Like many Jamaican artists and musicians, Ian “Beezy” Coleman is a big fan of Dennis Brown, arguably the greatest hitmaker in the annals of reggae. One of his favorite ‘D. Brown’ tracks is ‘How Could I Leave’, which was released in 1977.
Coleman, a guitarist who has recorded and toured with Grammy winners Ziggy Marley and The Melody Makers and Stephen Marley, has covered ‘How Could I Leave’. His self-produced version was released on August 30.
While it is a dance track, Coleman said ‘How Could I Leave’ carries a powerful message. He has always been moved by a particular line in the song.
“The part that says, ‘it was ordained that man should leave his mother and cleave to the woman that he loves’,” he disclosed.
Coleman also sings and plays percussion on the song. He is backed by drummer Squiddly Cole, another member of Stephen Marley’s band, bassist Devon Bradshaw of Burning Spear and Garnet Silk fame and keyboardist Chadian Monroe.
Although Brown made it famous, ‘How Could I Leave’ was initially recorded as ‘How Could I Live’ in 1968 by The Sharks. That band’s guitarist, Dwight Pinkney, wrote the song which was first done for Studio One.
Nine years later, Brown cut his version for producer Joe Gibbs who had the hottest label in Jamaica at the time. ‘How Could I Leave’ quickly went to number one in Jamaica and on reggae charts in the United States and United Kingdom.
