VP releases songs from the 'Fortis' vault

Howard Campbell, Gleaner Writer

Some of Jamaica's most celebrated musical minds attended Kingston College (KC). So, when 'old boy' Donald 'Clive' Davidson called on some of them to contribute to an album benefiting the school, they were only happy to help out.

The result is Kingston College Old Boys Association Musical Anthology, a 12-track set recently released by VP Records through its 17 North Parade series.

The album has songs from noted alumni such as musicians Tyrone Downie, Augustus Pablo and Harold Butler, singer Dobbie Dobson, producers Mikey Bennett, Winston Blake, Donovan Germain and Whitfield 'Witty' Henry.

Downie's contribution is a cover of Mission Impossible, originally done by keyboardist/ arranger Jackie Mittoo, another KC past student. Pablo's mystic instrumental, Java, is also included.

Henry and Bennett, who excelled as producers during the 1980s and 1990s, contributed two of their biggest hits: Teach The Youths, by Barrington Levy, and Can You, done by Brian and Tony Gold, respectively.

Davidson, who attended KC from 1958 to 1962, said he toyed with the idea of compiling an album of songs by old boys for some time. He decided to finally get it going following an old-boys function in New York City last May.

"I thought it was the right time, so I started making the calls and everybody I contacted was supportive," Davidson said.

Davidson is the older brother of Dr Winston Davidson, a member of KC's legendary 1965 Manning Cup football team and a former president of the KC Old Boys Association.

Inspired by teachers

Raised in the east Kingston community of Franklyn Town, said his years at KC were fruitful. He was inspired by stalwart teachers like Douglas Forrest and the enduring school motto, 'Fortis cadere cedere non potest' (The brave may fall but never yield).

He said his contemporaries at KC included Dobson, Mittoo and Howard Barrett, an original member of The Paragons, the vocal trio that had numerous hit songs for producer Arthur 'Duke' Reid's Treasure Isle label.

In recent years, Davidson has helped coordinate the 17 North Parade series with VP's Clive Chin, a KC old boy who produced Java. Chin's younger brothers, Chris and Randy, are senior executives at VP.

Kingston College Old Boys Association Musical Anthology will be sold locally by the KCOBA and its affiliates in Atlanta, New York City, Florida and Toronto. Proceeds go to the school's building fund.