Silk’s Atlantic journey
The Jamaica Observer continues its daily 20-part series, 20 Days of Silk, which looks at the life of roots singer Garnet Silk. Next month marks 20 years since his death.
THE two-year span of 1992-1994 saw a meteoric rise in the career of conscious reggae singer Garnet Silk.
This artiste rose from being a singjay on Destiny Outernational sound system to a bonafide reggae act, championing the cause of morally sound and uplifting roots reggae music. Tracks such as Hello Mama Africa and Zion in a Vision served to solidify the status of the shy, young act from central Jamaica.
His growing fame would catch the attention of attorney and music industry insider Lloyd Stanbury.
“I first heard about Garnet from Steely and Clevie, whom I managed. They were working with him during their weekly recording sessions at the Mixing Lab Studio. I met Garnet first at the Mixing Lab Studio. Following our initial meeting, he would visit my office for business advice and guidance and I remained associated with him on a business level as his legal advisor until he passed.”
Stanbury was so impressed with Silk that he used his contacts to help the artiste secure a major deal with Atlantic Records. For him, Silk’s major asset was his song writing abilities.
“I think Garnet’s strong point was the universal appeal of his lyrics. He evolved slowly into a great songwriter. I had been friends with Craig Kallman, the former president and owner of Big Beat Records, who later became an A&R representative and CEO of Atlantic Records. I invited Craig to participate as a speaker at the Reggae International Seminar and Exposition (RISE 1991) in Kingston where he saw Garnet perform on an artiste showcase and was sold. An exclusive recording contract was eventually signed and an album recorded, but Garnet unfortunately passed prior to the release of the Atlantic album.”
The album from Atlantic was finally released in 2000, six years after Silk, along with his mother — Etiga Gray — perished in a fire at their Manchester home in 1994. The Definitive Collection, a two-CD box set, included the 10 tracks the singer had recorded during sessions for his unfinished second album.
Stanbury remains a fan of Silk’s music.
“My favourite Silk tune is Love is the Answer, maybe because I had come to realise how important the concept of love was to Garnet. Garnet was deeply spiritual,” said Stanbury.