A defining moment for Stephenson

Mel Cooke, Gleaner Writer

August Town was recorded at Grafton Studios, Romell Marshall handling the mixing. "It was such a personal track, I never had any problem recording. It was when you are finished you start getting the reaction," he said. People asked Stephenson if the things he was singing about were real and Stephenson replied that they were - people who were there could pinpoint when August Town changed.

The 'Jungle 12 tyre' Stephenson sings about and sits on at one point during the video is "basically a landmark. It is like the centre". At the end of a marl road, it was put in as a round-a-bout and decorated with plants. However, Stephenson points out that the tyre he sits on in the video is not the original, as that was burnt during the wars as "them say who run the tyre run Jungle 12".

"It was actually the last song that was recorded for the album," Stephenson said. Although it was at that point untitled, he says, "The thing that was consistent was it was personal experience or that of a close relative, or a song that I had a long relationship with, like Cottage in Negril.

Identity

At one point, there were notions of Stephenson taking on the name 'Soul Roots' and also giving the album the same name. But then came that final track and, along with the personal thread running through the songs, it became Duane Stephenson From August Town.

"I say this album is my identity," he said.

He found himself in the development of August Town as well. Once, he went to Tarrus Riley with the song, who "did some stuff" and advised where emphasis was needed. "When him do it, it sound so wicked. But me can't imagine myself doing it like that. Me say me and Tarrus is not the same thing. Me go through with my original thing. Me realise that me is me and the best thing you can be is you," Stephenson said.

"Me kinda find myself musically too."

He said that his first gig after the release in late 2007 of Duane Stephenson From August Town was at a church in Miami. This was after one of the largest black-owned radio stations in Miami started playing it on their gospel channel. He performed August Town, Ghetto Pain, Misty Morning and Heavens Will Rise Up from the pulpit. Stitchie was also a part of that concert.

Among that church audience, Stephenson said, people were saying that they could play the album for their children. It speaks to his approach to music as well, as he says, "I will sing a one herb song in a dance, but never on an album ... . Me nah tell yu fih water dung yu thing, but you have to be careful what you do. At some point you going to eliminate somebody (a potential listener). Me nah be self-righteous, but certain things me no believe must carry mongst kids."

August Town hit the top spot around the Caribbean - though not in Jamaica - and Stephenson recalls doing a concert in Dominica after the album was released. He had been to Dominica before, opening for Tarrus Riley, but "when I went back it was a different vibe. People knew me".

When the music for August Town started, Stephenson said "the track play three time and me stand up". The people were overjoyed and singing lustily. "About the fifth time, them allow me to sing and then take over," he said.

• Taking 'A Step for Mankind'

There is already a video for A Step for Mankind, the song Duane Stephenson wrote that became the World Food Programme's (WFP) signature call this year, appealing for compassion and a helping hand for the many hungry people in the world.

Last weekend, though, Stephenson and The Wailers, with whom A Step for Mankind is done, shot a live video version of the song in San Diego, California, during a Wailers concert. Stephenson said that when it was announced at first there were some sceptics in the audience, but soon enough the audience was listening and liking what it heard.

Rapper Bishop also has a part in the song.

Worldwide reception

Other persons around the world would have already been familiar with the song, as the WFP's website, www.wfp.org records that "on June 6, 2010, an estimated 150,000 people took to the streets in 70 countries around the world to show their support for the work of the United Nations' WFP in the fight against global hunger. The 2010 edition of the annual 'End Hunger: Walk the World' initiative raised enough money to provide a whole year of meals for more than 10,000 schoolchildren".

The walkers would have listened and heeded the call in A Step for Mankind, which opens with:

There is a light that we must follow

It seems far away and yet it's near to you

There's a road that we must take

To see the hunger and heartache,

Children dying, mothers slowly losing faith ...

And the chorus urges:

Take a step for mankind

We can save a child from hunger

So no one will be left behind

Take a step, for the poor and the needy

Take a chance, lend a hand

Be the hero, help to save mankind.

Stephenson said he had been contacted by The Wailers' manager, Jennifer Miller, to write a song for the 2010 'Walk the World' campaign. His approach to crafting A Step for Mankind was to ask himself, "What's the best way to walk the world?" And the answer was, "Take a step". The song was produced by Dean Fraser.

After submitting the song with his vocals, there seemed to have been some surprise at his voice. "I said 'I have a career as a singer'," Stephenson said and was duly included in the song.

Although the official 'Walk the World' day has passed, there is confidence in the song's capacity beyond the event, hence the live video, and Stephenson says The Wailers now include A Step for Mankind in their concerts, whether he is there or not. Stephenson also plans to include it in his performances.

-M.C.