On one of his regular visits to HAMMA Records’ studio in New York City many years ago, Cecil B The Artist recalls running into Josey Wales. The legendary deejay struck up what became a career-defining conversation with the aspiring artist.
“‘Him sey, ‘youth man, are you a singer?’ When I said no, he encouraged me to start singing, ‘and get all the girls’,” the New York-based vocalist related.
It would be years before Cecil B The Artist took Josey Wales’ advice. His first song, ‘Too Much Violence in The Streets’, was released in 2012; 13 years later saw the release of his second single, ‘This Love’. That track is produced by Ricky Myrie, who also directed Cecil B The Artist on ‘Over the Hills’, a cover of Luciano’s 1997 hit for Xterminator Records.
He and Myrie have spent many hours recording songs for what Cecil B The Artist’s first album will be, projected for release late this year. A video for ‘This Love’ recently came out, with his version of ‘Over the Hills’ scheduled for release in early May.
An airbrush artist by profession, Cecil B The Artist is from St. Mary parish in eastern Jamaica, where Josey Wales was born. A self-taught bass player, he played in several bands in Jamaica and New York before launching his vocal career.
