far as his question to Angela Barnes, Assistant director of Moesha on the reasons the creator of Moesha was fired, when she explained, his response was, " I would have to f.... somebody up".
Motown's CEO, Kedar Massenburg who should have conducted the presentation was not missed as Bowlegged Lou, gave a sterling and informative piece, bordered on fun and excitement.
- Janet Silvera
