If there is one artiste in Jamaica who should welcome the new collection rights company JAMMS (Jamaica Music Society), it should be pioneer rocksteady crooner **Pat Kelly**.
Ironically, the veteran of 40 years, Pat Kelly, told Yesterday's Notes a week before the launch of JAMMS (formed to defend the rights of artistes), that when he started in 1967, he got no money for the songs he recorded. In fact, this stalwart vocalist said he only got £16 (which would be equivelent to $2,336 in today's currency) for one of his biggest hits, aptly titled You Don't Care For Me At All.
"No money wasn't making those days," Pat Kelly said, "and money wasn't the key thing. It sounds funny to say that now, but money wasn't the issue. We didn't know anything about money in those days, we only wanted to get the song on the radio, girls to hear it, that sort of thing."
The singer, whose real name is Horatious Kelly, chuckled as he further explained; "Because money wasn't making, when I did You Don't Care For Me At All with Duke Reid, I only make £16 for that record, and this was one of my biggest hits."
With no bitterness at all in his voice (no wonder it has enchanted so many), Pat Kelly obviously, is at a place where he can reflect amusingly. He continued to make light of that experience, chuckled again and rethorically asked: "What did we know about contracts? I just went into it happy-go-lucky, and nobody shows us the ropes."
Putting all of that behind him, the cousin of singer Robert Ffrench, apart from returning to the studio, is also coming out with a book on his life experience as a musician entitled No Further Fears, as well as possibly an album of the same name.
"I'm working an on album due to come out in Jamaica around January/February, we're going to do a launch on December 15, in the states side. We've not yet decided on what we're going to call it, we've about three titles - Why Why Why could be one of them, No Further Fears, that is based on a book I'm trying to write for over 12 years on the life of a musician or entertainer in Jamaica.
I would like to call the album the same thing, but I'm not sure as yet," revealed Pat Kelly who replaced the late Keith 'Slim' Smith as lead vocalist of the Techniques, and who, along with Alton Ellis, the Paragons and the Melodians, spearheaded the legendary record producer Duke Reid's campaign to dominate Jamaican music.
Pat Kelly's epochal productions with his distinctive smooth vocals soaring over the impeccable harmonies of Winston Riley and Bruce Ruffin, the ace trio, easily maintained the flow the Techniques had when Slim Smith was lead singer.
Recalling his musical journey, which first took him to producer Bunny "Striker" Lee, Pat Kelly recounted: "When I went to Striker Lee, I also met with Slim Smith, Lloyd Chammers and Stranger Cole.
My first song was Daddy's Home ( originally done by Johnny Shephard, of 'Shep and the Limelights'). And then I came up with an original song, I'm In The Mood For Love which has been covered by a lot of local artistes. And in recent times, like two years ago, Heavy Dee and the Boyz, did a version. Later that same year we had a collaboration with Palmer's Record from London and I came up with How Long, Try To Remember, and If It Don't Work Out."
Not one to beat around the bush, Pat Kelly's forthrightness came out once more when he admitted: "We did well, (the above mentioned songs) took me to England in 1969, the first time I left Jamaica. How Long, was a hit on the charts. It was my signature at that time. I came up with several other hits like Talk About Love (with Phil Pratt), You Don't Care For Me at All my first song with the Techniques for Duke Reid, after I left Bunny Lee."
Many people are not aware of this, but Pat Kelly also participated in the Festival Song Contest back in the day when the creme de la creme of Jamaican music were involved. "We did Festival Time (Run Come Celebrate) which I wrote myself and we came third in the festival competition," he recalled.
After some sixteen solo albums beginning with Pat Kelly Sings for Palmer's Records in England, to his latest album, the self produced One Man Stands, he told Yesterday's Notes that his most successful commercial solo albums (which he got paid for ) are How Long, Talk About Love and You Don't Care.
"Why I'm talking to you now, Mr Tyrone Smith, who has a lot of artistes signed to his Smith Mansion Family label, having heard my voice for decades, decided to meet me in person. And when I finally met him, he told me that he likes my voice from a long time and is interested in doing some work with me. I really appreciated it, and so I'm into a new era again."
Again another irony pops up.
One of the projects, Pat Kelly is now working with his new-found producer on, the remake of his song How Long, may very well turn out to be an intervention by fate.
"Currently I have How Long, working on new vibes, new beats. It's between the rocksteady beat and the dancehall thing that they have now. And also the single Why Why Why, which was written by me and is distributed by Tuff Gong" Pat Kelly said.
Basil Walters
*source : [jamaicaobserver.com](http://www.jamaicaobserver.com)*