‘You can’t retire from music,’ says Mary Isaacs

Always referred to as “a songbird”, Mary Isaacs can also recall hearing herself being spoken of as “the white girl who does reggae”, but she refuses to be thrown off course by such oblique references. Isaacs, who has been playing the reggae game strictly by the book of rules for many moons, has not been getting the desired traction, and she has her own opinion on the reason for that. But if there’s one thing she shies away from, it’s controversy.

“I don’t want to open a can of worms, but I often ask myself why. I don’t know if it’s how I look, but I know it’s not a lack of talent. But right now, I just want to be happy. The focus is happiness and positivity and celebration of life and love,” Isaacs said cheerily.

I’m Happy is Isaacs’ latest single after a relatively “sporadic” season of recordings. She wrote it with lyrical contributions by producer/arranger Sangie Davis and recorded for executive producer Jah Lloyd of Issachar Muzik. The track is distributed by Tuff Gong International.

“He saw me perform and contacted me to do this single on his label. The feedback has been good … not getting the airplay that I would like here [in Jamaica] but nuff in New York where I used to live,” explained Isaacs.

UNBOTHERED

Isaacs, who in the late ‘80s was a regular performer for many of New York’s philanthropic organisations and alumni associations, remains unbothered by the same tired old song which spouts lyrics centred around being “too old to be doing music”. She has instead set her sights on making an impact musically whatever the era.

“I will be in this music business as long as God gives me the strength,” she said, almost like an affirmation. “My aim is to gain new fans and take my music to the highest level that it can go. You can’t retire from music; you have to keep going after your goals. If I can gain even one new fan, I would have accomplished what God has intended for me.”

Her last single, Treat me Right, was released in 2019, and before that, there was a 2016 compilation titled Mary Isaacs Then and Now as well as Together Again, which was released in 2014. Her first album, So Good, So Right, was rolled out on vinyl and cassette under the Aqua-Gem Records label. Arranged by Willie Lindo and Julio Herrera, it included greats such as Jackie Mittoo, Mikey Chung, Lisa Fischer and Dobby Dobson. In 1988, selections of the album, together with works of Carlene Davis, were released as a compilation album/CD in Japan. Over the years, she has released singles such as Missing You, Sweet Caribbean Man and Reunited.

Isaacs’ music career began part-time – her full-time job was at a public relations subsidiary of an advertising agency in Manhattan – and she held co-hosts spots on radio shows in New Rochelle, New York. She gained exposure to a wide range of genres as the lead female vocalist of People’s Heritage Band, a US-based Caribbean show and dance ensemble.

Isaacs, who has served on the boards of the Jamaica Association of Vintage Artistes and Affiliates; the Jamaica Reggae Industry Association; as well as the Jamaica Composers, Authors and Publishers, has been honoured by the Caribbean American Chamber of Commerce and Industry; the City of New York and King Omar Promotion in Jamaica, for her outstanding 30-years contribution as a songwriter and performing artiste.

She is currently preparing to go back to the studio with Davis to complete a project for Issachar Muzik.

yasmine.peru@gleanerjm.com