| The word soon got back to Duke Reid
who snapped him up and put him straight into the studio where
"Carry Go Bring Come" was recorded in one take. This
is not really surprising when you consider the calibre of the musicians
playing alongside Justin included Gladstone Anderson, Baba Brooks, Tommy
McCook, Lester Sterling and Drumbago. "Carry
Go Bring Come" was premiered at a sound system competition
between the Duke and Sir Coxsone where the song stayed on the turntable
for a massive eight plays followed by a run on the local charts where
it stayed at the top for eight weeks.
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| Young Justin |
This was to be the start of a hugely successful stage of his career,
which included maybe up to 70 releases between 1963 and 1972 and included
such gems as "King Samuel", "Look
Into That", "Nebuchanezer", "Once A Man", "Higher
The Monkey Climbs", "Save A Bread", "Drink Milk"
and "Mighty Redeemer", and
would only fade following the death of Duke Reid in 1974. The Duke, who
thought nothing of shooting up the recording studio when he didn't like
what he heard, showed great loyalty to Justin Hinds and even today is
sorely missed by him.
Justin Hinds, along with the likes of Ken Boothe, Alton Ellis and Sonia
Pottinger, was there when the Duke said goodbye, theoretically disrobing
himself of his rings and jewelry, the Duke told them of his state of health
and hopes for the future. His business was to pass to Sonia Pottinger
who worked intermittently with him, resulting in the popular 1978 hits
"Rig-Ma-Roe Game" and "Wipe
Your Weeping Eyes" , but he became disillusioned and gradually
spent most of his time in the country.
In 1976 he began working with Jack Ruby (heavily in demand as a roots
producer following his stunning productions of Burning Spear), following
interest by Island records who were at that time heavily into pushing
the music internationally. The stunning songs that make up the album "Jezebel"
were the fruits of the resulting collaboration. Unfortunately,
Justin would then only appear sporadically but still managed to make such
gems as the beautiful "Travel with Love"
in 1984 which was recorded at Tuff Gong with
many Wailers participating and is notable for being one of drummer Carlton
Barrett's last recordings.
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|
Older Justin |
Following the 1989 release of "Picking
Up Chips in the Morning", Justin at last seemed to come
to terms with his calling and formed his own band The
Revivers. The band included
Justin's son Sebastin on drums along with 'Deadly'
Headley Bennett on saxophone and trombonist Vin Gordon, and they
started out touring the USA and Europe in the early 1990's.
1997 saw Justin Hinds taking on his first full tour of America
followed by the release of "Wingless
Angels" - an unexpected (to say the least) album from
long time reggae fan Keith Richards. Another side project is Justin's
involvement in the Coyabalites, who have brought together such
musicians as hornsmen Glen DaCosta, David Madden and Vin Gordon,
guitarist Ernest Ranglin and keyboardist Harold Butler to re-record
such classics as "My Boy Lollipop",
"Eastern Standard Time", "Liquidator",
and "Carry Go Bring Come".
Unfortunately, just weeks after being diagnosed with lung cancer,
Justin lost his short battle on Wednesday March 16, 2005 aged
62.
He is survived by his wife, Peaches, and three sons, Maxwell,
Carlton and Randy.
Gary Lewis |
