MAX ROMEO has recently contracted marketing executive
Tyehimba Kafele as his new business manager. Miss Kafele has lead many major campaigns and can be accredited for the promotional success of Fantan Mojah, Junior Kelly (“Receive”), Nanko(“Lucky You”), DYCR (“Misunderstanding”) and Jah Cure (“True Reflections”) as she worked as the Marketing Director at
DownSound Records for more than three years. In addition, Tyehimba has worked with
Dwight Pinkney and is currently the hired publicist for
Pam Hall and
Kemar Thompson (Jr. Pinchers) and
Powermix Records (new management of Mixing Lab).
Now at the age of 27, this lady has landed yet another major project with MAX ROMEO, as she makes musical history as the only person that Romeo has signed management with since he was contracted by Don Taylor at the same time as Bob Marley.
With more that 35 albums and 17 number one’s to his credit, this veteran has kept a low profile in Jamaica for several years, but has been extensively touring the European circuit and has managed to establish a massive international fanbase. From filling stadiums in Brazil to having a featured track on the video game “Grand Theft Auto”, one could easily say this artiste has done it all. Yet, with this new team Nilespirits Multimedia lead by Tyehimba Kafele, Max Romeo is about to do it again.
Born Maxie Smith on November 22, 1947, in St D Acre, Jamaica , he recorded his first solo hit single entitled “Wet Dreams” in 1968. Inspite of the fact that the song is still banned in the UK it was so popular that it stayed in the BBC Radio charts for about 22 weeks and is considered to be mega hit.
In 1971
Romeo recorded a more singles with producers like
Bunny Lee, Winston Riley, Sonia Pottinger, Alvin Ranglin and Niney Holness. Releasing songs like
“The Coming of Jah” and
“ Babylon Burning”. 1972 releases were
“Press Along Joshua” “Pharaoh” and
“Let the Power Fall on I” an infectious cover of the old Rastafarian spiritual produced by
Derrick Morgan.
1975 releases from producer Lee Perry deep roots production such as, “Sipple out Deh”, “One Step Forward”, “Chase the Devil” and “Three Blind Mice”. It was at this point that Island Records signed Romeo, and for his U.K. debut, remixed “Sipple” and released it under the title of “War in a Babylon “. The single had the same impact in Britain as in Jamaica, reverberating across a nation experiencing its own political turmoil. The single sparked the release of his new album “War in a Babylon”, which was a masterpiece, the apex of Romeo’s career, as well as one of Perry’s most superlative productions in his own equally illustrious career.
Romeo was feted by the
Rolling Stones and appeared on backing vocals on
Emotional Rescue’s “Dancing”. He returned to
Jamaica in 1990 and began touring regularly. His profile was heightened by the U.K. release of
“The Many Moods of Max Romeo”, which gathered up a diverse group of tracks cut between 1967 and 1971. He then merged with
Jah Shaka in 1992 and recorded albums like
“Far I Captain of My Ship” and
“Our Rights” which returned the singer to something nearly as great as his former glory. In 1995 his album
“Cross or the Gun” was even better, produced by Tapper Zukie.
Reggae Producers
Mafia & Fluxy own unique style in 1999 heavily flavored Romeo’s next album,
“Selassie I Forever”, and while the pair are electronic-based, the collaboration worked better than many expected. The following year brought yet another compilation,
“Pray for Me: The Best of 1967-1973”, which nicely compliments the earlier
“Many Moods” sets.
The artiste has continued touring and recording, while compilations of his older material now litter the landscape. The singer’s prolific output for so many different labels and producers, and his widely varied styles, has made his career a minefield for collectors and compilers alike, the singer established himself as one of the most important figures in the roots scene.
Max Romeo’s latest album entitled
“Pocomania Songs”, produced by
Mad Professor on his label
Ariwa Records, will be in stores this February. The
Max Romeo team will be touring
Europe, as well as, some of the regions that he has not done such as
Africa, Australia and the
Caribbean
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