Lymie Murray Interview (Reggae Month feature)

I first heard Paul "Lymie" Murray singing at Cell Block studio in Kingston Jamaica. He was giving direction to a singer in the studio-- ad-libbing and doing runs like you wouldn't believe. Of course the main thing that stuck in my mind was him comparing the connection between the song and the audience to the act of lovemaking. " The song must have a climax!" "You have to give the DJ a reason to keep playing your song!" And you know hearing the name Lymie reminded me of one very special website (wink wink, LOL). So it was unlikely that I would forget him. That first instance was just a taste really, a mere droplet of sound and charisma that I would soon see in full effect not long after. Lymie totally wowed me, as well as a slew of admirers (especially of the female kind LOL), at the 2010 Jamaica Jazz and Blues festival's talent stage in Greenfield Stadium. To say he is like Teddy Pendergrass or even Maxwell with dreads is such an oversimplification of the talent that is Lymie, but its a start.

Born October 24th in the community of Royal Flat in the parish of Manchester, Jamaica, the same parish, which graced us with Luciano, Tony Rebel and the unforgettable Garnett Silk, Lymie's musical career began with performances at church, school concerts, private parties, weddings and other social events from as early as age seven. His musical influences include international artists like Al Green, Marvin Gaye, James Ingram and Jeffrey Osbourne, as well as Jamaican ballad and lovers rock specialists such as Beres Hammond, Maxi Priest and Dennis Brown.

Lymie attended Decarteret and Knox College where he studied Business Management, before leaving for Kingston to begin what he terms; ‘the nine to five experience’ which spanned a total of two and half years, during which time he was introduced to producer Desmond ‘Shangul’ Lawson who produced his debut single "Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head" and who also co-produced with Dalton Brownie, Lymie’s debut album Happy Days. In 1993 Lymie began singing with a band call SKOOL led by former Chalice drummer Desi Jones. SKOOL played on all of the U.S. Sunsplash tours from 1993 onward, working alongside Diana King, Dennis Brown, Barrington Levy, Steel Pulse, Judy Mowatt, Big Mountain, Toots Hibbert, Gregory Isaacs, and many more top names from the reggae world. They toured extensively across the U.S., Europe, Asia and South America. The band had compiled a ‘live’ album entitled "SKOOL in Session" before Lymie decided to pursue a solo career in 1997.

It was during the Sunsplash tour in 1997, that a relationship between young Lymie and lovers rock crooner Freddie McGregor took shape, his first release on the Big Ship label was "Jah I Wanna Be With You Now" which was featured on the Midem 1997 compilation. His second release was a cover of the Tammi Tyrell and Marvin Gaye classic "Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing," which he soulfully sang with the songstress Zoe Fox. Lymie began touring and opening for Freddie McGregor soon after. The collaboration between Barry Clarke (BCR International), Dalton Brownie (Busy Bee Records), U.K. based Stingray Records as well as Big Ship label was the beginning of what was to become Lymie’s third album Start All Over later released by Jet Star (UK).

Apart from processing one of the most soulfully expressive voices heard in contemporary reggae, Lymie is also a songwriter, writing most of his own material. Some of his finest work includes "Blessed," "Everytime I Touch You," and"Jah Fire." Lymie was honoured to be included in the UB40 21st Anniversary Concert celebration held in Birmingham, England in September 2001. He also performed on the London Philharmonic series headlined by John Holt and Ken Boothe. In December of the same year Reggae lovers were treated to his most prolific album to date- Only Conversation released on Big Ship/VP Records. 2002 commenced with promotional album tours of Japan, USA and the Caribbean. Upon returning to Jamaica he established Lime Lite Inc. which is a multi-faceted production house. In 2003 Lymie delivered superb performances on Rebel Salute, Western Consciousness, To Mom with Love which featured Johnny Gill and the Isley Brothers (May 14) and also Capleton’s St. Mary Mi Come From! 2004 and 2005 were also remarkable years for Lymie, local performances in that period included Summer Hype and East Fest. In addition, the singer spent considerable time in the studio recording for future projects. Lymie is featured on the video for the Battlefield Compilation Album which is receiving heavy rotation on the local cable channels. On the heels of this tune Gumption Productions also released "Breathe of Life" featuring Jah Thunda, which is an inspiring, hardcore collaboration with the Singer and David House D.J. On May 24th 2006 the Time for Love album compilation was launched at the Pegasus Hotel Poolside where Lymie brought the words of his song "Slow and Easy" to life with passionate animations and melodic slurs unique to this artiste. Lymie also mesmerized audiences on “International Reggae Day” at the Cable & Wireless Golf Academy on July 1, 2006, “Summer Hype” 2K6 at the Goodyear Oval, St. Thomas on July 22, and Capleton’s “A St. Mary Mi Come From” in St. Mary on August 6th.

But at the end of the day when the Show-lights are dimmed Lymie finds his “Haven” in the Studios. He says, “My passion is to touch people with my music and sincerely hope that the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in the sight of God.” When asked what inspires him, Lymie replies “Love, Life, Longevity- not only in the musical sense, but also as a blueprint for everyday life.”
Soulful Crooner, Rastafarai Lover, Refrigerator (lol..soon find out)....Lymie Murray you are officially Lime Certified!!!!



Q & A

1. Who are your top five musical influences?
The balladeers. Artists like Dennis Emanuel Brown, Gerald Alston (from the Manhattans), Al Green, Smokie Robinson and Jacob Miller.


2. What is it you love most about your Jamaican heritage?
The Jamaican motto says out of many one people; so that pride that we take in ourselves, that pride that carries us forward to achieve a Usain Bolt kind of status, that pride that carries us to achieve that Bob Marley status, is an endearing trait among Jamaicans—that sense of country.


3. If you could have dinner with any three persons, who would you pick and why?
Henry Kissinger- he has a wealth of information because he has served many presidents— a veteran.
Barack Obama to get an understanding of that audacity of hope, because there is a whole lot of stuff that he could tell that never got said on the campaign trail. That thing that motivated him—not even to where he is; but the journey. Living the process. I would have loved for him to tell me how he lived that process to get to where he is right now. So the process is what I am interested in. Bill Clinton because he has that charisma. He has that presence that Michael Manley had, the same kind of presence that Bob Marley had
So if I could choose another Bob Marley would definitely be there. I would have loved to sit with Margaret Thatcher-I’m a sucker for powerful women
(me interjecting: so what happen to Ms. Charles (Dame Mary Eugenia Charles of Dominica) the Iron Lady of the Caribbean, it’s first female Prime Minister)
Never got as familiar with her history, and trust me, me feel bad about it and trust me it should be on the fingertips, on the lips; but world leaders-people in the seat that determines whether it pop or it don’t pop. Those people that have their finger on the pulse. She could be classified as being among those-being the first female PM in the Caribbean she must have aspired long and hard so where praise is due it should be given


4. What is your worst habit?
I don’t want to say I’m too kind….uhmmm….Smoking


5. If you could describe yourself as a household appliance what would you be and why?
I would be the refrigerator because I get to preserve the nourishment of the household and I am essentially responsible for the essence of who you are. Your food is you. So I am responsible for keeping you healthy.


6. Have you ever had an embarrassing moment on stage or in public?
Yeah, both. Reggae Sunsplash, 1996 I think. I was lead singer for a band called SKOOL. I was onstage inna di happiest moment and traumatic (more traumatic than embarrassing) I pulled a muscle right cross mi shoulder ( no one know shoulder ache like someone who has been there, pull a muscle, tear a ligament, whatever). The pain shot down my entire back, had to shut down de band and so I had to, in the middle of a performance, drag myself off stage. Wata run outta mi eye man...


7. When did you know you wanted to be an entertainer?
I don’t want to say I always knew, it’s almost like I evolved. I used to do the 9-5-just go to work and come home. One day in the office a brethren came in and said “who’s Lymie?” and I said “me” and him say “Oh you need to come sing you know cause we hear say you ah big singer.” So I left the 9-5 experience in 1991/1992. During the days I was with SKOOL there wasn’t that sense of individuality of who I was, what I wanted. I was with a group so anything the group decided I had to go with it. I was always advocating for a Third World kind of experience but these cats were far older than I was, they had their fair share of industry experience and I think that is one of the things that stopped me from not stepping into the whole Lymie movement earlier. But in 1998 when we finished the album Happy Days, that was when I was sure. Even if we had the songs leading up to then--having the physical album in my hand was when I knew.


8. When you are long gone. What do you want to be remembered for?
Someone who always tried to say something positive, something that would liberate the people, that would give you that greater sense of self, that would make you love a new someone. I hope I am planting these seeds that will bear these fruits; right now we are seeing the beautiful blossoms. So I water the plants so that they grow and by extension bear fruit. Cause you have trees that grow and grow and grow and you chop them down after a while cause dem just big and odious and don’t serve a purpose really. Which…I shouldn’t say that because every tree has a purpose. Some trees might not serve the purpose that we want or be in the right location suitable for its purpose. So a fruit tree would be useful to you and your kids especially if planted where everyone hangs out. So we want to plant those seeds that will bear those fruits so that can feed the people. Like my music-- which educates and edifies.


9. If you could spend 5 hours in your favorite city, where would you go and what would you do?
Don’t know if I have a favorite city, except that I love my hometown. I am going to be in one place and have all my needs met, it would have to be in the town where I was born, Royal Flat in the parish of Manchester. I would be there with the people who gave me life, the woman who was the first to hear me when I cried (that’s my mother of course). Reconnect with my roots.


10. What are your favorite:
Sport-American Football
female actress-Jessica Alba
breakfast food-cornmeal porridge
day of the week-Wednesday cause it’s the crossroads
book-Mandela






Go With Your Gut
11. Great legs or gorgeous hair (on a woman)?
Great legs

12. Home cook or take out?
Home cooked

13. Blue balls or black eye?
Black eye

14. Knowledge or wisdom?
Wisdom

15. Blue or yellow?
Blue-for it’s intensity; even the darker shades.




Finish It

16. I knew it was love when I fell. I became humbled to the point where it just happened –cause love happens to you.

17. Condoms are a must use not only a must have.

18. I am addicted to Rastafari.

19. I love it when people speak their minds. Cause then I know who they are and what they represent. Without that knowledge we cannot co-exist.

20. Lymie Murray is truly blessed.

Click HERE to read Lymie's REGGAE MONTH Questions

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Lymie's Latest Release "Good Morning Jamaica"



Love this vid!