Conversation with Morgan Heritage

June 7^th, 2005 w/Ujama News and ReggaeMovement.com

Meeting set up by VP Records

Ujama News:  Yes, I see enough good works you’re doing.  I hear you’re getting ready to go to Europe?

Morgan Heritage :  Yes, yes, we’re getting ready to go to Europe.  About a 3 week tour, including festivals.   we’ll do the Rock festivals in France and Belgium,  then a couple of dates in Spain.  We’re going over there to do a lot of work, ya know?

Ujama :  Yeah, man, that’s good.  That vibe is good and strong.  So nice to see such a Royal family doing good works and keeping the rasta vibes alive.  

MH:  yeah mon, give thanks.

Ujama :   So the band is consisted of all sisters and brothers right? 

MH:  Yeah, mon, one family.  4 brothers and one sister. Mr. Mojo, Lukes, Peter, Grandpa, and Una

Ujama :   we had the pleasure of seeing you in Colorado the year before (review).  And once again on Reggae on the River.  That was fantastic.

MH:   yeah, mon, we’re trying to make it out that way again.  Give thanks.

Ujama :   So let us know when people say there aren’t that many families that move strong in reggae.    The new works are coming out….Morgan Heritage have been moving along strong.  You’re with VP Records now, right?

MH:  Yeah, VP Records is doing Full Circle around the world, so we give thanks for that because we’ve been working with them for years.  Hoping for good things.

Ujama :   Yeah, man, it’s nice.  Going back to your early works “Don’t have to Dread”.  Could you explain what that means?

MH:  well for a long time people feel that in order to be a Rastafarian, you need to have dreadlocks.  You know, you have to smoke ganja.  Rastafari is a livity …is more than an appearance and smoking herb.    You see nuff rastaman with dreads and smoke herb, but it more than that.  It’s a livity.  That divine contention of the order, Hale Selasie call it a spiritual calling, understand?    Rasta is love, rasta is manifest in the divine idea of man, which is Christ in flesh. 

Ujama :  yes, that’s so true.  In these times right now, people get confused.  You have nuff music that people may mix and call it rasta music… yet when you hear the lyrics that they’re coming with….. like putting down women, or putting down sense of humanity.  Where is the line there to say  rasta music and following the teachings of His Imperial Majesty?

MH:   True, well we are a family and we know our purpose.  That’s what we’re doing.    And we only want people to say “nuff good work Morgan Heritage.  Give thanks”

ReggaeMovement.com:  This is LL from the Reggae Movement.  Thanks again for taking time out to speak with me and Ujama today.  Talking about your new album, Full Circle.    What was your inspiration and motivation behind the album, and could you explain, in particular, the relevance of the title “Full Circle?”

MH:  The motivation of that is that when we look back on our careers, we’ve been to a lot of places.  Seen a lot of different genres of music and had the chance to share the stage with many different artists.  Lenny Kravitz, to Luciano, Sizzla , James Brown, and all these different types of music have influenced our music.  So, we are found a way to incorporate our influence, and it’s a “Full Circle” of our musical journey.    Its like the spiritual content of our music has become mature, and more mature than it has ever been before.   

We are deeper into our musical consciousness.  Our lovers rock songs which are almost, well you would call them love songs.  But they’re more about relationships, which are a part of every person’s every day life.    Everywhere someone has a relationship with someone.  So we take that thought and apply it to music.

That was a part of our development that we recognize and we’d like to share that with our audience. 

ReggaeMovement.com:  Imagine for a second that I knew nothing about Reggae Music.  What kind of impact would this album have on me, and how would you describe the album? 

MH:   First thing, it’s a spiritually uplifting sound and spiritually uplifting message.    If you are a person in tune with yourself, you will appreciate the music.  If you are a person who is very concerned with the state of the world, and hope for a better world, you will appreciate the music.    If you are  a person that appreciates all races and people for who they are, regardless of race, color, gender, or any background, you will appreciate this music.    It’s for all people.

Ujama :   yes man, that’s powerful.  As we continue through Europe, do you see any works going through the motherland in Africa?

MH:  well, we’ve been to Africa on 3 different occasions and each was a fruitful journey.  We do hope to return again someday, and be strong and do what we can for the land of Africa.

Ujama :   So in the future, what can we expect from Morgan Heritage? 

MH:  More tours and more music.

Ujama :  So the tour will continue on until?

MH:  until October or November, 2005

Ujama : Going back a moment.  Your father (Delray Morgan) was a great great legend himself.  Aside from him, who else was there to give you a lot of encouragement from your early days?

MH:   There were a lot of singers and songwriters that he brought in, from Burt Reed to the late, great Jackie Mittoo.  A slew of people who have been a part of the growing process of the Morgan Heritage family, and our Dad definitely played a major role in making it happen for us.

Ujama :  So does your dad come on the road with you?

MH:   when he feels like it.  He really picks and chooses when he wants to.   We still have young siblings that he has to be daddy to, but us older siblings can pretty much handle ourselves.

ReggaeMovement.com: The show is over, the fans are all gone, how do those that get a glimpse of your life off stage describe you? 

MH:   They would describe us as funny, as loving and spiritual people.  Godly people and people who continue to try.  We don’t claim   to be perfect, but we do claim to try to live a righteous life.  And I think that’s probably the biggest thing, that people will say ‘they’re not perfect, but at least their trying.’

ReggaeMovement.com: What do you like about being on stage?

MH:   The Freedom!  Of just letting go and not caring who or what, but just doing what God got ya here doing.

Ujama :  in the near future, we can look forward to you coming through Colorado?

MH:   Yeah, we look forward to it, yeah, The Fox Theatre!

Ujama :  Yeah

MH:   Yeah, that’s the place, Boulder definitely has given us a lot of love.  Ever since Miracle Days, Colorado has been one of the better markets for us.

ReggaeMovement.com:  Do you guys remember a lot about particular venues, or do you take anything away from a venue like, say The Fox Theatre, when you come through? 

MH:   Um, not necessarily, we enjoy the ambience and the vibe of the people.    Because it’s the spirit of the people more than the place, so it’s the people of Colorado that we remember, and The Fox comes to mind when we think of Colorado. (review 4/28/03, Boulder, Co)

ReggaeMovement.com: Let’s assume you weren’t reggae singers, what would each of you be doing?  Or, what would you be doing? 

MH:  I (Una) would have been a lawyer, that’s what I wanted to do besides being the music industry.  Mojo wanted to be a soccer player, Lukes wanted to be an accountant, Peter wanted to be an astrologer, and Gramps actually had a 4 year scholarship to play football for Miami University.  All of us had different aspirations about what we may have wanted to do, and we still do.

ReggaeMovement.com: Out of all that you’ve done throughout music and life, what accomplishments are you most proud of?

MH:  Our togetherness.  I think that’s the most important thing for families.  How we live and how people live, and the fact that we try and strive and are together, that’s probably what we’re most proud of to date. 

ReggaeMovement.com:  That’s interesting.  Last time you came through Colorado, I was commenting on how together your family seemed.    I had said “you know, I get together with my family once a year, I have 5 brothers and sisters, and I know we end up squabbling within a day or so when we’re all together, like a lot of families do.   How do you maintain your togetherness being around each other so long so often?

MH:  It’s love.  We love to talk to each other.  If we ever have any discrepancies, we just work it out and all come to one.  Our upbringing lives with us greatly, and our father taught us that whatever happens, if there’s any disagreements, just make sure you get to a common ground.  Always continue talking to each other and work it out.  And we never let our problems today roll over into tomorrow or the next week, we always deal with them at hand right then.

ReggaeMovement.com: that’s an excellent lesson for anyone to learn, and a great way to handle things.

MH:   Really, that is how we live.

Ujama :   yes, well thank you it’s been a pleasure.

MH:   Give thanks.  Take care Ujama, take care Larry.

ReggaeMovement.com: yes, thanks, good luck on Full Circle and to all you do.