Fans are not accustomed to Tony Roots yearning for his queen, but the singer shows his romantic side on “How Much Longer”, a ballad released by his Ras Guerilla label on September 13.
Like his previous releases, the Florida-based artist collaborated with The Firehouse Crew on a song co-produced by that band’s drummer Melbourne “Dusty” Miller and his Jahbari Miller.
“As a youth mi used to listen to people like Dennis Brown, Gregory Isaacs an’ some Pat Kelly. Dem man dey have di sweetest melodies, an’ for me it’s always good to show yuh versatility as a artist,” said Tony Roots.
The Firehouse Crew’s patented roots sound were evident on “I Can’t Breathe” and “Digi-Human”, Tony Roots’ recent songs which were released in late 2020 and early this year, respectively.
“How Much Longer” has a different feel than those singles as well as the roots songs Tony Roots has recorded for most of his 30-year career. Songs like “Gift of Life” and “Lion King” earned him a strong following in the United Kingdom where he lived for many years.
Tony Roots is from Manchester parish in rural Jamaica. It’s where he developed an appreciation for Rasta and grassroots music, listening to homegrown sound systems such as Destiny Outernational, which helped lay the foundation for the careers of Garnet Silk and Tony Rebel, who are also from Manchester.
He moved to the United Kingdom in the late 1980’s and recorded several strong message-oriented albums and songs for independent companies like Jet Star Records.
Written By Howard Campbell