I didn’t—we didn’t interact as [much]. Soljie was a real good friend, man. He used to come and hang out at nights. Because he used to fall asleep on the road, so he would just hang in the studio with us. But I used to hang more with more of my people, because, as I said, music saves lives. So I think—when I moved to Bell Road, I used to get like $250 a week. And I used to pay that with about 6-9 people from my corner. I took my brother. I used to split that up and pay it. But at that time, if you’re good, you used to get tips, so we used to work for tips. I used to work for tips.
Now kind of a different question. Scientist has told me that almost 100% of knowing how to mix a song—that skill of mixing—balancing the vocals with the instruments is really—you really have to have an ear for the music. And that’s not something that you can really learn. It’s something that is a gift—an ear for the music—you either have that or not. Would you agree with that?
Um, in a sense, yeah. I mean if it wasn’t, then a lot of people would be engineers.
Yeah, that’s true. With that being said, that you need to have this ear for the music—and not everyone has it—to be good at it, [and good at] mixing—is there anything, Tony, about mixing that you learned from watching and working with Scientist at Tuff Gong?
Yeah, that’s what carved my career.
Just watching him mix?
Yeah. Just watching him—watching him create the vibe. And I’ve seen him lift lifeless songs—put life into lifeless songs by [his use of] effects. And the reverb throws. And delays. And the certain way—the dub stuff.
Nice.
Yeah, so I learned a lot of that [from Scientist at Tuff Gong].
Nice. Now once Scientist left Tuff Gong, did anyone know where he went at first?
No. Because I became [an] engineer [by that time], so we had different schedules.
Did anyone know that he had not only left Tuff Gong, but he got [on a plane and] quit Jamaica? [Did anyone know that] [h]e left Jamaica? [That he] [g]ot on a plane to the U.S., never to return[?]
No, no. We had no clue. [And] at the time I was on my own. I had to live my life. So—(laughing). I didn’t even see him around the area where we’re from.
He just disappeared?
Yeah, he just disappeared. And I can’t remember even having a conv[ersation with him before he left]. Because my life became very hectic. And this was my life now. [Scientist] threw me a life-line and left [Jamaica]. And I more than appreciate that life-line.
Yeah, and then you had all these other new responsibilities you had to deal with?
Yeah.
Now once [Scientist] left Tuff Gong and Jamaica permanently, what was the environment like at Tuff Gong? For example, did the vibe or the sound of the studio, did it change at all or was it affected by Scientist—
Music is always gonna change, you know, depending on what you’re working on—and depending on the season and everything.
Yeah, true.
[For example], my sound is very much different now from what it was at that time. You’ve got to adapt and change. And grow. Even now I’m still learning. I just installed a bunch of analog stuff in my studio.
All the best legends who I’ve spoken to all have that same kind of mindset. After Scientist left Tuff Gong, or maybe it was before—I don’t know—but did your brother, the legendary producer as I mentioned earlier, Dave Kelly, did he work as an engineer at Tuff Gong for a little bit too? Or, do I have that wrong?
Yeah, that’s what I said, I brought him in [and] that saved his life also.
Oh, I’m sorry [I missed that].
Yeah, but he started not at Hope Road—he started at Bell Road.
Yeah, I’m sorry, I missed that. You did say that [earlier]. My understanding, Tony, is after Scientist left Tuff Gong, that you stayed for a while working at Tuff Gong—because I know you later became the engineer for Ziggy Marley and The Melody Makers for a time. And you went on tour I believe with Ziggy and company—as their engineer. Is that true?
Yes. Yeah, that’s accurate. I stayed on and then Ziggy Marley and Steve [Marley]—I became good friends with them, you know? And Ziggy and Steve asked me if I have a passport. I said, “No.” They were like, “Why you don’t have no passport?” And they asked me if I ever thought about leaving Jamaica and going away. And I was like, “Yeah, but I wasn’t in any rush or anything honestly.” And they were like, “Bwoy, you need to [go get] your passport.” And I was like, “Why?” And them start[ed] [to] laugh. [And they were like], “Look Bwoy, [go get your passport].” (Laughing) [My] first time flying out of Jamaica was because of Ziggy and Steve and the whole Marley clan, man.