THERE IS ONLY one Maxi Priest, stated the man who bears the name.
“If you Google it, you will only see one person. You know how you put in a name like George William and a whole heap of people come up? When you put in Maxi Priest that doesn’t happen,” he said matter-of-factly, while urging me to go online on my tablet.
I did. And he was right.
When it comes to roots reggae, with plenty of soul and just enough sweetness to make it “pop”, one singer stands head and shoulders above the rest – Maxi Priest.
His buttery smooth voice and flowing dreadlocks have made him a heart-throb for female fans and at 53 years old, the overused cliché – ageing like fine wine – is more than apt to describe him as he still looks the same as he did over 33 years ago when he came on the scene.
Born Max Alfred Eliott to Jamaican parents in London, England, he was the eighth of nine children. His parents, like many other Jamaicans, emigrated to “the motherland” from St Elizabeth, Jamaica, in search of better opportunities for the family.
He started singing in church and he grew up listening to gospel, reggae, R&B and pop music.
In London, Max started working with sound systems, a symbol prevalent in many Caribbean communities there and began performing at house parties with sound system Saxon Studio International (of which he is a founding member).
Max started writing lyrics and releasing independent singles and in 1984 was signed to Virgin label.
He needed a moniker to go along with his music, appealing also to his Rastafarian faith.
“It came from the 12 Tribes of Israel, 12 sons of Jacob and according to which month you were born would be your tribe. I was born in month of June which is the tribe of Levi and the tribe of Levi is the priest.
“In the early days when I started out they called me Levi and at the time we were on the sound system they had Philip Levi and myself as Levi. It kinda bothered me all the while so I did some research and said ok Maxi and tag on the Priest and it just kinda rang and everybody liked it and it stuck.”
Maxi Priest was “born” and the natural progession would be to release his first album in 1985. He was so enthusiastic to record an album that he didn’t look at the longevity of it.
“I was recording music from previous years so we had enough material to put on it. I was just happy to get a record deal and release an album.”
Over the years, Maxi would get sign to three other labels and put out eight more albums, the last being Refused in 2007 and also three compilations (1991, 2000 and 2012).
When the last album was released in 2007, Maxi took a break and started touring (at one time with British band UB40).
“One of the main reasons [for the break] was the business was changing at that time. So many different things happening with the Internet, downloads, you’re not really kinda sure of how to sell music anymore . . . . The traditional way of selling CDs or records or tapes had changed.
“I was fortunate at the time that I had a few hits under my belt so I could just start touring and making the business and things just sorta sorted itself out.”
Elaborating more on the technology and the changes he had to face, he said it hasn’t been easy.
“It has been difficult adapting somewhat, but at the same time what is easy? You just have to have an open mind to embrace things, and in order to move forward we have to evolve. The gap of those seven years made me understand that I have to appreciate those changes.”
Maxi has been to almost every country in the world performing to sold-out crowds and while he has a slew of hits, he gave a brief history behind four of the biggest: Close To You, Set The Night To Music, Housecall and That Girl.
The 1990 Billboard No. 1 hit Close To You: “I just remembered I was in the middle of doing another album with [producers] Sly & Robbie and we were writing songs. I was travelling from South East London to North East London where we were working that day. It was a sunny day and I was kicking it in my jeep, and I was just singing and these lyrics came to me. In the studio I was still singing it and everyone was like ‘we like that. Let’s just do that’. We stopped what we were working on and started working on that song.”
American Top Ten hit in 1991, Set The Night to Music (duet with American singer Roberta Flack): “I got a phonecall and I heard ‘Hi, this is Roberta Flack’. And I said ‘who?’ And she said ‘Roberta Flack’ and I said ‘pull the other one’ and she said ‘no this is Roberta Flack, is this Maxi Priest?’ And I said ‘yes’ and she said ‘I love what you do and I appreciate what you do and I would like to work with you’. My smile was from one ear to the next and I couldn’t wait to get off the phone to tell everyone and the rest as they say is history.”
That Girl (with Jamaican singer Shaggy peaked at No. 20 in 1996 on the US charts): “He was introduced to me by Robert Livingston who was his manager and we had a friendship that went back to us selling records from out the trunk of a car. He brought Shaggy on the road with us. When we were in Brazil Shaggy got invited to do the song on Top of The Pops in England. I told him to go and the rest again is history.”
Housecall (with Shabba): “We were vibing in the studio. And I said “Shabba” during the recording then I added “Maxi Priest and Shabba”. It was nothing ever thought of. We were vibing and ad libbing and freestyling. I said the words and the producers liked it and just put it on the track.
Fast forward to 2014 and there is a new album, Easy To Love, which he is now promoting, with 12 tracks, six of which are love songs.
Asked if the album is dedicated to or written with someone special in mind he replied, “Yes, you. And everybody else,” laughing loudly. “That’s me. As the saying goes, love is the key . . . Love has been the bloodstream that has run throughout the whole of my music career. It is nothing new. It is just a continuation.”
Maxi was bubbly, and full of fun and making jokes throughout the interview, even joking when asked how was his health.
He had a scare that had him hospitalised for a while in a touch and go situation.
“I am always sick,” he said in response to being asked. “I am sick in the head,” he continued, chuckling. “No. I am better now and I hope it continues like this for a while.”
The consummate performer with a band he has worked with for the past 20 years, audiences won’t let Maxi leave the stage until he has done two fan favourites: Close To You and Wild World. And to think the latter almost wasn’t recorded.
“I hated it when I did it. I didn’t like the song when it was brought to me. I remember all the way in England when it was brought to me I was like I don’t wanna do the song. I don’t like the song. And who is this Cat Stevens [orginal writer/singer] anyway? And I just kept going on and on like that. When I got into the studio, Sly & Robbie roll off the track and said ‘my yute you fi sing this song’.
Maxi, said still upset, he sang: “I did it. If you listen closely at the end I was singing not the original lyrics. I was being very rude and upset and vex with the whole world as to why I should sing this song. But the great Sly & Robbie said do it and I was like alright, ok. I look back at it now and say damn man I wish I could do the vocals over again. But this is also a learning experience. In that you can overdo things and then you can just it flow.”
Maxi is hoping for great success for the new album Easy To Love, on VP Records, having already shot and released videos for Holiday and the title track.
Holiday was shot in Jamaica and Maxi is always happy to return to his homeland, sharing some “haves to” when he is there.
“I can’t wait to get home and soak in the sun. Have to. And just to feel myself melting away. I have to visit St Elizabeth to visit my people. You see, out of the nine of us, only four were born in England and the rest Jamaica. Growing up in England home was very much Jamaican. Tradition to the bone. I have to have my steamed fish with some okra inside and then simmer down crackers on top with the most vegetables inside.”
Maxi is ever thankful for the support of his fans over the year and says when he is not performing he connects via the Internet.
Calling himself a selfie king, he says he is an avid Facebook and Twitter user.
“I enjoy it. The first hand connection. Reaching out to my fans. They will soon let you know whether you are steering in the right way or not.”
After a couple of more questions, Maxi wrapped up the interview by taking a couple selfies in the lobby of Divi Southwinds Resort where he was staying. And, of course, talking to fans.