Duane Stephenson spends birthday in studio

Singer Duane Stephenson estimates that he has spent more than half of his birthdays working outside Jamaica. So, for his 2017 milestone, last week Saturday, April 22, he spent it in Jamaica - but still working.

"I was in studio for most of the day, putting in work for the next album," he told The Gleaner. He chose the House of Leeds facility in Westmoreland because it is somewhere quiet, where it is possible to work and also make plans for the upcoming year. One of the tracks he was working on was City a Fall, the working title of the album being Exile to Dread Heights.

A memorable birthday call he recieved was from an aunt who tried her voice at singing.

After the studio session, the day was completed with a "chill out".

Among Duane Stephenson's previous albums are Dangerously Roots - Journey From August Town (2014), Black Gold (2010) and the breakthrough, From August Town (2007).

Tarrus Riley's birthday was on Wednesday, April 26. His albums include Love Situation (2014), Mecoustic (2012) and Parables (2006), the last having his enduring hit, She's Royal.

Celebrating their birthdays earlier this month were singer and actor Dr James 'Jimmy Cliff' Chambers (April 1), Aidonia (April 6), Bunny Wailer (April 10), Capleton (April 13), Chaka Demus (April 16) and Sizzla (April 17). The late Garnet Silk's birthday was April 2.

- MC