Singjay Mr Easy reflects on being signed by Quincy Jones
Published:Sunday | November 10, 2024 | 12:07 AMAnthony Turner - Sunday Gleaner Writer
A little-known fact in dancehall circles is that in the early 1990s, singjay Mr Easy was signed to multi-Grammy Award-winning music icon Quincy Jones’ Quest Record label. It was a move he hoped would garner him commercial success and catapult him into the mainstream.
Mr Easy, who was living in Flatbush, Brooklyn, at the time, was discovered at an appearance at the famous Showtime at the Apollo in Harlem, New York. After the signing, he released his début album titled Call Me Mr Easy on the Quest/Warner Record label in 1994.
“The Secret Garden album, which he had just produced, was very successful, so I was, like, let me go with Quincy Jones’ label. I had to fly out to California to do the publishing deal,” Mr Easy told The Sunday Gleaner.
Work had started on his second album but Mr Easy would ask to be released owing to the departure of Max Roach, the artistes and repertoire (A&R) at the label, who Mr Easy described as “a fan of reggae”. “We started the second album, but Max Roach, who was the A&R [for the label, who] signed the project, left the label,” he said. “So we were the ones who really ask for the release because they didn’t understand [how] to market reggae music. It was really frustrating, plus the label was a West Coast-based label,” he added.
During his 70-plus years in the entertainment industry, Quincy Jones worked with everyone - from the King of Pop, Michael Jackson to Frank Sinatra. He produced Jackson’s 1979 breakthrough album, Off the Wall, as well as the acclaimed follow-up, Thriller, in 1982, which earned a record six Grammy awards and remains the best-selling record of all time.
Jones also wrote dozens of prize-winning film and television scores. He won 28 Grammy Awards and took home a Grammy Legend Award in 1992. He was scheduled to receive an honorary Academy Award this month. Jones passed away at his home in Bel Air, Los Angeles, last Sunday at 91 years old.
Looking back at his historic signing to Jones’ Quest label, Mr Easy shared that at the time, he was also being courted by Atlantic Records.
“Quincy Jones is a legend. He rated my talent. This is the reason why I continue doing what I’m doing without being discouraged,” he shared.
Mr Easy received a US$280,000 recording budget.
“In 1990, that was a lot of money,” Mr Easy shared. “I also had a $200,000 publishing deal. The first person who called me when I got my deal was Shaggy. He was in the service at the time,” he said.
Born Ian Dyer, Mr Easy is renowned for his smooth vocals and infectious rhythms. Originally from Kingston, he immigrated with his family in his teens from Jamaica to Flatbush in Brooklyn, New York, where he completed his education and began honing his musical talents. His collaboration with producer Dave Kelly on the Madhouse label led to further success, including the widely celebrated track Rain Again, one of the popular songs on the Showtime rhythm.
Throughout his career, Mr Easy has demonstrated remarkable versatility, and his bio, states that he “seamlessly transitions between romantic ballads and high-energy anthems”. Mr Easy garnered notoriety during the so-called golden era of dancehall, releasing a slew of hit songs, including Drive Me Crazy on the Buy Out rhythm; Gone A Lead and Funny Man with Baby Cham. His collaborations with Shaggy, Beenie Man, and Sean Paul also helped to further cement his reputation as a versatile and dynamic artiste.
His 2000 album, Reggae Music, solidified his status as a dancehall heavyweight, and in spite of the evolving music industry, Mr Easy has remained relevant by staying true to his roots. His dedication to his craft and his ability to connect with listeners have earned him a loyal fan base and critical acclaim.
Mr Easy is back on the hit trail with a new single titled Inside. Short audio/video clips of the song that have been teased on various social media platforms have racked up thousands of views.
“It is also gaining traction on various stations around the globe,” the Drive Me Crazy artiste shared.