Screwdriver remembers ‘No Mama’ - Now ‘longing for your touch’

In the late '90s, dancehall and reggae artiste Screwdriver was moved to pen some lyrics based on teenage pregnancy, the incidence of which was quite high.

No Mama (Sharon Yuh Pregnant?) hit the right note and was a huge hit around the Caribbean and in the diaspora.

"Young girls were getting pregnant and hiding it, and that's how the song came about," Screwdriver, whose given name is Dalton Lindo, told THE WEEKEND STAR.

"It was produced by Neville Lee of Sonic Sounds. Him wasn't really a producer, but I went to him and told him that I have a song that going to mek him rich. And him listen to it and then we went into the studio with Kotch band. It took two weeks to go to No. 1. And then Little John do it over and seh Yes Mama," Screwdriver recalled.

With other songs such as We Rule, Soundboy Killa, Family Counsellor, Teach Dem and HIV, Screwdriver savoured the taste of success and this led to tours of Canada and the United States. He relocated to Florida and continued pursuing music, including teaching, while keeping a relatively low profile.

"Pre-COVID, I would be touring but, in my life now, I am just having fun. Plus, I have my drawings and paintings," Screwdriver said happily.

And he has also put out new music. These days, the veteran reggae artiste is no longer questioning if Sharon is pregnant; he is simply Longing for Your Touch.

One of his latest releases, it is one of 15 songs featured on Upstairs Music's The Train Is Coming rhythm.

"It is more than a love song, it is reality. With me in Jamaica and my other half overseas, a day is like a year. We have to write some songs to calm down the girls. If we don't reason with them like Beres [Hammond]. we will lose them," he said soberly.

Originally from St James, Screwdriver travelled to Kingston in the mid-1980s, where he met, and was encouraged in his musical career by, Hammond. He took inspiration from Tenor Saw, Pinchers, Pliers and Spanner Banner and began recording in 1986.

He has released eight albums throughout his career, among them, Let Me Remind You, Prophecy, Child Of The Universe and African Union. He wrote the song Jah Send Him Come in support of Barack Obama's presidential election campaign.