Tenor Saw
A Youth with a Future

 

Interview by Lesli Singer
Photograph by
Originally published: August/September 1986

Tenor Saw is the name associated with songs like Pumkin Belly, Ring the Alarm and Roll Call; songs that caught the imagination of the people both in Jamaica and abroad. So far the young singer as won three awards for his work, although he has only been recording since February of '85.

Tenor Saw was born Clive Bright on February 12, 1966 at University Hospital in Kingston. He grew up in the Kingston 12 community and attended primary school in the city with the exception of one year spent attending Dunvale Primary in the country. He was raised in the church, Seventh Day Adventist, where he sang in the church choir.

During the last year, much curiosity has arisen over this young performer. In an interview the morning following his June 6th appearance at the Caribana, the youthman himself told us of his origins, his music, and his future plans.

What was it like growing up in Kingston 12?

It was like a ghetto kind of life, you know. You know ghetto? Where the poor people live. That's where I grow up. But even though the people was poor, it was still kinda comfortable. I still enjoy because knowing that I grow up in the ghetto, many people was livin' worse. We wasn't still the worse. We just enjoy what kinda life we livin'.

Which other artists came from your area?

Several artists - Barrington Levy, Little John, Michael Prophet, Frankie Paul, Al Campbell . . . all those artists come from that area.

How did you get started musically?

I started by singing on sound system, right? Youth Promotion, Sugar Minott's sound. I start singing on Youth Promotion and singing some songs in dance and that's where the people really first know me from.

How did you meet Sugar?

I meet Sugar at his home on Robert Crescent in Kingston. Well, I know him from a long time but never as a person to talk to. Only when the music passed through my area I used to hear him and that's it. Till when mi decide to start singing serious now. Wan' check him out by his home.

So he gave you an audition?

Him give me a audition and it sound good so him start recording me by doing two songs first. The first two still don't release as yet. One of them called African Children and one called Live and Love. I write them.

What was your first release?

Roll Call, from Powerhouse, George Phang. It release around February, 1985.

How did you come by your name?

Well, it was given to me by a little boy. You know of Big Youth? There was a song Big Youth did called Tenor Saw. You ever hear that song? I used to love dance that song. Whenever I hear it play, I just dance, dance, dance 'til other people just start calling me Tenor Saw. I just take the name about seven years now. More than that, about 8 or 9 years now 'cause I was really small. And mi just check the name and it really rub out to be a nice name.

Is there anyone else in your family who is musically inclined?

Yeah, my father is a singer but he didn't get a chance to do no recording. So it's just me really come get the time to start doing some recording. I'm planning to record a few songs with me and him together in the future. He's livin' in the countryside in Jamaica now. He's look' after a farm and tings like that.

Is that where your grandmother lives?

(Laughing) Yeah, that's where my grandmother live. That's how I come to create Pumkin Belly. Caw when I go there to spend time with my father, I spend some time with my grandmother. That's where she live, in the countryside, Trelawny.

Explain to me what "How water walk go a pumkin belly" means.

Well, to tell you the truth, I can't explain how it walk. That's why I say in the song (singing), "It would be better if you ask my mommy." I really don't know. (laughter all around) Can't really tell you still.

What inspires you to write a song?

It's another singer. Barrington Levy. Is a singer who really, each time I hear a new song he did, I sing harder and write harder 'til I finally make myself write right in the business.

I see that a lot of your songs are very spiritual.

Yeah, I sing most of all culture song, you know. Sending a message 'caw reggae music is message music. It singing about what's going on, everyday life, reality. Like singing about something people should be doing. Life Praise Jahoviah and all them songs . . . I was brought up in the church anyhow, you know. So I really got that vibes from a small child growing up. When I was younger I used to sing in church.

Tell me about the awards you've won so far.

I win awards for Sunsplash '85, I win an award for Dancehall '85 - Best Artist of the Year. I win a next award in Chicago, Most Promising Artist, equal with Ini Kamoze.

How has winning these awards affected you? Does it make you want to work harder?

Yeah, sure. Not only make me wanna work harder, but I work harder because those awards that I receive really brighten up my days. Show me that there's a lot of future ahead so mi haffe start with some other work now.

You're a young man. You do you handle being exposed to all the pitfalls in this business, like the cocaine?

I'm far from those stuff. If it's here, I'll try to walk a million miles from the cocaine and all the rest of that. I don't see where that make no sense. I don't see where that really help no one. Because coke is drugs and people who start using cocaine, them just can't stop. They become a addict, and not only a addict but it really break you down. It make you into a good for nothin'. You end up in life as a pauper. 'Cause I've seen many artists who come and start using drugs and fade away so.

What are your plans for the future?

Well, I plan for the future to go a long way with music. I really want to take time out sometime this year and go to music school and learn much, much more about music and then start recording some. It's like I'm gonna start all over again.

Have you had any formal training yet?

No. All that I know is from other artists like Sugar Minott. There's a lot more to learn. Anyway, right now throughout the world you can't stop learning. There's always a lot of things for me to learn in music.

Do you play any instruments:

Yeah, I'm just starting to play box guitar.

Is there anything you want to say to your fans?

Well, the greatest message to all of my fans all over the world and all those wonderful listeners, and I'm sayin' that each and every one should really see themselves more in this time and keep living in love and unity. 'Cause unity is strength and keep praising the Almighty and I hope they will see me soon someday. Love to them all.