adminturned out to be his last album, Zimbabwean King Isaac (Gabriel Isaac Kalumbu), who is currently based in America.
“I did a little stint in Africa before that made me have a different perception of Africa. I realised that it’s a great continent with great people and atmosphere and so I am looking forward to coming back to Africa,” said the Jamaican-born superstar, Kevin, the last son of the “Cool Ruler”, says.
Gregory Isaacs worked with King Isaac on the album, “Isaac Meets Isaac”.
Born on September 9 1979 in Kingston, Jamaica, to the man variously known by the monikers “Cool Ruler”, “The Lonely Lover” and/or “Vadlin Lawrence”; at a tender age, Kevin was given the name “Little Superstar” by his father who seemed to know that his son was destined for the mic and stardom.
Kevin is, however, not the only one in his family of six girls and seven boys with the gift of song.
“We all have vocal talent, but my siblings ventured into other things. Some produce while others do engineering and most have careers that have nothing to do with music at all!
“At the moment, I am the only one recording music, maybe in future, the rest will follow on the legacy,” says the superstar who is not only a singer but a producer and songwriter as well.
Kevin started singing at a tender age. “I recorded my first song, ‘I Thought We Were Friends’ at the age of 13. It was on my dad’s African Museum label and distributed in England by Jet Star Records.
“The song is about a man who saw his girlfriend with another man, a typical lover’s track nothing personal just general writing. Then my second song was ‘Romeo and Juliet’. It was on my dad’s label as well, distributed in Canada.
“The third song was a rendition of my dad’s song ‘The Border’. I did a video for it and got some recognition from that track.”
Kevin attended Horris Prep School, Liguanea Basic School then went to Leaguanea High School in Jamaica. While still at school, Kevin toured around the world with his father during the school holidays.
At the age of 21 in 2000, he did a collaboration with his dad and they released the album, “Father and Son”. The album was produced by the late Reggae icon and distributed by Artistes Only in America.
On the album are two renditions of Gregory. Kevin wrote one of the songs on the album, “Never Say Goodbye”. Kevin and his father wrote “Forgive Her” and “How To Say Goodbye” together and the rest of the songs on the album were written by Gregory.
On most of the songs, it is so hard to tell apart the father and son’s voices. The only give away is that Kevin’s voice sounds younger than the reggae icon’s.
“After the release of the album, I started to tour the album with my dad all over the world including Ethiopia, Kenya, America, Hawaii, Canada and Europe.”
In 2002, Kevin released the 13-track album, “Kevin Isaacs in Fine Style” for his father’s label but he produced some of the tracks such as “Come on Home”, which he also composed. He co-wrote “Lonely Woman” with his father.
Gregory produced and wrote the other songs.
“It was my first solo album. I put it out locally alone. It was recorded in Europe with my band Tallawah.”
After the release of the album, Kevin started working on singles for the Kevin Isaacs music label such as “If You Leave”, a song about a couple in a relationship that is in problems.
The man is begging his woman who wants to leave him to stay, “Please do not leave me on my own. If you leave me right now girl I will be in sorrow, If you leave right now girl there will be no tomorrow If you leave right now my life will be in misery.”
The lyrics are sweet and laid back. A must have for all the men, especially those with relationships on the rocks.
He also released a track “A Message Dad”, a song dedicated to his father and “Red Carpet”, a beautiful track just like all Kevin’s songs, with a rhythm that brings back the memories of The Cool Ruler.
On the comment that his voice is similar to the Cool Ruler’s, Kevin just laughs and quickly adds: “Similar voices but remember there is only one Gregory Isaacs, the Coolest Ruler.”
Last year, 2011, Kevin released the album, “Evolution with Tallawah”. The album was released in Europe only and is a tribute to his father. On the album, Kevin does his father’s old songs such as “Long Ago”, “Border”, “Babylon Too Ruff”, “Can’t Plant Corn”, among others.
Kevin has recently done a single “Don’t Walk Too Fast” for Tallawah music which has been recorded in the band’s home country, Europe. He also has a new hot addictive track he did for his Brazilian fans “Jodana” which is a rendition of the late Mexican-American Ritchie Valens’ La Bamba song “Donna”.
“Jodana” is the kind of song you can listen to the whole day and it will still sound fresh. Kevin truly outdid himself on “Jodana”, he is indeed his father’s son.
The instruments are well arranged and his smooth, seductive voice ever sounding like his father’s. The song was produced by Sydney Crooks.
It is about a man whose girl, “Jodana” left him. Kevin has also performed at numerous festivals and live performances for tributes to his father.
Having a superstar father did not get to his head at all as Kevin is so humble and imbued with a great sense of humour.
He is still single and he talks fondly of his father, mother and grandmother, Gregory’s mother, Enid Murray, who is still alive and well in Jamaica.
“It was great growing up with my dad and such an honour to have a dad who was a superstar. It would still have been great even if he wasn’t a superstar.
“It was wonderful having him at home because most Jamaicans now grow up without their fathers. So just the privilege of growing up with a father was wonderful.”
On whether or not he smokes dagga, Kevin laughs and says: “Nope! Personally, I don’t smoke but others here do smoke.’’
Kevin, who says his wish is to have a long musical career, is definitely is carrying on with his father’s legacy.
Online Reporter