Singer Lij Amlak remembers his brother Garnett Silk

December 9 will make 30 years since Rastafarian reggae singer Garnett Silk made his transition, and two days ago – April 2 – was the 58th anniversary of his birth. In tribute to Garnett, Rub-A-Dub Tuesdays hailed him with a segment led by veteran selector Ricky Trooper, featuring the powerful and still fresh songs and exclusive dubplates from the singer whose voice was renowned for being “smooth like silk” – hence his moniker.

These dates and the tribute are particularly significant for singer, Lij Amlak, for more reasons than one. The entertainer is one of the few persons who shared Garnett’s last moments during the tragic fire which claimed his life, and cut short a career that was destined for super-stardom. As Silk’s younger brother, Amlak was his constant companion and he cannot recall a day when he doesn’t remember his brother.

“Garnett lives in me ... every day that God send I think about him,” shared the singer, whose real name is Paul Cassanova.

“You could say that I was like Garnett handbag. I was the first lickle youth who Garnett carry to Kingston with him. We used to tek a bus from Mandeville and then another one to Ken Hill Drive in Pembroke Hall at [Tony] Rebel place. I was there when Garnett was making all dem big songs. Him was a positive youth ... Garnett was my teacher and still is,” Amlak added.

Although his list of favourite Garnett songs is too long to name them all, Amlak highlighted Bless me, Keep Them Talking, and Fill us up With Your Mercy. Garnett, who started his career in the early ‘80s as a deejay named Little Bimbo, switched to singing, at the suggestion of veteran singer, Derrick Morgan. In 1992, he recorded his début album, It’s Growing, with producer Bobby Digital, and it would become one of the best selling in Jamaica that year. Silk’s first major hit, Hello Mama Africa, produced by Richard ‘Bello’ Bell for the Star Trail label, topped the reggae chart in Britain. Other hit songs included Zion in a Vision, Lord Watch Over Our Shoulders and Thank You Jah.

“Garnett was a positive youth and him sing what him stand for. Every line that Garnett sing him believe it. His principle is a thing that guide me every day. What I would like to do is develop the yard in Hatfield where we can celebrate Garnett in the right way ... that yard is a significant place where people from all over come and visit. Just like Bob Marley have Nine Miles, we can do this for Garnett,” Amlak said.

The premises in Hatfield is the place where Garnett lost his life trying to save their mother from a fire in December 1994. Amlak, who was 17 years old at the time, suffered burns and was taken to hospital.

“It is still very sensitive and emotional,” he said of the incident. “Is something that you cannot get over. At times yuh feel down, but at other times yuh feel peaceful.”

A Rastafarian who upholds consciousness, Amlak has been carving out his own musical path for more than two decades, recording the single See the Trouble, for Courtney Cole’s Roof International label back in the day. The song received moderate airplay and he followed it up with several recordings for various labels such as Millennium Records from Canada; Flames Records, the family-owned Silk Kulcha Yaad Records and others. Among his other songs are Want All, Susu, Love Is What We Need, Rising from the East, Hottaball, Way Things Are and Love Alone, which is a collaboration with his brother Omar Silk and Land Lord.

His newest release is Don’t Hide it, a song aimed at the youth and which is part warning, part encouragement.

“We have to mek di youth dem know that dem just can’t walk around a kill innocent people like that ... it not right ... and those guys who are buying guns and sending them down also need to stop it. And then dem drive fear into people that dem musn’t be an informer. Well, if I know that a man kill my neighbour who is innocent, I am going to report it ... because he could be coming for me next. We can’t hide it, that’s the message of the song,” Amlak said.

The single, which is on the Silk Kulcha Yaad Records label and is distributed by VPal, was released on February 13. An accompanying music video is in the works and Amlak is forging ahead to release an EP of conscious and spiritual songs later this year.

“We have to carry on the legacy,” Amlak declared.

yasmine.peru@gleanerjm.com