Ah Conrad Denke I had no idea the Band in Seattle Christmas Special is including our ‘Slow Jam’ again. It’s so good to be a part of this tradition. Check out Eva Walker and her brother Cedric hosting!
This year I have been so focused on trying work this Jamaican magic, I have been just thrilled to see this evolve in its third year as a fan of the show. I could have got the scoop but I didn’t, and look what they did!
But you know it’s all gonna come around in the coolest possible way, just wait.
Conrad knows I am on a special mission. I didn’t lose 80+ pounds since he had me play Santa Claus last December, to just look svelte.
This story he published from the magic day I met Anthony Cameron, Bunny Brown, and Sly Dunbar is a glimpse into why I am in another world right now.
Band in Seattle was one of the greatest breaks in my career. It set me up for Jamaica and that’s why I sent Conrad this report,
http://www.bandinseattle.com/the-jamaica-diaries-part-1/
My top 5 music moments of all time includes the day Conrad sent me to England on a daring mission with King Porter Stomp, where I reconnected with Lewis Harding, Scott Rowe, Lou Johnson, and Alex Roberts.
We really stirred somethings up in Southeast England, in such a positive way, Robert Nesta Marley would say.
Before I left I did something quite bold in a meeting in his office with his producers. I said if he was going to help me on this mission and take this risk on me, he had to shake my hand and promise that when I returned from 6 weeks in England, I would be helping him on his dream of a Christmas Special.
He was wavering because it would take SO many resources to start such a thing from scratch. There are valid reasons there is an international shortage on TV Christmas Specials, especially local ones.
Conrad had to tell sell it to the station, get his team behind it, there were so many things he had to do that truly left us both Christmas’d out after that first year. And to put it kindly, I am a much younger man with much less responsibility.
But he shook my hand, and a hand shake with Conrad Denke is stronger than an army of lawyers and a pile of contracts.
The thought crossed my mind that such a bold mission could threaten his health and risk the momentum of the entire show.
Then I told the devil on my shoulder and told him to sit down as I stood up and I listened to the Angel, that whispered,
“A Christmas special could set this show apart from any local show before it and this is going go keep Conrad young. He can do it if you help him.”
I stood up as the analogous devil representing doubt gave up and sat down.
“Shake my hand Conrad. When I come back from England…”
Someday, after my hit charts in France, I am going to knock at his door, and say,
“Hey Conrad, I have an idea.”
But I got work to do before I make that man seal another deal with a handshake.
I took England one Summer with his help. I need France. My people are from Normandy. Vikings. And I am a raider.
Watch this Special as it has moved to KING 5. He has rising stars hosting this year. Rising Stars on Christmas.
Back to swimming endless laps towards the Caribbean in this salt water Everett pool at 5:00 am.
Davin’s new song has become a global earworm and Caribbean dancehall hit. Listen here on Reggaeville: DAVIN MICHAEL STEDMAN & ANTHONY RED ROSE – FREE YOUR MIND FEAT. SLY & ROBBIE WITH LENKY MARSDEN. The video is now available on Youtube.
– Musician and writer Davin Michael Stedman has many ventures, such as the AMAZING blog, 100milesofmusic.com. In the spring of 2018 he spent weeks networking in and reporting from Kingston, Jamaica. He will return there soon for more recording. His single with British band Sherlock Soul is available here.
