As a producer, Winston "Niney" Holness has worked with some of reggae's greatest singers. He rates Gregory Isaacs among the best.
Holness produced "Slavemaster" and "Ba Da", two popular songs by the singer who died October 25, 2010, 10 years ago.
"Gregory was a good Bwoy! A sample man...there was no man like Gregory, him was one of a kind," said Holness.
The Montego Bay-born Holness said he first met Isaacs in the early 1960s, long before both launched their vocal and production careers. A decade later, Holness produced "Rock On", the first song he produced by Isaacs.
In 1974, they teamed again on "Ba Da" followed four years later by "Slavemaster" which both featured the Soul Syndicate Band.
Holness said he was with Isaacs in London during the last days of his life, visiting him regularly at the home he was staying. Isaacs died there from cancer at age 60.
At the time they first collaborated, Holness and Isaacs were establishing themselves as producer and artist. Holness had a hit song as an artist with "Blood And Fire" in 1971, but made his name two years later by producing songs like "Cassandra" and "Westbound Train" by Dennis Brown and "Silver Words" by Ken Boothe.
Isaacs had hits with "Lonely Soldier" and "Love is Overdue".
According to Holness, Isaacs' jocular nature was responsible for many of his songs.
"When Gregory come studio a pure argument an' card a draw. Whole heap a dem drama an' card dey him write song from dem," he said.
Written By Howard Campbell