Don Carlos

 
I always loved Don Carlos' voice. I guess it is the emotional quality with which he sings. I remember playing his "Suffering" and "Harvest Time" albums on my radio show consistently. I would wake everyday and play Harvest Time over and over to start my day. On my first trip to London I hooked up with the Palmer brothers (two very cool dreads) who had first produced Don and recorded the "Suffering" and "Harvest Time" albums on their Negus Roots album in England. I struck a deal where RAS could take the best tracks from these two albums and release "Raving Tonight" in the states. I was so proud. These great tracks which I loved so much and would always play on the radio would now come out on the RAS label. It was like divine inspiration manifesting itself. I went into the Waterhouse area of Kingston to meet with Don and his best friend and co-songwriter known as Gold. These two are very close brethren and Gold has voiced harmonies on most of Don's albums. I will always remember the night Tommy Noonan brought his bright strobes into Waterhouse and we had a bunch of people come out for photo sessions for "Raving Tonight". Although people will tell you that Waterhouse is one of the most dangerous sections of Kingston, if you are with Don Carlos and Gold, everyone looks out to protect you. My having released "Raving Tonight" was the impetus for Don and I getting together to record "Just A Passing Glance". I booked out Tuff Gong studio and got the Barrett brothers (Carlton and Familyman who backed Bob Marley and The Wailers) and recorded what I still consider to be one of the greatest RAS albums in our catalog. Don has always been one of the most gentle and kind artist to work with. His devotion to Rastafari and his easy manner make him always welcome around the RAS headquarters. Don's voice is still one of the greatest, and I feel  we will continue to work together, whether he is on the RAS label or not, because he is a part of the RAS family.  (Doctor Dread)