Carl Meeks Still Releases New Music Despite Being off the Jamaican Music Scene For Almost 20 Years

Fresh from a second-place finish on Jamaica’s top talent contest in 1985, Carl Meeks was eager to transfer his new-found fame from the stage to the recording booth. It would be another three years before the singer hit the charts.

Carl MeeksHe did so in a big way with Youthman and Weh Dem Fah, songs produced by Hugh “Redman” James’ Redman international label. Both songs are on Redman International: We Run Things, a 40-song retrospective album released in December by VP Records.

“Dem days with Redman was great, wi used to go to his house an’ hang out, an’ jus’ vibes to music. Wi had a lotta good times,” recalled Meeks, who lives in North Carolina.

The dreadlocked artist actually has four songs on the Redman International compilation. The others are Danger and Heard About my Love, the latter a collaboration with deejay Daddy Lilly.

Meeks is from the Kingston 13 zip code of Jamaica, an area that has produced countless grassroots reggae artists such as singers Sugar Minott, Tristan Palmer, Linval Thompson, Jah Thomas and Michael Palmer. While he launched his recording career in 1983, it was the Tastee Talent Contest that earned him national attention two years later.

At the time, Meeks was employed as a forklift operator at Desnoes and Geddes, the Caribbean’s leading brewery, which produced Red Stripe Beer. He met James through a mutual friend and they had instant success.

Redman International was one of the most successful dancehall camps in Jamaica during the 1980s. They had numerous hit songs such as Old Friend and Lady in Red by Sanchez, We Run Things by Flourgon, and Border by Pinchers.

Although he has been off the Jamaican music scene for almost 20 years, Meeks maintains a busy recording schedule. His current songs include Tek Life, Feelings For You and Never Fail.