A quarter century of Alric and Boyd - Duo returns to local radio tomorrow

When the turntable duo of Alric and Boyd was formed, the reverberations of radio divestment were still being felt on Jamaica's media landscape, with IRIE FM all of two years old, there was still a JBC FM Stereo and the voices of persons like Buju Banton, Bounty Killer and Beenie Man, who are now staples of retro music parties, were just taking full flight.

Boyd knew Alric from 1986, but getting a crack at playing music in the crew which Alric was a part of, took more than being acquainted. At the time Alric was playing at some other clubs which have all gone the way of good memories for those who flocked them - Godfathers, 24 Karat and Illusions. It took two years for Boyd to convince Alric to give him a chance.

AUDITION

Eventually there was an opening in the crew of deejays and in 1992, Boyd got a crack at an audition, held at Andrew Henry's house.

"I went, played my music and the room was silent. I got the job immediately," Boyd said. It was also the birth of the Alric and Boyd duo, paired by Henry.

Twenty-five years later, Boyd tells The Sunday Gleaner that they have had no fights, but life changes have naturally, had an impact on their partnership, so it "had to be put aside for a minute, between travelling and living in separate parts of the island".

For, unlike many persons involved in the music business, they both live outside Kingston. Alric is in Montego Bay, St James, and Boyd also on the north coast in Ocho Rios, St Ann.

This means, Boyd said, "we have to choose the gigs we honour, to see if both of us are available. That is the only challenge."

Alric and Boyd, have taken on some challenges, especially with EDM, plugging the high-energy music in clubs such as Harry's Bar on Constant Spring Road and Asylum in New Kingston. In 1995 they started playing on FAME and 14 of their 25 years together have been on the airwaves. For the last seven years, the duo's broadcasting involvement has been through channels outside of Jamaica's extensive network. However, starting tomorrow, they officially resume their broadcasting stint with Energy FM (formerly Hot 102).

"Playing from radio is very different from playing for a party," Boyd said. "Playing for radio is catering to a wide audience and, playing for a party, you are catering to an audience right in front of you." For the airwaves, he said, "you have to play and sound like you know what you are doing on radio."

CONTINUE TO PRODUCE

Alric and Boyd continue their music production, working as Third Planet. To their credit, they already have Jill Scott's Love to Love, Sly and Robbie for the Cool Runnings soundtrack; Sean Paul's Dutty Rock and work with Beenie Man and Elephant Man. Now, "our work has been signed to Defected Records," Boyd said.

With Jamaican radio again at their fingertips, Boyd said the duo is feeling awesome.

"I can't express how I feel. It is so amazing this is happening," he said.

Their quarter century has not gone without celebration, as they marked the milestone at EDX in the summer at Palisadoes. There are plans for a bigger celebration as Boyd tells The Sunday Gleaner, "Iin December, we are planning something huge, Alric and Boyd and Friends, with a lot of international DJs."