Bob Marley brings prisoners for Palma

Jah Thomas was not the only unexpected caller who turned up at Triston Palma's home. "Before that, in Spliff Tail time, me at my home and me see a big truck come full a pure man a look for Triston Palma," he told The Sunday Gleaner.

"My mother now, she no play, she waan know a who. Me see a red BMW draw up in front of the truck. The man say we want him do a show. My mother say 'do a show?'. Him say a him we waan come do a show a General Penitentiary (GP)," Palma said.

The man was Bob Marley and Jacob Miller was with him. "Me step forward and say a me," Palma said.

He not only performed at GP that day, but also in Tivoli Gardens at a Claudie Massop memorial. Palma said it turned out the men in the truck were actually prisoners.

Palma rubbed shoulders with many of Jamaica's musical greats at a very young age. He says Sugar Minott, Tony Tuff, guitarist Tony Chin and Freddie McGreggor "were great influences. The whole a we start a Kingston 13. John Holt did up deh and Junior Byles".

biggest wish

Dennis Brown and Big Youth did rehearsals with Soul Syndicate Band and Palma says "one of my biggest wish was to meet D Brown, so me go up and watch the rehearsal until me and him become the biggest brethren".

Then, he said, "Sugar Minott buil' a thing called Youthman Promotion with me, Little John and Steelie, over Frog City, off Maxfield". After that core came Tenor Saw, Yami Bolo, Junior Reid and many more. "Sugar was a godfather to I an I them time. Is a man whe make you know the good. Him and Tony Tuff make me know harmony good," he said.

Palma started singing professionally at 11 years old, doing harmonies for Tuff and Minott. He remembers doing a Reggae Sunsplash, which Yellowman closed, then going to the United States (US) the following day to perform with him at Madison Square Garden.

In those early days Palma also toured with Mighty Sparrow, Calypso Rose and Lone Ranger.

He points out that in Europe Joker Smoker is his signature song, while Entertainment is the favourite in the US and in Jamaica.

"When me do Reggae Sunsplash and Madison Square Garden as a youth and people react, me cyaa feget that," Palma said.

- M.C.