Mel Cooke, Freelance Writer

Deejay Capleton performs at the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission's 'Get Up Stand Up' concert in honour of Bob Marley 's birthday, held at Ranny Williams Entertainment Centre, Hope Road, in February 2007.

The name Clifton George Bailey will not turn many heads. But say Capleton and the image of a fire-breathing deejay, leaping sky-high as he delivers a combination of Old Testament militancy, modern dancehall and roots reggae in tones that veer in an instant between cajoling and stridency, a rasp and a purr, comes instantly to mind.

And, as one of his many popular songs says and the title of his annual concert states, it is from St Mary that Capleton came, making his overseas debut in Canada on African Star sound system in the late 1980s. Earlier this month he went to Africa for the first time, performing in The Gambia, and is now off on a six-week North American tour. After he returns to Jamaica for his 'A St Mary Me Come From' concert, it is off for a European trek.

grew into Rastafarianism

But before the tours Capleton was deejaying long, hard and often unpaid hours in Jamaica. He broke with B....o Red in 1990 and then, in one of the more dramatic shifts in Jamaican music, grew into Rastafarianism, taking many dancehall deejays and quite a few fans with him. With Tour hitting big in Jamaica and the remix blowing up internationally, Capleton signed with Def Jam in the mid-1990s, doing two albums, Prophecy and I-Testament.

When the Def Jam years came to an end Capleton added to his reinvention, becoming the blazing 'Fireman'. It was a fiery transition that had its detractors, but was eventually embraced by the dancehall massive.

toured with legends

From the Billboards to his nomination for a Grammy, One Third doing his Pon Top a Tings in the Digicel Rising Stars Competition and one of the more dramatic entrances at Sting when he was toted up on stage on a throne, Capleton has been here, there and everywhere in Jamaican music.

He has done tours with legends such as Dennis Brown and Bunny Wailer, and had the young like Munga Honourable in his musical care. And he has remained true to his fiery self all throughout.

The Sunday Gleaner sat down to speak with him about more than two decades in music, but it was not all as planned. However, in between a long interview with a Ghanian radio station and a video recording to cover some ground on the Gambian visit, he did speak about his early years, life on the road, his fashion and fiery nature. In tomorrow's STAR and continuing through the week, Capleton will speak what's on his mind and in his heart.

Deejays Ninja Man (left) and Capleton during an energetic set at Decky Promotion's Magnum 'Follow Di Arrow - Unite The Music', 2007. file photos