Coozie eyes local market with Sweet Jamaica

Howard Campbell, Gleaner Writer

To those who follow the reggae tour circuit closely, Courtney Coozie Mell Mellers is best known as founder and leader of the Anthem band, a quintet based in Bridgeport, Connecticut.

Mellers has done three albums with Anthem but has recently been doing some solo work as well as songs with old-school deejay Papa Biggy. His latest project is Sweet Jamaica, a tribute to the land of his birth.

I'm singing about the love of my country and what Jamaica means to me. Even though I have not been back there in a long time, it s still a special place for me, Mellers told The Gleaner.

Sweet Jamaica was released by Lifeforce Records, a New Haven, Connecticut label that also distributed Special Friends, one of the songs he did with Papa Biggy. Mellers is eyeing the Jamaican market and is optimistic Sweet Jamaica and Special Friends can do the trick.

Born in St Andrew, Mellers says he immigrated to Connecticut almost 30 years ago and got involved with the bustling music scene in neighbouring New York. He cut several songs as a singer including Documents for veteran Big Apple producer Lloyd Bullwackie Barnes but really established himself as a studio musician, playing on songs by acts like Horace Andy, Max Romeo and Sugar Minott.

In 1996, Mellors started Anthem which has become one of the most in-demand reggae show bands on the United States east coast. It has backed and toured with a number of acts that include Judy Mowatt, Sister Carol, John Holt, Barrington Levy, Gyptian, Ernie Smith and Hopeton Lewis.

Mellers is the only original member of the current Anthem line-up. His nephews, Corey (keyboards) and Jermaine, who plays bass, are also members.