Secret Agent CORONA – COVID-19
Introduction:
I am writing this story after reading an article from the WHO Website on Coronavirus. It’s my way of spreading the word of the crisis we face from an artist perspective telling a story about a secret agent enemy from the foreign headquarters of COVID-19 International.
Secret Agents:
Secret agent Corona, headquarters, is COVID-19. She has invaded the world, spreading a deadly virus, developed through a network of dedicated agents, led by agent, Corona. She’s operating under the disguise of code name, COVID-19.
Secret agent Corona is the head virus specialist at COVID-19. She’s working undercover carrying out her deadly and destructive mission daily, as a foreign agent. Her mission is to disrupt global commerce and social cohesiveness as human beings on earth have known since time began.
Her covert mission ingested and undetectable by outdated modern government and scientific methods. Viruses got hidden in the systems of each secret agent carrying their deadly virus.
She wants to divide and conquer many nations of people all over the world with doses of creating chaos in human systems.
She’s operating underground and secretly. The global mission is to serve every second, every minute, and every hour of each day to spread the deadly virus as many and other agent sympathizers echoing her daggers of the verbiage with repetition to magnify the chaos while spreading more fear.
The secret agents of death from COVID-19 are all in place and deadly. They’re on the attack—anyone in her path which shows signs of weakness.
Agents under the suspicious nature of the headquarters of COVID-19 is not to be trusted. Keep six feet away from any suspected agents. They are arm and considered dangerous.
Fill your mind, body, and soul with a steady and healthy daily dose of life’s refreshing power of health
Cleanse yourself from any foreign matter approaching you like UFOs, and send out warnings of repellants.
Protect yourselves from those who fail to heed the warning and report the matter to your protectors in authority immediately.
People may be many-rich and wealthy, they may be poor and a little weak, some may have abundant and okay, but agents from COVID-19 international headquarters don’t care about status, they’re no respecter of person.
A dry secret agent Cough or a wet one is the same agent who’ll be carrying the deadly covert attack virus. Be on the lookout for any undercover carrying agents taking, selling, or moving near you.
These are the undercover agents to look out for who’re trying to hide their secrets positive virus: Secret agent Cough is one of the most dangerous of them all. This agent can operate overtly or covertly amongst you in broad daylight, or under a banner of speaking directly in your face. Keep away from this agent. He’s ordered to transmit his virus from headquarters of Ms. COVID-19.
Secret agent Fever is another one of the agents you’ll have to look out for any suspicious agents. But this particular agent will appear to bring warmth to your chilled body. However, this manner of behavior is deceptive and in nature to make you feel healthy. Look out for this undercover agent operating when you’re chilling under the covers in a way to keep you warm.
Secret agent Tiredness is another undercover agent acting on behalf of orders from the headquarters of COVID-19. This agent is devious and can deceive you into making you think you’re healthy. What you’ll tend to do is venture out alone to do your daily exercise to boost your energy. That’s when agent Tiredness will attack you and leave you alone, gasping for breath to return home. Mr. Tiredness, as he’s preferred to be called, is a deadly force in the open. Look out for this agent. He’s more cunning than anyone can imagine.
Whenever breathing is difficult, all their agents merge to attack their weakest victims. They love to pry on the elderly among the human family. It could be severe if no one is looking out for those who’re vulnerable and in need of support.
Agent 6-Foot-Under is the main covert caretaker of the organization. He’s called the cleanup agent. He’s without the ability to speak but take orders and says nothing to encourage life. Because of his orientation and commitment to the operation, this agent only operates six feet underground.
Conclusion:
All Corona’s agents are operating freely and are deadly to the human family and should be taken seriously at all times and report suspicious agents lurking around to cause you harm. Protect yourselves from being trick into thinking you’re safe and fall into the trap of any agents speaking on behalf of a foreign agent coming from the international headquarters of COVID-19.
Lester G Neddy Smith ©2020
NedGJean International Inc.
info@nedgjean.com
Reference note:
This above story was written from a perspective of my own understanding of an article I read from the WHO website on COVID-19. Should you desire to read the article for yourself, go to the link below.
https://www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/q-a-coronaviruses#:~:text=symptoms
A BOOK OF POEMS
NedGJean International Inc. Publishing, Norwalk, CT 06854 203-838-0176, http://www.nedgjean.com, info@nedgjean.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: NedGJean Announces the release of, “A BOOK OF POEMS” By Lester G. NEDDY Smith.
Norwalk, Connecticut, March 25, 2019, / NedGJean Publishing has announced March 16th, 2019, the release of A BOOK OF POEMS (ISBN-13: 978-1090359513 ISBN-10: 1090359519) by, author, musician, and poet, NEDDY Smith.
He continues to craft not only original music and song lyrics, but also has authored a novel and most recently, his latest book of poems in paperback, Kindle eBook and the pending release of the audio recordings in April.
Neddy has committed himself to create and perform his poems accompanied by music layered in the background for worldwide distribution.
His current book entitled “A BOOK OF POEMS,” is dedicated not only to his music community and fans but also to the newfound audience for his writings and especially his free-flowing poems.
To Neddy Smith, his truth is reverence especially to his fans who have given him their time for him to attain the heights and opportunity to enjoy the hard work he so happily loved to distribute and perform to a worldwide audience.
In 2018, Neddy collaborated with two groups of poets, Poem Ally’s Ralph Nazareth who requested to publish one of his poems, ODE TO A FRIEND. Also, with Laurel Peterson, Poet Laurel of Norwalk, Connecticut, in 2018. She graciously invited Neddy to add one of his poems, “IT’S A BIRD’S LIFE.” A studio recording of the poem followed the chapter book as one of the participated poets in the OYSTERVILLE project.
A BOOK OF POEMS initially was intended for release as two separate books/volumes. Neddy later decided to combine these ideas in a single published work due to his second poetry book pending release date.
For Neddy, it’s a journey of a lifetime to accomplish not only his working with the creative community, such as AJ Brown, Brad Little, and performing around the world as a musician, educator, and a recording artist but also as an author and poet carving out a new path.
Recording the poems and the music for this project was a sincere and heartfelt moment. This book is a dedication to Neddy’s Jazz fans from the past to present as he’s journeying through the next phase of his life while sharing precious memories from his experiences to give the world and his new-found love of poetry with fans.
“My late dad repeated many times, ‘define where you want to go then write on your tombstone the life you want to live then go ahead and live it.’ The love for my father is never-ending. I am grateful to him for bringing me to a point where I can share creative thoughts and experiences for the world to enjoy as a new poetic voice speaking freely and sharing his journey through poetry.”
“A BOOK OF POEMS” is work in three phases, paperback, eBook and audio recordings. It’s a work that needs cherishing for the rest of his life. You can purchase the book from Amazon. It’s available it’s in paperback and, or, eBook versions distributed by Amazon.com and published by NedGJean.
Link:
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=neddy+smith%2C+a+book+of+poems&ref=nb_sb_noss Amazon.com
This book pays homage to all the great authors of words, music, and poetry who came before and established a standard for those who dare to dream their life into reality.
Quotes:
“I can highly recommend Neddy. In Neddy you would be getting a “Two for One” deal. Neddy is a world-class musician with the heart of a poet and a lively poet with the soul of a musician.” Bill Buschel, Producer/Host Graffiti Hellenic Public Radio/CosmosFM WNYE, 91.5 fm.
“Lester (aka Neddy) is an accomplished artist in many ways, including jazz musician composer, publisher and performer, music educator and producer, poet and writer. Included among Lester’s published works are several music albums, poetry and a recent novel. These endeavors evidence Lester’s wide variety of creative talent.” Mike E. Klehm, SCORE business counselor.
A BOOK OF POEMS
DESCRIPTION:
“A Book of Poems” by Lester G NEDDY Smith, is a collection of works reflecting a dynamic change and growth of a poet. It’s now available on Amazon at the below link in paperback and eBook:
The experiences of the streets from traveling the US and other parts of the world and experiencing different cultures have infused a sense of gratitude to share with others. From the Island of Jamaica to Connecticut, to the streets of New York and the tent city Los Angeles and traveling to various cities around the world instilled a cultural richness expressed in this two-volume book of poems. In book one, the first few poems reflect musicality, traveling the seas, art, and love, etc. Musicologist sets the mood from an early time and experiences as a musician-songwriter expressed with a deep sense of consciousness and knowledge as a composer. Book two is darker but filled with exploration and conflicts beginning with “Angry Women” then developed further into a dramatic and sad ending, “Ode To A Friend (Prata).” Lester G Neddy Smith is a musician, an author, and a poet. He holds a BS from Empire State College and an MA Ed from the University of Phoenix. As an artist, he has several recordings to his credit, a novel and published poems collaboration peers. Neddy is the author of “Valerie Palmary: A Small-Town Girl.”
Words & Music ESN1
The Music Within
We’ve made it to the year 2018, and I do sincerely wish you all a Happy and prosperous never-ending life of joy.
Included in this Blog: The Music Within, Album/CD Track List below and Web Links.
Finally, the album, MY POCOMANIAN GIRL was completed and released for purchase and distributed to the worldwide public on, November 15, 2017. My desire going forward is for everyone to own a copy for self and as a gift for friends and loved ones.
I am agnostic to any one genre of music. On the other hand, Jazz, Reggae, Funk and Afro-World music is my core.
Initially, when I started out recording my fourth full CD project, I had a previous purpose in mind. However, as time progressed, this title, “My Pocomanian Girl” came as a surprise, it was a departure from the original intent, a second thought. You see, I was intensely in the process of working on a project to feature mostly a future generation such as one of my sons making modern music. He Raps very well and to include my granddaughter who loves to sing and tell stories would’ve been a bonus.
Invariably, what happened to me personally was a spiritual awakening. After visiting my native ancestral land, Jamaica, where I had my transformational experience meeting family members past and present, known and unknown had ignited my interest wish ultimately redirected my focus on songwriting and producing a new CD and meeting my objectives for the year.
The trip started out with me and other members of my known family who journey to the Island. Further, we shared many great moments together reminiscing on a daily basis. Not only did we have a wonderful time but also reflected on our many joys and ups and downs growing up on the Island. Notwithstanding, and most importantly, we as a family living in the Diaspora visited the country to take care of and support the passing of a family member. Other activities were included and also, some unfinished personal business. Evidently, instead, I was transformed by an extraordinary experience from my past. Besides, I had an encounter that triggered my most profound memories during a period of solitude at one of my ancestral homes.
For twelve months, I’ve dedicated some time to writing specifically a blog each month throughout 2017. I had chosen the theme, Words & Music. During this period, my writings were primarily on words that express thoughts from my past that triggered the present state of mind to wonder and marveled at the endless ideas percolated during those early years. Further, and how I’ve become currently digesting the moment that made me come alive from deep within my soul for future storytelling through my musical compositions in any genre (jazz, reggae, world, alternative, and so on).
Secondly, music has always been the core of my abstract thinking. From a perspective of innate and philosophical views expressing myself through stories aided by the words in poetic verses or prose to reflect my speech within space and time and my mood around people, place, and things. In any event, I used these tools so others can visualize my abstract and innate musical thoughts. That’s how I’ve customarily expressed my most profound intent, in notation to reproduce sounds design through the imagination of my consciousness. Thus, through the faculties transcribed to a medium as a composition to illustrate musically, the experiences painted on a sonic canvas from the invention of the creative mind.
After passing through the Christmas and holiday season, and as the year 2017 has come to a close, it only fits for me to say thanks to all those who’ve read my blogs and supported my musical career throughout the years. On the other hand, to be quite honest, my blogs were not written as a quick read. They mostly intended therapy to satisfy my soul and bring closure to many of my missing links.
Anyone who’ve spent the time to read all or even some my Words & Music blogs, especially the ones posted as ES-9,10,11 and 11-CD would have realized that the “My Pocomanian Girl” album tell a personal story. Thus, I am summing up what I’ve accomplished thus far by transitioning from authoring a novel to producing. Also writing and performing my poetries, and writing songs, composing independent music not merely an ordinary task to accomplish but as one who loves to create, write and tell stories, or to follow through arranging instrumental and vocal recordings, I can only report that it was a joy achieving it all.
Honestly, I do believe that everything is within itself. A tree stored in its seed, and the fruit contained the seeds and so is life is within life. What it means to me is this, whenever an idea comes to me and reveal itself, that’s the time for its discovery and me to recognize what was always hidden deep in my subconscious memory as a whole. But as an unintended consequence, the journey to Jamaica invariably induced a paradigm shift from the original title, “Am Pocomanian.” I’ve continued through as a songwriter and as a musician to extrapolate from personal and imagined experiences for this album. Thus, I was able to fulfill a particular goal that took me closer than ever before to my Jamaican ancestral roots.
One of the reasons many people, including myself, are sometimes afraid to tell stories is the fear of self-exposure. It was for this reason that I continued to write. Once, I can remember making a conscious decision not to take my professional DSLR camera on my Jamaican visit. But instead, I chose to carry a few notepads to journal daily. Thus, I began writing more descriptively and never missed my taking a digital photograph except for a few friendly ones with my cell phone.
The reasoning could merely be that because we’re nervous that they will reveal so much of what is right about ourselves. For example, when I started writing my first blog, I had not planned on traveling to the Island or anywhere for that matter. As a published writer, recording artist and musician, it was personal and meant a lot for me to follow through on a promise I made to myself. I wanted to check off another item from off my bucket list.
I cannot help but say that the music within me is a living organism that never goes away. Even when I am not thinking of it, something will always remind me of a sonic experience. It could be a color, a tapestry, texture or a story from a painting. No matter what it is, music resides in the secret places of my soul waiting to be discovered by my physical senses. It’s the spirit that flows through my entire being that ultimately exposes to the world whatever was once hidden will be brought into the light.
Whenever I set a deadline to accomplished an objective, I am focused like a laser beam vectored on its targeted goals. That’s one of the reasons I’ve had to have accountability by discussing with my business mentor and getting honest and constructive feedback while differentiating the emotional from the logistical such that I am always helped by counsel to keep me on target.
In conclusion, the release of the album to the worldwide public dropped November 15TH, 2017. It’s now available online via digital download, streaming and on physical media for purchase mostly via stores such as CDBaby®, Amazon®, iTunes®, and others where music is sold and streamed internationally.
~~~~
Album/CD Track List below:
The songs on this album tell a story about my past, present, and future of a life deeply felt by my Pocomanian experience. It’s poetic, musical and prosaic. As a child, growing up in the Caribbean, on the Island of Jamaica, the message of love, peace, and happiness are given by the creator for humanity to honor and share for generations to come and provide hope is still alive. Affiliation: BMI ®
Publisher: NedGJean International Inc.
~~~~
Title: My Pocomanian Girl
Artist: Neddy Smith
Songwriter: Lester G Neddy Smith
Message: Love, peace, and happiness throughout the world.
Genre: Dance-Reggae
14-Tracks – Total playing time: 49:38
Track: Title: CD-Text:
—————————————————————————————————
- My Pocomanian Girl
Message: The title song is a dedication to his mother and generations to come. (Dance/Caribbean/Revival)
- Title: Am Pocomanian
Message: Am proclamation from a higher consciousness mirroring of prior experiences and relationships attending mother’s Pocomanian meetings. (Dance/Revival)
- Live as One
Message: An invitation to all peoples of the world to come together and make this world a better place for the good of humanity. (Reggae)
- Love Peace and Happiness
Message: It is given to everyone to have human rights and equal rights and to respect each other together in love peace and happiness. (Reggae)
- Title: Am Looking Out
Message: This song is a declaration to the human family to reach out to each other and know that there is a higher power looking out for us all (Dance/Revival/Ska)
- When I Go Home
Message: This song is for people living in the diaspora longing to taste their native home-grown foods. (Reggae)
- Trouble
Message: No matter where you go in this world today, there is trouble. (Reggae)
- How Many Times
Message: A young man asked a question reaching out to his girlfriend or wife who refuses to acknowledge his apologies while seeking her attention. (Retro/Dance)
- A Pocomanian Cry
Message: A revivalist expressing her crying pain with joy with harmonic and rhythmic shouts circling as the spirit directed her movements. (Pocomanian-dance-groove)
- The Hands of Time
Message: Time waits for no one. The hands of time are continuously moving forward. (Reggae)
- When Will It End
Message: People are crying, hurting and dying everywhere in this world, the question is, “when will it end?” (Reggae).
- Searching for Love
Message: A lovely young lady kept searching for love from someone she hardly knew the first time their eyes met. (Ska/Pop/Reggae)
- She Swims Like a Fish
Message: “She swims like a fish” is dedicated to my granddaughter, Gabrielle, competing at one of her swim-meet events. Dance/Caribbean/Reggae)
- Tropical Groove
Message: Neddy’s musical vibe is an adaptation of his Jamaican roots, his visit to Puerto Rico, with his wife was a “Tropical groove.” (Caribbean/Dance)
Lester G NEDDY Smith ©2017
All rights reserved by the copyright owner.
~~~~
Web Links to obtain the CD/Album:
- CDBaby
https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/neddysmith4
- Amazon
- iTunes and
- Others
Artist interview:
https://www.artistpr.com/artist-interviews/artist-interview-neddy-smith/
YouTube:
Blogs: S09, ES10 to ES11:
https://neddysmith.wordpress.com/
Website:
http://www.nedgjean.com/my_pocomanian_girl
WORDS & MUSIC ES12
The Music Within
Finally, the album, MY POCOMANIAN GIRL is done and was released for purchase to the worldwide public on, November 15, 2017. My wish is for everyone to think of getting a copy as a gift for their loved ones
When I initially started out recording this project, I had another intended purpose in mind. However, this title came as a surprise from the original as a second thought. You see, I was already in the process of working on an album to feature mostly the future generation such as one of my sons who Raps very well and including my granddaughter who also loves to sing and tell stories. Invariably, what happened to me personally and spiritually, after visiting my native ancestral land, Jamaica, was transformational.
The trip started out with me and other family members who traveled to the Island and shared so many great moments reminiscing on a daily basis was not only to have a wonderful time but to reflect. And most importantly, to take care in support of the passing of a family member and also, some unfinished personal business. But instead, I was transformed by an extraordinary experience I had encountered that triggered my deepest past during a period of solitude at one of my ancestral homes.
For twelve months, I’ve dedicated some time to writing specifically a blog each month throughout 2017. I had chosen the theme, Words & Music. During this period, my writing was primarily on words that express thoughts from my past that triggered the present state of mind to wonder and marveled at the endless ideas percolated during those early years and how I am currently digesting coming alive from deep within my soul for future storytelling.
Secondly, my music has always been the core of my abstract thinking from a perspective of innate and philosophical views on expressing myself through stories aided by the words used so others can visualize my abstract thoughts. That’s how I’ve customarily expressed my most profound intent, in notation reflecting sounds designing through the imagination and faculties transcribed to a medium as a composition to represent musically, the experiences painted on the sonic canvas from the invention of the mind.
It’s now December, and as the year is coming to a close, it only fits for me to say thanks to all those who’ve read my blogs and supported my musical career throughout the years. On the other hand, to be quite honest, my blogs were not written as a quick read. They mostly intended therapy to satisfy my soul and bring closure to many of my missing links.
Anyone who’ve spent the time to read all or even some my Words & Music blogs, especially the ones posted as ES-9,10,11 and 11-CD would have realized that the “My Pocomanian Girl” album tells a personal story. Thus, I am summing up what I’ve accomplished by transitioning from authoring a novel, producing, writing songs and composing music not merely an ordinary thing to do but as one who loves to write and tell stories, or to follow through arranging instrumental and vocal recordings.
Honestly, I do believe that everything is within itself. A tree stored in its seed, and the fruit contained the seeds and so is life is within life. What it means to me is this, whenever an idea comes to me and reveal itself, that’s the time for its discovery and me to recognize what was always hidden deep in my subconscious memory as a whole. But as an unintended consequence, the trip to Jamaica invariably induced a paradigm shift from the original title, “Am Pocomanian.” I’ve continued through as a songwriter and as a musician to extrapolate from personal and imagined experiences for this album. Thus, I was able to fulfill a particular goal that took me closer than ever before to my Jamaican ancestral roots.
One of the reasons many people, including myself, are afraid to tell stories is fear of self-exposure. It was for this reason that I continued to write. I remember making a decision not to take my DSLR camera on my Jamaican trip. But instead, I took a few notepads and began writing and never missed taking a digital photograph except what I took with my cell phone.
The reasoning could merely be that because we’re nervous that they will reveal so much of what is right about ourselves. For example, when I started writing my first blog, I had not planned on traveling to the Island or anywhere for that matter. As a published writer, recording artist and musician, it was personal and meant a lot for me to follow-through on a promise I made to myself. I wanted to check off another item from off my bucket list.
I cannot help but say that the music within me is a living organism that never goes away. Even when I am not thinking of it, something will always remind me of a sonic experience. It could be a color, a tapestry, texture or a story from a painting. No matter what it is, music resides in the secret places of my soul waiting to be discovered by my physical senses. It’s the spirit that flows through my entire being that ultimately exposes to the world whatever was once hidden will be brought into the light.
Whenever I set a deadline to accomplished an objective, I am focused like a laser beam vectored on its targeted goals. That’s one of the reasons I’ve had to have accountability by discussing with my business mentor and getting honest and constructive feedback while differentiating the emotional from the logistical such that I am always helped by counsel to keep me on target.
In conclusion, the release of the album to the worldwide public dropped November 15TH. It’s now available online via digital download, streaming and on physical media for purchase mostly via stores such as CDBaby®, Amazon®, iTunes®, and others where music is sold and streamed internationally.
Web Links:
- CDBaby
https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/neddysmith4
- Amazon
- iTunes and
- Others
Artist interview:
https://www.artistpr.com/artist-interviews/artist-interview-neddy-smith/
YouTube:
Blogs: S09, ES10 to ES11:
https://neddysmith.wordpress.com/
Website:
http://www.nedgjean.com/my_pocomanian_girl
Album/CD Track List:
The songs on this album tell a story about my past, present, and future of a life deeply felt by my Pocomanian experience. As a child, growing up in the Island of Jamaica, the message of love, peace, and happiness once given is for humanity to honor and share with generations to provide hope.
- My Pocomanian Girl
- Am Pocomanian
- Drifting
- How Many Times
- I Am Sorry
- Live as One
- Am Looking Out
- Love Peace and Happiness
- A Pocomanian Cry
- Searching for Love
- When I Go Home
- When Will It End
- She Swims Like a Fish
- Tropical Groove
Lester G NEDDY Smith ©2017
All rights reserved by copyright owner.
.
When I initially started out recording this project, I had another intended purpose in mind. However, this title came as a surprise from the original as a second thought. You see, I was already in the process of working on an album to feature mostly the future generation such as one of my sons who Raps very well and including my granddaughter who also loves to sing and tell stories. Invariably, what happened to me personally and spiritually, after visiting my native ancestral land, Jamaica, was transformational.
The trip started out with me and other family members who traveled to the Island and shared so many great moments reminiscing on a daily basis was not only to have a wonderful time but to reflect. And most importantly, to take care in support of the passing of a family member and also, some unfinished personal business. But instead, I was transformed by an extraordinary experience I had encountered that triggered my deepest past during a period of solitude at one of my ancestral homes.
For twelve months, I’ve dedicated some time to writing specifically a blog each month throughout 2017. I had chosen the theme, Words & Music. During this period, my writing was primarily on words that express thoughts from my past that triggered the present state of mind to wonder and marveled at the endless ideas percolated during those early years and how I am currently digesting coming alive from deep within my soul for future storytelling.
Secondly, my music has always been the core of my abstract thinking from a perspective of innate and philosophical views on expressing myself through stories aided by the words used so others can visualize my abstract thoughts. That’s how I’ve customarily expressed my most profound intent, in notation reflecting sounds designing through the imagination and faculties transcribed to a medium as a composition to represent musically, the experiences painted on the sonic canvas from the invention of the mind.
It’s now December, and as the year is coming to a close, it only fits for me to say thanks to all those who’ve read my blogs and supported my musical career throughout the years. On the other hand, to be quite honest, my blogs were not written as a quick read. They mostly intended therapy to satisfy my soul and bring closure to many of my missing links.
Anyone who’ve spent the time to read all or even some my Words & Music blogs, especially the ones posted as ES-9,10,11 and 11-CD would have realized that the “My Pocomanian Girl” album tells a personal story. Thus, I am summing up what I’ve accomplished by transitioning from authoring a novel, producing, writing songs and composing music not merely an ordinary thing to do but as one who loves to write and tell stories, or to follow through arranging instrumental and vocal recordings.
Honestly, I do believe that everything is within itself. A tree stored in its seed, and the fruit contained the seeds and so is life is within life. What it means to me is this, whenever an idea comes to me and reveal itself, that’s the time for its discovery and me to recognize what was always hidden deep in my subconscious memory as a whole. But as an unintended consequence, the trip to Jamaica invariably induced a paradigm shift from the original title, “Am Pocomanian.” I’ve continued through as a songwriter and as a musician to extrapolate from personal and imagined experiences for this album. Thus, I was able to fulfill a particular goal that took me closer than ever before to my Jamaican ancestral roots.
One of the reasons many people, including myself, are afraid to tell stories is fear of self-exposure. It was for this reason that I continued to write. I remember making a decision not to take my DSLR camera on my Jamaican trip. But instead, I took a few notepads and began writing and never missed taking a digital photograph except what I took with my cell phone.
The reasoning could merely be that because we’re nervous that they will reveal so much of what is right about ourselves. For example, when I started writing my first blog, I had not planned on traveling to the Island or anywhere for that matter. As a published writer, recording artist and musician, it was personal and meant a lot for me to follow-through on a promise I made to myself. I wanted to check off another item from off my bucket list.
I cannot help but say that the music within me is a living organism that never goes away. Even when I am not thinking of it, something will always remind me of a sonic experience. It could be a color, a tapestry, texture or a story from a painting. No matter what it is, music resides in the secret places of my soul waiting to be discovered by my physical senses. It’s the spirit that flows through my entire being that ultimately exposes to the world whatever was once hidden will be brought into the light.
Whenever I set a deadline to accomplished an objective, I am focused like a laser beam vectored on its targeted goals. That’s one of the reasons I’ve had to have accountability by discussing with my business mentor and getting honest and constructive feedback while differentiating the emotional from the logistical such that I am always helped by counsel to keep me on target.
In conclusion, the release of the album to the worldwide public dropped November 15TH. It’s now available online via digital download, streaming and on physical media for purchase mostly via stores such as CDBaby®, Amazon®, iTunes®, and others where music is sold and streamed internationally.
Web Links:
- CDBaby
https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/neddysmith4
- Amazon
- iTunes and
- Others
Artist interview:
https://www.artistpr.com/artist-interviews/artist-interview-neddy-smith/
YouTube:
Blogs: S09, ES10 to ES11:
https://neddysmith.wordpress.com/
Website:
http://www.nedgjean.com/my_pocomanian_girl
Album/CD Track List:
The songs on this album tell a story about my past, present, and future of a life deeply felt by my Pocomanian experience. As a child, growing up in the Island of Jamaica, the message of love, peace, and happiness once given is for humanity to honor and share with generations to provide hope.
- My Pocomanian Girl
- Am Pocomanian
- Drifting
- How Many Times
- I Am Sorry
- Live as One
- Am Looking Out
- Love Peace and Happiness
- A Pocomanian Cry
- Searching for Love
- When I Go Home
- When Will It End
- She Swims Like a Fish
- Tropical Groove
Lester G NEDDY Smith ©2017
All rights reserved by copyright owner.
WORDS & MUSIC ES11-CD
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 15, 2017
CONTACT: Jean Smith, 1.203.838.3959, info@nedgjean.com and http://www.NedGJean.com
NEDDY SMITH LATEST CD RELEASE TITLED “MY POCOMANIAN GIRL” DROPS NOVEMBER 15th, 2017.
NedGJean Productions is proud to release the CD of this nationally known bassist, singer/songwriter, composer/producer and performer, poet and author, Neddy Smith. The release of his CD to the worldwide public drops November 15TH. Available online via digital download, streaming and on physical media will be available for purchase mostly via stores such as CDBaby®, Amazon®, iTunes®, and others where music is sold and streamed internationally online. Dates for Performances will broadcast as soon as possible.
Singer, songwriter, and instrumentalist Neddy Smith is a trailblazer in the world of music. As a performer and recording artist, he has defied traditional boundaries that restrict his sense of creative freedom; he also protects himself from residing in anyone’s established pigeonhole. By choice, he writes and sings songs that reflects his sense of being while playing the upright or electric bass accompanied by other musicians.
As a bandleader, he feels spiritually alive. His style is funky, reggae, dancehall, tropical grooves, easy listening songs about tradition, culture, love, peace, happiness, and life. He plays sweet basslines and vocalizes memorable melodies with words that speak to the human condition. Although he likes to swing a hot jazz number and reaches deep for a soulful Blues, his latest album digs far more in-depth into his cultural past and expressions from his formative years. Thus, bringing value and meaning to each vocal track on the recordings to help heal a troubled world crying out for help. Neddy has skillfully blended this album into a seamless flow of an enjoyable playlist of songs.
Switching his focus back to his singing after releasing his last vocal album in 2007, Neddy decided to return mainly to vocalizing for his fans who were left behind while composing for his Jazz projects and a contemporary instrumental album. This CD is continuing his emancipation journey. Neddy has released a few 12” vinyl records in the past. He has also worked on various other albums plus three previous of his own.
They’re as follow, “Turnaround” (2007), a collection of his earlier songs written in the 80’s in 2007. “Mood Swing” (2015), a contemporary Jazz CD dedicated to his love of the art form. “Blue Monday” (2016), an instrumental CD he composed to express his international taste for all genres of musical traditions.
He has also authored a novel, “Valerie Palmary: A Small-Town Girl” which started as a song and later completed and released as a single in 2017.
Neddy Smith latest CD project, “My Pocomanian Girl,” an all-original song album, takes on the Afro-Jamaican folklore rhythms such as mento, ska, rock-steady, reggae, dancehall, tropical and other popular musical rhythmic styles for dancing.
He has performed in concert all over the world with such musical geniuses as Eric Gale, Ernest Ranglin, Cecile Lloyd, Freddy Waits, and Alston Bair. He has shared the stage with, Dr. Michiro Negishi, Andrew De’ Nicola, Nate Lesser, and Marcel Blanche performing live at the Fire House 12 in New Haven, CT. Also, with Paul Marturano, featured at clubs in Pennsylvania and New York City, such as the Puck and The Bitter End at the Indie Collaborative Music Event, and has produced and recorded other talents in his capacity as a producer.
Neddy Smith is available for phone interview. Please contact manager, Jean Smith at 203.838.3959 to set up a time that is convenient.
Please visit Neddy’s website at http://www.nedgjean.com for more information, including links to his music, mp3s and contact info.
CHOICE QUOTES
“I need to get me a copy of this CD as soon as it drops, November 15th. What I’ve heard convinced me that the entire album is filled with 100% authentic Neddy Smith music I love the vibes.” E. KARNIE PAPPA – VISUAL ARTIST
” It’s sometimes difficult to imagine a performer on the music scene with such musicality as Neddy Smith, who combines his love for words and music so concisely and appreciatively in a unique intuitive flow. His lyrical insight from his newest album is memorable, danceable but with a message fit for today, it’s a world-class CD.” DOLLY CURTIS – RADIO AND TV PERSONALITY.
Words expressed after the final pre-release listening session, “It’s music you can dance to with a message that creeps up on you, suddenly, from deep within his heart to mine just as one of his songs hits you right between the ears.” DAVID MARIO SMITH – PRINCIPAL ANALYSIS AND FOUNDER AT INFLOW ANALYSIS.
“The music sounds and feels like ‘am in the Club….” ALDIN SMITH – GRAPHICS DESIGNER (SPECIALIST IN MULTIMEDIA AND USER EXPERIENCE DESIGN)
“Neddy’s composition and arrangement flowed freely. Neddy’s variety of dynamic, joyous, and moody qualities, interspersed among his highly original conception, and laced with his unique and distinctive style.” CLAYTON SANDS – ENTERTAINMENT MANAGER
Listen to the music and watch the video at
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9A4Wecqp6w0
WORDS & MUSIC ES11:
“My Pocomanian Girl” is my latest CD. It’s a personal tribute to a musical and spiritual culture of Jamaica. The Album will drop, November 15th, 2017. I’ll post another blog on the day of its release.
When an album of songs is composed, and a recording project come to a close, there’s no doubt that a lot of thoughts went into its production and the final product. Embedder into every song on my latest album “My Pocomanian Girl” is a reflection of my mother’s influence, love peace and happiness, searching for love and the troubles she went through flying away discovering new things and her crying out wondering, when will it end?
Too often we’re are faced with the challenges of choosing between believing or knowing. As night is from the day and the sun is from the moon, they’re differences. Other times we’re asked to accept someone else’s truth without questioning the source of their information. Instead, ambiguous data is pushed by individuals and systems forcing their ideology based on unvetted opinion for others to accept.
Mother was a strong woman. She was never one to readily accept what others wanted her to believe physically. She was more operating at a higher level. Her spirituality supersedes most everyday norms. Her insights and clarity of vision were supernatural. One area of the Bible she would make references to was the Old Testament. She liked teaching the history of Africa from the OT. She would show me the maps found on the front and back covers, and some located in other pages in the Bible. The pictures were all beautiful to me, and that was what I could recall more as a child than her spoken words.
I hardly knew many of the places she pointed out until I grew up and took geography at school and was able to visit the Library on my own. The only time I can remember her acknowledgment of the New Testament was when I did my first recitation at a Tent meeting. It was about the manger scene, and we all sang Silent Night. The melody and the mood of the event remained memorable to me till this day. That was my first taste of being on stage. I was excited and wanted more. My entire childhood changed. The more I thought of doing what my Dad wants me to do the more I tried to do the opposite. My resistance started as I am now reflecting on my past.
One of my cousins reminded me of how I would jump on the piano at Ms. Mailer’s private school, and the teachers would chase me away every time. There was something special about any musical instrument. I even took sticks and bang them together to make sounds that annoyed everyone around me. I was just jokingly provoking.
Because I loved being on stage and having discovered how much more I wanted to, I would bother everyone to play an instrument. That was when I began playing the Tambourine, clapping my hands harder to be heard and to the various rhythmic pulse and shouted that the congregation made during their circle of worship. I can recall many times an adult would take the Tambourine from me because I was out of sync with the rhythm. It was not until later that I realized, as a musician, how critical those gatherings were. After studying those pocomanian rhythms, the idea became clear that the pulse of the beats carries the spoken and unspoken words that bring the entire congregation in oneness. Fortunately for me, I loved playing the instrument so much that a gentleman pulled me aside and began teaching me how to hold and play the rhythms in time correctly.
There was a Kettle drummer; his nickname was Toto, he was a fantastic player. He was at all the meetings that I can remember. Whenever Toto would put the drum down, I would quickly go bang on it. I was only a child, but that event one after another began to sow the seed of music that’ now flowing through my bloodstream today. Invariably, it has triggered more of my inner thoughts coming alive more through my music compositions. Her knowledge of getting people especially the young adults engaged was fantastic. As I recall bits and pieces with the opening of my inner eyes, I am respecting how great a leader mother was. Commanding a congregation and having people who followed her showed how dynamic and cared a leader she was. For me to look back so deeply into my past after all these years is impressive.
I can tell unequivocally that her leadership role was no easy task, but I can’t remember seeing her shaken by anything or anyone around her. I can remember one of the single mothers; I’ll call her Ms. G and her daughter, Nell. Everywhere mother went, they were there. As kids, we would play together. I can still visualize the lady as if I saw here with me now. She was tall and slim with dark complexion a small frame and where dresses past her knees. And her daughter was of light-brown skin tone, stouter and shorter body frame. The family was dedicated to mother regardless of her spiritual moods and directions that came often.
Livening in a blind state of misguided philosophical reasoning fed by a flawed educational system became the norm for many who have chosen to accept anything and everything. But mother taught me from a child to not take anything from anyone too quickly otherwise they will own you. My Dad said something similar later, but that will be spoken of then.
As a young man, the opportunity to study mechanical engineering by working every summer with a qualified professional master mechanic came to me. Scholarships, yes, I turned them down. Dad was not happy. As much as I had wanted to follow in my Uncle’s footsteps, it was not something I wanted. Furthermore, I was not feeling the rhythmic pulse of motor vehicle engines continually rotating in my ears. I was bored without hearing some melodies. There were times when I felt dissatisfied and tardy by listening to the same noise coming from iron hitting iron. Walking around covered with grease and have to head back home in the evening without changing my clothes was never favored with my friends.
One day, I was called to have lunch with the owner’s mother. As I recalled, we had rice with eggs and some canned meat. After the meal, I had some time to reflect on the ladies’ kindness while trying to search deep into my soul for my truth. What was my real purpose? And how do I express to my Dad that I didn’t want to be a mechanic? It took me some time, but it was worth the wait.
One day, my Dad decided to ask what I want to do in life. He gave me that Fatherly speech at a very young age. I was not even fully thirteen but getting close. He reminds me that I am coming of age to decide for my life and told me that I was a man now going on thirteen to take life more serious. He had no idea what I was about to say, but when he heard that I didn’t want to be a shopkeeper, he was surprised but not disappointed. He knew I was an independent thinker and would not do or say yes to anything I did not believe or had much knowledge to conclude honestly. Furthermore, I had no reason to accept what he told me to do with a quick yes either way, though at times it would get me in trouble, he knew how I would react if I am forced to kneel to any unrealistic command. Instead, I listened to his reasoning out of my most profound respect for him and began researching the music business quietly as I was now a little over twelve years of age.
I was already taking music lessons from the Salvation Army, with Major Smith. That was the gentleman’s name coincidentally. I had a great start in music theory and instrumentation. I had to learn each part of the instrument before I was asked to blow a single note. Unfortunately, I could not blow the trumpet without pain all over my body stuffed with air puffing up my face and diaphragm. It was not for me, but writing rhythms were worth taking lessons.
Mom had already left home to travel the world while Dad plays Daddy-mommy at home. I must say that he did a splendid job especially for me because I was heading down the path he rejected to become a musician. I loved the idea of freedom of expression and music gave me that opportunity.
My truth about self-was more essential to discover than just falling in line with the norm or any one idea of physicality that opposed spiritually to my being. Evidently, I had to learn and explore that part of me that to synchronize in harmony rediscovering my past. Apparently, this is where the “My Pocomanian Girl” idea began to percolate deeply within my subconsciousness. It has brought out the hurt, pain, and cry of the human soul in a modern musical enjoyable playlist.
My mother was a rebel in her way. She was laser beam focused on her desires to fulfill her dreams, and nothing or no one who came in her way would ever survive her will to accomplish whatever she puts her mind to achieve. That was her ingenious way of escaping. Mother gave me much to remember because each memory was due to an event either at home, at her ministry meetings or sitting around her machine sewing a dress for someone. She was a dynamic individual with lots of followers but filled with unknown mysteries.
Writing music, the way I am composing now is a culmination of many events that occurred in my formative years. I could not help but want to take music lessons to get away from home after she left, all I wanted to do was carve out a path for myself. This new album that will release November 15th, 2017, is a significant project at this time in my life’s journey. It’s a reflection on my past, present and future all rolled into one.
The excitement I feel releasing the CD is overwhelming to say the lease. But I am grateful for the time given to me by the creator to fulfill the desires of my heart by recording this album and open my heart to the whole world my influence and experience is only another phase of my journey. It’s all about “My Pocomanian Girl.”
Lester G Neddy Smith ©2017
NedGJean Publishing.
WORDS & MUSIC ES10:
The Travelling Man [PART – II]
Negril, Jamaica
Looking through the annals of time and how cultures and their traditions sustained continuity through time have provoked an interest in me to rediscover my voice and communicate my story through the spoken words, songs, and music. Frankly, it didn’t take long after visiting the land of my birth, Jamaica, to begin composing new lyrics for the album, “My Pocomanian Girl.”
*****
As an adult, I’ve traveled the world not only as a performer and musician but also as a technical training instructor for a hardware and software manufacturer in the US. The experiences, knowledge, and skills gained those years were invaluable.
Most of my early childhood was spent growing up surrounded by a supportive community. Some were Pocomanian, music and business persons, Rastafarians, the good, bad and everyone that makes up a neighborhood. Being with family and circled with friends while attending St. James High (formally Senior School), in Montego Bay, I would consider those formative years an extraordinary time of my life.
My father owned a grocery shop in the neighborhood but he was never fond of having any of his children becoming musicians. He loved whenever I would borrow books from the library, large or small, as long as it was not only about the music he was okay with his son in love with books. If for some reason I was not at the library, I would read mostly at nights on various topics such as religion, politics, history, mathematics and especially calculus even before I was good at it I just fell in love with shapes and patterns.
I would continue with any other scientific topics such as electronics and physics and after I would go on to English literature and poetry because it was different. Furthermore, it was more lyrical and rhythmically expressively as a musical piece on the radio for me. Rather than just reading a pure dry text in books that had no meaning to existence at the time, I began to write poetry without keeping them for later years as I am doing now as a songwriter and poet in my current state of being.
My mother was a spiritual leader, a “Mother”, she was called, and a good one with a beautiful angelic soprano voice. That’s one of the sounds that’s always playing in my head like a tape recorder. I still remember her voice even though she wasn’t around for long. Whenever she would sing, the entire neighborhood and the surrounding communities would recognize her voice as a call and would draw closer because of her distinct style, like no other around, draws audience attention. Mom was especially vocal when she would belt out a hymn or chant from her meeting place away or at home.
Her Pocomanian style of worship was nontraditional to the established organized church. She professed a more spiritual approach than an institutionalized acceptance for what some considered the norm from a European dictate. She was an improvisational genius, but from a framework of pure spirituality. As for me, it was fun to watch adults doing their spins and dances while chanting for long periods as the drummers rhythmically playing their drums, tambourine and clapping with shouts of humming while responding to the lead singer’s call.
Everyone was in one accord like a tuned instrument before speaking any edifying words or pontification by the orator whether it was my mother or a guest speaker from another pocomanian mission. It was only then that the spoken words would proceed. There were no images around to worship. It was a pure unadulterated, unfiltered spiritual connection with a higher power. It appeared that they always favored the higher phase of communication spiritually speaking. Later, they would follow by whatever the revelation the word dictates after reaching their higher spiritual goals of communication with their creator.
This form of worship was naturally outside the scope of any mainstream established organized and Eurocentric/Western religious traditional churches. Thus, spiritually, mother’s congregation was more connected to each other in a more accurate and representative understanding since that meant more to me than the religiosity of misguided religious systems. To the many people who she served and who followed her ministry, as I recalled from my earliest years, they were dedicated not only to each but also to the spirit to whom they serve and worship. Frankly, they all reverenced together in unity unconditionally.
Migration to the US for me was due to a desire to study, work and play with some of the best musicians I heard on one of Quincy Jones’ album, Walking in Space. I had met that objective playing bass with the late guitarist, Eric Gale. I’ve also had a deep desire to play Jazz since I became a musician and one who was in search of more having worked with many of Jamaicans best such as Earnest Ranglin, Cecile Lloyd, and others.
At the age of twelve years old, I began taking music lessons from the Salvation Army. Major Smith, coincidentally, that was his name, he became a friend of my Dad and offered to teach me the basics of music theory and the Trumpet. Without any pressure, I also became a Cub Scout and later grew into a Boy Scout. The Major got to know my dad very well after moving in the neighborhood on an assignment from the Salvation Army and becoming a patron of Dad’s grocery store.
Other things I hoped to do and tried did not matter to me as much as music. So, it was naturally instinctive, rather than following anyone, much less the dictates of my father, to become a mechanical engineer. Although I had the urge to follow my Uncle’s footsteps to become a mechanic, it was not for me. It never grew traction in any of my plans. Moreover, gravitational push vectored my path to be a musician if only to have the freedom to get away from home each evening for music lessons.
You can understand my interest in searching out diverse cultural and traditional music from around the world which is due to my exponential musical growth. Not only did I have a hunger to revisit my ancestral homeland to revive the pulse and music of the Island, but also, to ignite my storytelling as it relates to the Afro Caribbean words and beats from the perspective of its core.
More importantly, its verbiage and beats of the people that I am getting more familiar with than what is popular and playing on the traditional radio station and heard around the world. What I call Pocomanian beats some are calling Caribbean or tropical. The beats that are pulsing deep within my soul could be considered the source of my Afro rhythmic sense of being rejuvenated and that’s what I believed is naturally the framework in my consciousness.
Everywhere I have gone, the elements of music that are most dominant and constant, are the rhythms. Each culture dance to the beat of its ancestral pulse. There’s one source for all balanced and rhythmic development. For me, it’s Africa. The melodies are slow speaking the words that tell stories. Stories that keep repeating for generations and traditional and cultural purposes establishes the heritage for all to study and learn. You see, melodies are like speaking in a language that may not be understood, but is appreciated given the cultural norms one become presently aware and stationed.
In any event, the need of verbs to make words move and act in a sentence, give actual meaning to their expression. So is the rhythm in music. For them to have movements, it needs musical motivation, and that’s the introduction of rhythms to provide the pulse. In other words, for the melody or the words to have meaning and motion, an action must be introduced as with the verb of a sentence.
In Jamaica, my natural pulse is the Pocomanian beat. It’s my default. It does not matter if I am playing Jazz, Blues, Reggae, R&B, Rocksteady, Ska or any other forms of music; the Pocomanian beat remains dominant within my soul and has followed me till this day. Anyone can play whatever type of music they’re trained to perform or whatever they preferred, but the truth will always reveal a default pulse.
Growing up for a short period with a spiritually and Afrocentric mother, I was aware of the importance of recitation, repetition, and presentation. Not only was she a preacher but also one who seek out other leaders for accountability for her Pocomanian group to grow with integrity. I would participate in many of the meetings as a child. She would take me to some of the gatherings while Dad would remain home taking care of the business.
Mother and her congregation would worship mainly with the music of traditional instruments made from genuine animal skins and bamboo with sticks to beat the drums, their shouts for higher praises. They never believed in having any images surrounding their designated holy ground where ever they were ministering. I was never exposed to any such images for reasons not explained.
The rhythmic and musical expressions of peoples both from the English, Spanish, French, and other Latin Caribbean countries, Brazilian, the Americas and its Afro population shares in its African rhythmic traditional source. You can think of it as musical forms derived from one ancestral origin, out of Africa. Whenever I listened to the musical rhythms broadcasting out of Cuba, or other countries, as a young man growing up in Jamaica, I could find relational expressions in their tradition as with folk songs of Jamaican cultural music. Also, other cultures through the region would fascinate my interest musically.
Afro-Caribbean people and musical culture come from a source of depth.
Melodies were not directly manufactured to fit or entertain, but to teach and send a message for future generations to carry on teaching others. They would come from an experience of knowing self and purpose of doing to keep living and surviving through time.
Can an ocean speak? Or does it bear life? The truth is, it’s a powerful force to respect.
From Jamaica to Puerto Rico, I traveled. Listening to the ocean for me meant tranquility or being in a place of solitude. I could hear her waves speak as her voice carried through the wind from far to near as I sailed the seas and watched her move below from the bow of a cruise ship or keep an eye on her ebbing tides from up high in an airplane heading home.
My latest CD/Album is titled “My Pocomanian Girl” and will be distributed worldwide in November. I am pleased about the project because it reflects a deeper part of my life and its meaning. Keep looking out, and the music will draw you closer to your truth.
End of part – II
Lester G Neddy Smith ©2017
NedGJean Publishing
WORDS & MUSIC S09: Part I
The Travelling Man
Jamaican Sunset in Negril.
[PART – I]
In the early months of 2017, I began traveling and searching for new sonic environments and experiences contained within the scope of nature in various places and enclosed mainly, by the remarkable beauty of the tropics.
My first trip, instinctively, was to Jamaica. It was primarily for business and personal family matters. Invariably, I found myself visiting not one, but two of the most famous tropical islands in the world, Jamaica and later, Puerto Rico. It was a blessing being in those two places within a two-month period. Most importantly, I needed to visit my birth land and ancestry resting place. Secondly, my wife wanted a vacation which was mandatory to maintain a family balance.
Critically, what I found myself doing, was to study and record the many sounds heard within the milieu of my present circumstances. Notwithstanding, the tranquility of space and time, and slowing down my busy activities. I’ve got an innate belief induced in me a desired sense of nature’s sound designing principles. Thus, satisfying my instinctive sense of being. It was imperative to have traveled away from all my business activities and distractions at home after a long and rough North East American winter season.
I was born in Jamaica, once colonized by the British Empire. The Island gained independence in 1962. However, it’s still connected to the British Crown, given the governor general relationship to represent the colony and who continue to reports to the Queen of England. The country remains a member of the Commonwealth with other West Indian islands and continents such as Canada and Australia and others.
It was important for me to learn a musical instrument or become a poet or someone dabbling in the arts. Evidently, I was gravitating more towards becoming a musician from an early age. Unfortunately, my Dad disagreed with my choice and wanted me to be something other than a musician. He was hoping for me to become a mechanical engineer.
I loved playing with cars, yes, but not the grease. For that reason, I found myself going to a company to learn the trade to become a mechanic each summer recess. It was okay at first going to a vocational training facility. The place was, Western Diesel Service, located in Albion, not too far from downtown the City of Montego Bay.
As a mischievous young child, in my family, I would mess around with the piano at Miss Mailer’s own private ABC, kindergarten, school. The teachers there often chased me off the piano. One of my cousins reminded me of those early days as we reminisced one evening at home. She continued to explain that, “whenever the teachers saw you anywhere near or banging on the keys, they would chase you away…,” even though I was persistent.
At the time, I was less than five years of age during that period of my life. I started going to the school at three and left when I was five plus years old. But after leaving and headed off to primary School, I was divorcing myself away from what my dad desired for me and into what fits the way I was feeling in my spirit at the age between twelve to fifteen. It was a struggle between what my dad desired and what I wanted to do with my life.
As it were, I had to get more involved in music. I joined the Boy Scout troop at the Salvation Army before I was twelve, then the Boy’s and Girl’s Club because of its music facility. I once experienced hearing music from all around since I was a child. The marching band was consistently practicing most evening after school and all day during the weekends. The sounds heard could be from miles away. It was that influential of exposure to the vast array of instrumentation that got me interested in learning a musical instrument.
I was approximately 12 years old, still, a young man living with my dad. It was during those early days that I decided my direction definitively and what I wanted to learn formally and that was music. I picked up the guitar but ended up on the bass when I was older to go out on my own. Although there were not many music schools around, there were musicians who gave private lessons. My dad tried to steer me away from moving towards music but gave in eventually.
At senior school, currently Montego Bay Junior Secondary High School, I was sent to the choir. My classroom teacher, Mr. Host, sent me to the director, Miss Hewett, during one of her practice sessions. She knew I was only there because my teacher had sent me. What I wanted most to do was to play an instrument. Nonetheless, I ended up in a choir with all singers and no instruments except the piano no one could touch except the director.
It was a very annoying group of singers to me, given the choice of songs they were learning to perform. I needed to play the piano but had no training on the instrument. Nonetheless, I learned how to sing a few songs for a short time if only to find out how to harmonize melodies and sing vocal parts with others.
As the years progressed, I began to formulate my plan and professional statement now mainly focused on becoming a professional musician. Many years passed making my rounds at and participated in the many talent shows around town. Not only was I singing but I had also tried learning to play on other people’s instruments, such as my friend Ralston Haughton until I got my own.
It was important for me to announce to everyone, even to my dad when I became a professional musician at the age of 18 years old. I continued playing all over town and away from home for weeks at times. While traveling in and out of Jamaica, and at approximate 26 years of age, I finally decided to migrate to the US. I found a second career in electronics, digital computer and became a corporate technical hardware/software training instructor holding an MA as an adult educator.
My purpose in coming to America was to play music as a bassist with some of the top musicians who I’ve heard and studied, extensively primarily, from one of Quincy Jones’ albums, “Walking in Space.” It’s one of my favorite collection of recordings still, to this day. The one musician from that album I’ve had the opportunity of recording and playing with in NYC and at the at various other venues in England and most of Europe, especially performing at the Montreux Jazz Festival in 1982, in Switzerland, was the with late great guitarist, Eric Gale.
He was into experimenting with guitar sounds to mimic the Saxophone and so was I as continued to work on my compositions and with my band, at the time, Transwave.
I am always searching for new sounds wherever and whenever found. Acoustic or electronic, it doesn’t matter to me even if I have to walk manufacturer through artificial means what I am looking for buzzing me in my head. I will not rest until that I can find that unique sound. Hence, my traveling to strange and familiar places whenever possible anywhere around the world.
My newest album, My Pocomanian Girl, will be a vocal collection of songs based on my traveling experiences. It will reflect my past, present and also a reflection on my historical roots done in a modern musical style incorporating songs written to express my Pocomanian influences. Mostly filled with afro-tropical beats for dancing, listening and sending a message of hope out for humanity to love each other and no more fussing and fighting.
The CD/Download/Streaming should be out the latest, November 1st, 2017.
End of Part One:
Lester G Neddy Smith ©2017
NedGJean Publishing
Words and Music 