In-Depth
with Loving the Silent
Tears Stars: With much to be proud of, Jamaica marked her 50th anniversary of independence in August 2012. The influence of this beautiful country’s culture can be seen worldwide, one aspect of which is through her music. This lovely island nation is the birthplace of the legendary reggae group, Black Uhuru, which celebrated their 40th anniversary milestone in 2012 – and their participation in the grand musical, Loving the Silent Tears. Representing their beloved country Jamaica in the show, Black Uhuru was among the stars of Loving the Silent Tears. Original founder Derrick “Duckie” Simpson remarked of this special and significant occasion for the group, “Because I’ve been looking at last year’s performance (The Real Love: The Musical), I think it’s going to be exciting. It’s like a new zone for us. First time representing Jamaica, I have never represented Jamaica worldwide. Never done a musical before, but it's all about one love.” Grammy-winning reggae
artists, Black Uhuru (Jamaica): from left, |
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When myKEEtv, a Caribbean television network, interviewed Mr. Simpson on Loving the Silent Tears’ red carpet, he further expressed his admiration for the poet whose verses inspired the show, saying, “All respect due to the Supreme Master Ching Hai.” Reggae legends Veterans in the music industry, Black Uhuru was formed in the Waterhouse district of Kingston, Jamaica in 1972, initially as Uhuru (Swahili for ‘freedom’). Mr. Simpson started the group along with Garth Dennis and Don Carlos. Over the years, Black Uhuru has released many successful albums and remains one of the world’s most important reggae artists.
Black Uhuru worked extensively with famed fellow Jamaician musicians Sly & Robbie, and recorded a string of successful singles, featuring guest guitarist Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones. The band solidified their status at the 1980 Reggae Sunsplash Festival. Their album Red reached #28 on the UK Albums Chart. Red also ranked #23 on Rolling Stone Magazine’s list of “100 Greatest Albums of the 1980s.” With “What is Life?” Black Uhuru reached #1 on the UK Singles Chart. Acclaimed for winning the first ever Grammy for a reggae album, Black Uhuru has opened for The Rolling Stones as well as performed at shows with The Police. In an interview with Supreme Master Television, Mr. Simpson shared, “We won the Grammy in 1984 with the album Anthem and we have been nominated five times. And we have won the Diamond Awards of Excellence in the United States in Washington, DC. We are the only reggae group that ever won that award.” Black Uhuru continues to tour worldwide with Duckie Simpson, Andrew Bees, and Kaye Starh, joined by stellar musicians onstage (often Sly & Robbie). They are currently preparing their newest album and will continue the sound that has defined the group while also exploring new vistas. And this is certainly true through the Loving the Silent Tears musical. Singing Supreme Master Ching Hai’s poetry
On the experience of singing poetry by Supreme Master Ching Hai set to music for the theatrical production, Mr. Simpson related, “You know, it’s funny, that was the way I started. My songs were poems. At first, the song [“Make a Deal”] was kind of hard. But after getting to know it, it’s a very great song. And [Doug Katsaros] who put the song together, he did a great job. It’s a new experience. It’s like a ska/calypso. It’s good to step out of the traditional reggae and into a new zone.” Having recorded “Make a Deal” for the musical’s CD, Kaye Starh expressed how the lyrics moved her, “It helped me to go within myself. And during the recording, that humility and that burst of exuberance, you know? It was really inspirational.” She had further posted on Twitter, “I am awed by the poetry, which was converted into songs, written by the Supreme Master Ching Hai.”
Likewise, Andrew Bees commented, “The song, it gives me an open mind, with a new perspective of ways of getting to God. I see it as, it’s really looking out for the soul, the poor soul, the abuse, the negligence, and all these things that’s created with people over the years, spiritually and physically. And God is there, why is He not attending to all these brutal disadvantages that’s taking place? But it still has direction, where hope is there. It still has a message, looking out for humanity, human rights…” Prior to rehearsals, when asked if they had met any of the other members of the all-star cast, Mr. Simpson replied, “No, we haven’t met anybody else but we are more waiting to meet the Master. First Supreme Lady. I’m waiting to see her vibes and her current. I wish Supreme Master Ching Hai long life.” Ital living With a long tradition of Ital living in Jamaica, Black Uhuru members are very familiar with the concept of veganism and compassion for animals. “It’s amazing, because it’s almost like we think the same,” Mr. Simpson explained. “Like you talk about vegan, but we say ‘Ital food.’ You know, we are the first promoters of Ital food, food without salt, food without meat. That’s the best way to eat. From 1930, we have been promoting, we call it Ital. And you call it vegan. So it’s formally a tradition to us. And Supreme Master Ching Hai, the way she puts her poems together and the things she talks about… The musical is representing a natural form of living and a natural form of eating. That’s the best way and the healthiest way to live. So big up (my respect), Supreme Master Ching Hai.” Kaye Starh also shared a touching story about animals as follows: “The reason I choose to become vegan is because once, I remember we had some fish, and they died because we had just moved. For that evening we prepared some steamed fish, and [my daughter] saw the fish and was like, ‘Mommy, I don’t want to eat fish, this looks like our pet fish.’ It was very difficult just to swallow just a piece of that flesh. And I just changed my mind from eating fish or any other meat that day.” Spreading the love While enjoying the VIP vegan banquet after the musical performance, Andrew Bees said of the US$300,000 contribution that Supreme Master Ching Hai made to honor three charitable organizations, two of which are dedicated to bettering the lives of animals, “My heart goes out to that. You know, it was like the ‘gloriest of glory,’ looking out for the animals. Because there is so much animal abuse all over the world, and it’s so sad. And to see someone who is still looking out, that touches my heart. The animals are proud of you, Supreme Master. I just eat food that’s not animal product, just natural from bean and plants. That’s what I promote all the days in my life.” On the red carpet, amid all the excitement in the air for the anticipated performance, Kaye Starh said, “Spreading the word of peace and unity, and to see that Supreme Master Ching Hai and the rest of the crew here are bringing across the same message, I feel great.” Mr. Simpson also added, “I love her [Supreme Master Ching Hai]. I’d like to really to sit down and just look at her, because to me she is like a modern day Mother Teresa.” Black Uhuru, whose music is all about peace and unity,
had a message to share with everyone: “My name is Duckie
Gong Gong Simpson. I’m Kaye Starh. And I’m Andrew Bees.
Be Vegan, Make Peace.”
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You
have eyes 
