Joe Higgs, como já mencionado, foi professor de canto de várias estrelas do reggae. Fez parte da dupla Roy e Wilson no final dos anos 50 e foi fundamental na fundação da música moderna, gravando pela primeira vez em 1958, tanto como artista solo quanto com Roy Wilson.
Seu primeiro lançamento com Wilson, “Oh Manny Oh”, em 1958, foi um dos primeiros discos a ser impresso na Jamaica, vendendo 50.000 cópias. Joe Higgs foi um artista popular na Jamaica por quatro décadas e era conhecido como o pai do reggae.
No último dia 3 de junho, se estivesse vivo, Joe teria completado 84 anos. Nessa data, em sua homenagem, ocorreu um tributo realizado pela Joe Higgs Foundation e a Inna De Yard Binghistra Movement.
O artista, além de ter sido professor de canto dos Wailers, foi também o substituto de Bunny Wailer na turnê realizada pela banda nos Estados Unidos e foi líder da banda de Jimmy Cliff. Chegou até a abrir os shows do seu ex-aluno Jimmy.
Joe Higgs gravou vários trabalhos em carreira solo que valem a pena para qualquer amante do reggae ter em sua coleção, como o álbum “Family” de 1988. Mesmo tendo muitas músicas executadas e tendo sido responsável pela fundação da música moderna, Higgs falava que nunca foi retribuído como merecia.
Um dos recados está na canção “There’s a Reward for Me”, bastante executada nos salões de reggae do Maranhão. Joe Higgs faleceu em dezembro de 1999. Antes de sua morte, fez ainda dois shows em São Luís do Maranhão.
English — 84 Years of Joe Higgs
Joseph Benjamin Higgs was a music teacher to Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Bunny Wailer, Jimmy Cliff, and Wailing Souls. Today, on “Reggae in the Vein”, we will talk a little about the trajectory of this great Jamaican star who was born on June 3, 1940.
As already mentioned, Joe Higgs was a singing teacher to several reggae stars. He was part of the duo Roy and Wilson in the late 50s and was fundamental in the foundation of modern music, recording for the first time in 1958, both as a solo artist and with Roy Wilson.
His first release with Wilson, “Oh Manny Oh”, in 1958, was one of the first records to be printed in Jamaica, selling 50,000 copies. Joe Higgs was a popular artist in Jamaica for four decades and was known as the father of reggae.
On the last June 3rd, if he were alive, Joe would have turned 84 years old. On this date, in his honor, a tribute took place carried out by the Joe Higgs Foundation and the Inna De Yard Binghistra Movement.
The artist, in addition to having been a singing teacher to the Wailers, was also the substitute for Bunny Wailer on the tour carried out by the band in the United States and was the leader of Jimmy Cliff’s band. He even opened the shows for his former student Jimmy.
Joe Higgs recorded several works in his solo career that are worth having for any reggae lover in their collection, such as the 1988 album “Family”. Even though he had many songs performed and was responsible for the foundation of modern music, Higgs said that he was never rewarded as he deserved.
One of the messages is in the song “There’s a Reward for Me”, often played in the reggae halls of Maranhão. Joe Higgs passed away in December 1999. Before his death, he performed two more shows in São Luís do Maranhão.
Coluna “Reggae na Veia”; Artigo 030;
Riba Sousa — Comunicador e Pesquisador de Reggae;
Viana, Maranhão, 06 de junho de 2024.