This is a letter from an artist in Jamaica 
 Please take a moment to read below.  Much thanks!

Jaime
One Drop Productions RAW#888
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Dear Friends:

Many people address me as a reggae artist, but from my point of view I 
wouldn't categorize myself in one corner, just sitting as a picture frame 
that is not doing anything for anyone.  I see myself as a missionary, a 
soldier for Jah.  Whichever way the message comes is the way I send it, 
whether as jazz, blues, reggae, soul ballad, dub poem, or untitled work.  I
can't see myself having a one-track mind to one category of music.  There is 
good and bad in every category of music so you as the listeners should know 
what you are listening to and also what you choose and make sure you choose 
the good.  In this day, time and age, I just want to do good music and put 
out an effective message that is positive.  In the field, I see myself as the 
messenger.  I deliver the message.  There are too many things going on
now for me to be doing negative tunes:  false leaders misleading, managers 
turning to damagers, demoters disguised as promoters, hate crimes are rising, 
psychological attacks on peoples' minds which lead to the great mind game.  I 
can't see how people find the time to be performing negative songs focusing 
on violence or disgraceful x-rated music.  Yes, I do love songs and perform 
for the ladies but in a decent way, sex is beautiful but the way some people 
compose the concept makes it ugly.

When it comes to stage performance, I make sure that I remain conscious and 
not get carried away by whistles and screams.  I am not trying to please the 
audience by giving them what they want to hear but I will give them what they 
need to hear.  My dress code is always casual unless I am in my uniform which 
is a khaki suit or full cammaflouge.  I always make contact with my audience 
through the eyes.

I may not be seen a lot through lack of promotion and that is because my 
financial reservoir is having a severe drought.  Smile.  Simply, this means 
that lack of financial backing has prevented my music from being heard or 
videos being seen.  What has happened for years is that promoters and 
producers are one-track minded.  They only want to take shortcuts and they 
have no time to build new talent or to deal with 100% originality.  So their 
interest lies in people who sound like famous people, negative songs,
disgraceful x-rated song lyrics containing murder and also reproducing beats. 
 Promoters and producers are scared of new original artists.  They are scared 
of originality and this is very bad for the business.  There is so much 
talent that the world has not seen.  They are locked always behind and 
under-promoted.  This problem worries me sometimes but then I just use my 
songs along with some other positive music to comfort me.

I can't forget walking up and down one day and asking for some distribution. 
The first question they asked me was which big artist is on the album.  "Yuh 
have Beenie or Bounty pan di album?"  I said no and they said "It a guh hard 
fi deal with it, mi nuh think wi can deal with it."  He said all this without 
even listening to the product.  That goes out to show there is little room 
for new artists.  I have been on one US tour in 1993.  If it wasn't for the 
good Lord to work through The Wailing Souls it wouldn't have happened.  It 
was the Stir it Up Tour (Cool Runnings Movie Soundtrack) and the other 
artists included Tony Rebel, Tiger, Super Cat, Diana King, Jimmy Cliff, 
Wailing Souls, Worl-A-Girl, and Carla Marshall.  We played in a lot of states 
and some large venues including Madison Square Gardens.  The first time I 
headlined a show was in 1997 in Chicago (Depaul University).

I have 2 album releases and one to come.  My first album is No to Drugs 
(1989) produced by the late Lady C.  This album was limited so there are no 
more around.  My second album is entitled Heart of Love (1997) distributed by 
Issachar, One Drop Productions and Upstairs Entertainment.  The new album 
"Psalms of the Inner City" is complete and ready to go.  For information on 
my music or any question don't be afraid to email me at
upstairsent@hotmail.com or by phone at 876-937-3178.

Please read this letter and pass it on.

Yours truly,

Jubbie