At the beginning of our conversation, I would like to thank you that you have found time for us and that you agreed to answer our questions. I’m very grateful for that. Let us start with the topic that is indispensably associated with you. I'm talking about your biggest hit - the song called "Kung Fu Fighting", which was released in 1974. Tell me, how do you recall a recording session for this song? Did you expect then that the song will become so popular?

Thanks for your Question. There was great expectations when I recorded Kung Fu Fighting. The Topic was very popular at the time in films coming out of Hong Kong from People like Jackie Chan and Bruce Lee, and many other exponense of the art. There was also a famous TV Series starring David Carradine which was very successful, but there wasn`t a song or Music dealing with the subject. During the recording I made it clear to the Producer and my arranger that the song has to be original and authentic. We all had hopes of it´s success but no one could have foreseen its popularity and longevity.

As far as I remember "Kung Fu Fighting" reigned on the music charts not only in America but also in many European countries, including Germany, Italy and Belgium. It also won the Grammy Award for Best Selling Single in 1974. This song appeared on your debut album entitled "Kung Fu Fighting and Other Great Love Songs" released in the same year. I wonder how did you find yourself in this new reality? Well, "Kung Fu Fighting" was played almost everywhere. You became a star and your life probably has changed a lot. Were you ready for this?

Yes, Kung Fu Fighting went on to become a number 1. in all those countries you mentioned and many others. In fact, I understand it went on to become national Anthem of martial arts. I was partly prepared, I started as a well known R&B Soul singer and became a international known Superstar, which changed my life completely. I indeed had to make myself ready for concert tours, and Performances. Being nominated for the Grammy Award was a great honour and the fact that I might have been the first Jamaican ever to receive this Award made me very humble.

I asked about your feelings toward popularity because it seems to me that in addition to great success, "Kung Fu Fighting" has also become your curse. During your career you have recorded other solo albums but none of them came close to the popularity of your first CD. Don’t you sometimes feel a bit cheated by fate? Underrated by the music industry and listeners around the world? Probably forever you'll be associated as the one who recorded "Kung Fu Fighting". It don't bother you? You still have a lot to offer ...

My Feelings towards the success of “Kung Fu Fighting” has always been a little mixed, I have never really thought of it as a cures, but it was unfortunate that the Music industry did only compliment me with this one title and maybe forgot some of my other Music, but I have always remained positive and looked upon the success as a Blessing. It would be mathematically difficult to produce another one as great as this one.

If you don’t mind, I would like us to talk now about the times where you weren’t known and recognizable. You were born in 1942 in Kingston, the capital of Jamaica. Tell me, how long you have lived in your hometown? What are your dearest memories related to this country?

I was born in a place called Admiral Town an area of Kingston which was working class area. I moved when I was 8 years old from there to a middle class area called Campbell Town till I was 13 years old. I remember it as a fun time doing athletics, playing Football, cricket, boxing and studying. My goals were to be an engineer. At the Age of 14 my Grand mothers had a Meeting and decided that I should be send to England where my mother had immigrated to further my education.

When did you start your adventure with music? When did you realize its role in your life?

My adventure into Music started in the church, I sung in the boys youth choir. This continued during vacations to my Family in the US, and then on to England where I joined another choir when I immigrated there. A Music teacher noticed my voice and took me one side and asked if I ever thought of the possibility of becoming a professional singer, to which I replied not really because my aim was to make my Family proud by gaining a degree and qualification as a mechanical engineer. It was during a party at a Football Club for which I played that I became acquainted with a Group playing called THE CHARMERS. The Manager of the Football Club asked the Manager of the Group if one of his players who sung a bit could maybe have a jam with his Group, to which he replied, Sure. I sung a couple of well known Rock & Roll Songs, which was greeted with ecstatic applause and that was in 1963. 

They say that the environment in which we grow up, our parents passions often imprint their mark on our future. Determine what we become in our adult life. I'm curious whether the same applies to you? Does anyone else in your family was also interested in music?

My Grandmothers instilled into me from a Young Age that good manners, respect and Ambition as well as a good education is the foundation in life for success. My aunties encouraged me to sing as they were very good singers themselves.

Tell me, do you still remember your first professional recordings? If so, how would you rate them from the perspective of all these past years?

It´s a coincidence that you should ask this question, in November last year we had a reunion dinner, myself some of the musicians the days of THE CHARMERS to THE BIG STAMPEDE when the subject was raised about the discovery of those early recordings starting with the first in 1964 of the title ´Crazy Feeling´ and that there was a Company interested in releasing them. So I have in the last view months been listening to them over again, it was a surprise to hear them again, but in the same sense very gratifying to hear them made smile, and brought back a torrent of memories.

I recall the words of Bob Marley who once said: "One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain". You had the opportunity get to know him in the past. What is your attitude to the music? I mean, what music means to you?

This is a true saying. I had the opportunity and the pleasure of knowing Bob Marley some of the musicians The Wailers. I actually recorded with The Wailers and the Eye Trees at his Tuff Gong Studios during his unfortunate illness. He was a great Person and humanitarian, and always enjoyed telling stories about his early days, and the sufferings he endured. My attitude to Music is this, Music is the foot of life, it crosses all boundaries, and brings unity, pleasure and satisfaction to all who loves it.

Your last studio album, "Keep Pleasing Me" was released in 1978. I wonder how would you describe this CD? What were your expectations for its release?

The Album "Keep Pleasing Me" was a crossover which I hoped would show the many different styles of my vocal ability. It also contained my last internationally known hit `Run Back´. It achieved my expectations in a sense that the world would become acquainted with other titles in my Repertoire, other that ´Kung Fu Fighting´. I enjoyed making it.

It's been 36 years since the release of this album. Could you tell us what are you future plans? Are you currently working on your new material?

Yes it has been a Long time coming, but at this Moment I am working with a new Team of Producers on a 14 track Album to coincide with 40th anniversary of ´Kung Fu Fighting´ This Album will be an Invitation for everyone to go back to the Dance floor.

You are in this business for a long time. You have seen and experienced a lot. When you look at today's music industry, today's artists and currently prevailing trends, how would you compare it to the times when you reached your greatest successes? It seems that a lot has changed since then.

Yes, the Music Scene has changed in the extend that the Performers of today seem to come and go so quickly, sometimes it is hard to remember who is who or what they have previously done. It is still a wonderful Profession to be in but there are so many changes and developments for one to Keep up with it. For instance at the hight of my time you needed to sell at least 250.000 copies to achieve a Gold or platinum  record, today you can achieve that with far less sales.

You're 71 now. It's probably a good time to take stock of your artistic career. All these ups and downs. If you had the possibility of going back in time, to change some decisions you've made back then, to which of the periods of your life you'd like to go and why? What would you like to improve?

Thanks for reminding me of my Age. I have reached this Age which I am pretty satisfied. If I had to do it all over again there isn´t much I would Change, except maybe if I stayed with being a Footballer, were I was earning  25 Pounds a week  for playing, today that sum could be 250,000 Pounds per week (smile).

At the end, please tell me, do you feel like fulfilled man?

Yes I would say that I have achieved my Ambition, and the fulfillment I set out to achieve.

Thank you once again for your time. It was a great honor for us. I'd like to wish you good health and all the best. Thank you. Take care.

Thank You most kindly, for your questions. I hope my answers will be satisfactory, in helping my fans and your curiosity to learn a bit more about me. God Bless and One Love.

Journalist: Kamil Mroziński