‘Niney’ coming with Grammy album

Producer Winston 'Niney' Holness is called 'The Observer' for a reason; he never takes his eagle eyes off a target and he can keenly watch several targets at once.

This skill has served him well in his business and music transactions throughout the years, and it is again guiding him in 2020, as he preps his newest project.

"I am coming with a Grammy album," he told THE WEEKEND STAR, confidently, of what will be his first album in years. "I have three companies that want to put it out, but right now I am just watching a few things." His observances have also led him to keep the album title close to his chest.

CHART BUSTERS

Easily numbered among reggae's great producers, Holness has a history of hit-making with singers and has produced chart busters for Mykal Rose, ( Guess Who's Coming to Dinner); Dennis Brown ( Cassandra, Westbound Train); and Ken Boothe ( Silver Words).

But he is no longer keen on investing his time with some of the new players, having had less-than-satisfactory experiences. So Holness, who started out as a singer, and who performs at intervals, is singing his songs himself.

He has been working with a cadre of A-list musicians out of his Observer Soundbox Studio in Kingston and had made plans to return to Jamaica in March.

But the pandemic forced him to stay put in the United States, and he suffered a real loss with the recent death of one of his key players.

"Dalton Browne was playing guitars and doing harmony on this project. He was such a nice guy. A really beautiful soul who I am going to miss," Holness said. He also lamented the passing of his friend and colleague, Bunny 'Striker' Lee.

Drummer Sly Dunbar, saxophonist Dean Fraser, keyboardist Robbie Lyn, and bassist Flabba Holt are on the project.

"When I come down to finish it up, I want to get Sister Marcia (Griffiths) and Sister Judy (Mowatt) and Sandy Stewart (Tinga Stewart's daughter) to do some harmonies," Holness explained.