The following interiew with Little Roy by David Rodigan, was originall y broadcast on Kiss 100 FM, on September 26th 1999.

Rodigan He was named "Little Roy", because he was little, when compared to the adults who were in the business when he started out at the age of 12, voicing for Coxson Dood. The name stuck, as Little Roy grew in stature to become one of reggae's most highly repected artists.

A collection of his early recordings for the excellent roots label Tafari Records has now been compiled on a new album entitled Packing House. It also features friends of Little Roy, such as the Heptones and Dennis Brown, and one of the hottest DJ's at the time, Winston Scotland. Little Roy joins us live tonight on Kiss 100, to guide us through this excellent album on Pressure Sounds.Hurt Not The Earth...this should be for Greenpeace!

(track played Hurt Not The Earth)

Rodigan An inspired recording by Little Roy, available now, at last. Did they press many of that when it came out Roy?

Little Roy No! This song was made, but it didn't come out.

Rodigan Not even little white labels circulating in Jamaica?

Little Roy No, no.

Rodigan It was new to me, and yet, when you hear it it's like, because it's classical. It's like, this is obviously one of Little Roy's pieces, but did it actually hit the street ? I was sort of scratching my head and wondering if it did.

Little Roy No, no, it never did. You see these set of songs ? Some songs I was working on in the early 70's, me and my bredren Munchie (Jackson). But about two albums of songs didn't release.

Rodigan Well, they're out now. The collection on Pressure Sounds, Little Roy and Friends, Packin House. And let's go to a song called Ticket To zion. How much of an influence was the Beatles on you?

Little Roy Well, Beatles always make good songs. And Ticket To Ride was one of my songs, y'know. So, that's how it got transformed to this kind of reggae.

(track played Ticket To Zion)

Rodigan So, tell us about Tafari, how did it all come about ? What caused you to form the label ? It's a very righteous, concious organisation. How did you get it all together - and who did you do it with?

Little Roy Well, I did it with...I started Tafari with Melvin Jackson, y'know, a bredren called Munchie. But what really happen now, me and Munchie, the first two songs we made was Mr. T and Free For All. Well, Munchie went back to America, so me and his brother, Maurice, continued the label, y'know. We were lucky enough to have...we always try to make good songs on the label, 'cos if you know what Tafari is, you know that it's just, pure good songs, y'know.

Rodigan And it's also inspired, of course, by your devout belief in Rastafari, and as a way of life...

Little Roy Yeah, that's the main thing, with Tafari y'know. All the songs have to be Godly.

Rodigan And significant. And the significance of the song we're about to play, is not only is it a great record, but it's also made by a good friend of yours Leroy Sibbles.

Little Roy Yeah, in those days y'know. Well I know that Leroy is a Ras, is just that him don't have no dread y'know. But from those tradition, he's nothing but just Ras!

Rodigan And had you...He was at Studio 1, bass playing and everything else but, how did he get into the camp? Because you were friends, what was his nickname as well ? There was a nickname.

Little Roy Well, Leroy was "Pa", because he was like the teacher for us. I was "Palooka" Well I have a brother name Palooka, and is like my friends see that me and him couldn't get along, so is like them stick his name on me! (laughs)

(track played : The Heptones, Revolution)

Rodigan This is so raw. It's so full of soul, fully loaded. That's the unmistakable lead vocal of Leroy Sibbles with the Heptones and Revolution.

Little Roy Yes, those songs are songs that are written and made in the Packing House, y'know.

Rodigan Now tells us why...hang on, before we find out why it's Packing House, let's play the version, 'cos this is rough!

(track played : Revolution - version)

Rodigan Baba Leslie

Little Roy Yes, he's original trombone player, y'know, but he resided in America. That's where he did this.

Rodigan He did this in America? He put the horn on in America? So where was the rhythm created?

Little Roy This riddim was made by Upsetters. This is like, we were close friend to Upsetters, we were in the same area y'know, and he gave our label some riddims.

Rodigan Now I thought it was Packing House, 'cos you've packed the chalice so tight on the sleeve here, it's causing a bit of a fog! Studio kind of cloudy (laughs). Seriously now, why is the album called Packing House?

Little Roy Because the whole vibe was created there y'know ? In that area.

Rodigan Give us a back up on it, there was a story that it was somebody's Mum's place...

Little Roy Yeah. It was like, Munchie's mother's place alright ? She was a woman, she supply food to the prison and the hospitals. So the food that she get from the higglers, to supply to these places, which usually would be packed in the packing house. Drink, yam, banana, Irish. So we have a sound, in a section there, so that's how it's called the Packing House.

Rodigan You actually did recordings in there, you had a little studio...

Little Roy We did voicing in there, not riddims.

(track played Rat Trap)

Rodigan The players of instruments. One of the great things about Tafari productions, is the fact that they are all so lean in terms of production. Who actually played on your rhythms, who did you use most, which musicians?

Little Roy Well, I use the cream of the crop is always on Tafari songs y'know ? From Sly and Robbie... well it started with Familyman and Carly, they were always there for us, the Wailers. That crew, Ronnie Bop, there was Capo...

Rodigan The guitarist? Was he a guitarist?

Little Roy No, Capo he was original...Glen Adams!

Rodigan Keyboard player, lives in New York now.

Little Roy And when Tyrone just came as a yout', Tyrone Downey into the business.

Rodigan You had them all there. Tafari. How did you come to discover Rastafari ? How did it come to you, how did it become part of your life?

Little Roy Rastafari became part of my life from when I was like 14 years old. Because I was always amongst Rasta y'know?

Rodigan Did Rasta used to get a fight in those days?

Little Roy A lot of fight y'know? At home and abroad, all over, school. Everywhere.

Rodigan They didn't like what you stood for, they didn't like your hair...

Little Roy No. Even some singers that come turn, dread up them, say them is dreadlocks used to get a lot of fight from them from those times, y'know?

Rodigan What about this magnificent, glorious obscurity that has surfaced, and so many people are asking about this 'cos it was quite a rare track. Dennis Brown.

Little Roy Yes. Well, we were at a studio in Waterloo, in Kingston. So I was voicing a song that told the public to bring in their guns. I was voicing a song on the riddim called Give Up Your Gun. It was like a commercial studio, it wasn't really a recording studio, is like we just discovered it. It was somewhere where we used to buy honey from there, and it had a lot of bee!

Rodigan So Dennis had this song written, how did it go?

Little Roy No, he didn't have a song written. He just came that day, alright, and knew we were up there. I think Leroy (Sibbles) was voicing the day too. Yeah, me and Leroy were voicing that day, we voice a song called Make Your Move, it's released as Pa and Palooka. That is the only song released under that title with me and Leroy.

Rodigan Well, let's have a listen to this song, that was recorded in a commercial studio, used for making jingles and radio commercials, back in the day, with Dennis Brown at the microphone.

(track played Dennis Brown, Set Your Little Heart Free)

Rodigan Tragedy. The loss of the Crown Prince.

Little Roy Yeah, 'cos this is like when he was 16.

Rodigan Little Roy. We're gonna play Natty Yard. Now this is a great song.

Little Roy Yeah. Well, this song is just Rasta vibes y'know ? Total Rasta vibes y'know ? Chant down the heathen.

(track played Natty Yard)

Rodigan We're playing vintage stuff here, but we should bring things up to date because just recentley a record we've been playing here on Kiss, is a re-make of Prophecy. But you have got a new album haven't you...

Little Roy Yes, I've got a new album. It's coming like the 12th of November.

Rodigan So the re-make of Prophecy is the current single, and also the album coming soon. What's the album called?

Little Roy More From A Little.

Rodigan As in Little Roy. Well, we can't get enough of you Roy, thanks for passing through. A message for your fans Roy...

Little Roy Love to everyone, that's my message!

(track played Prophecy -original)