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Johnnie Walker & The Disappointers

Johnnie Walker and his Rasta brethren Stannie, Splick, Jah

Youth, Kultural & FarEye are the self-proclaimed Disappointers. But as Johnnie says...every disappointment is for a good.

 

Without much effort to take their music to the public, they have been writing music and performing for one another in the hills of Jamaica for decades.

 

Their songs, based on daily events in their community, are deceptively simple lessons for the world at large. Simple things reveal larger truths. While the international economic turmoil collapses the walls of Babylon with lies and greed, the Disappointers live simply and spiritually in their Jamaican Zion. Free and self-sufficient. Their music reflects this and is infused with a natural spirit.

 

 

Johnnie Walker

The Disappointers

 

Johnnie and Stannie have been playing guitar and harmonizing together since the late 1960's. They have probably forgotten more original songs than they remember. In 1979, they traveled to Kingston

and recorded a handful of songs as "Stannie and the Starlights". A couple of tracks got some airplay

in Jamaica, but success slipped through their fingers, and they retreated back to the hills of Portland. They've been there every since, more than 30 years, farming, strumming their guitars and living close

to nature. Occasionally, they would play some calypso or reggae cover songs for the occasional tourist, but their original compositions have been a well-kept secret.

 

Jah Youth, known also as Mr. Earl, is Johnnie's childhood friend and a chanter like none other. His style is unique, based on ancient themes. They lull you into a trance one moment and, in the next moment, jolt you awake with ecstatic primal screams from the mountaintop. His small frame conceals a universe of wisdom within.

 

Kultural is Jah Youth's son and adds the indispensable youthful fire to the proceedings. His powerful voice and insightful lyrics encapsulates the anguish and restlessness of Jamaica's younger generation.   He is electric, a prodigy, a jewel in the Ruff. Now getting airplay on Jamaican radio with his solo work, his musical vibe is conscious and positive.

 

At 81 years of age, Splick is the elder of the group but probably the most fun-loving and tireless of

all the Disappointers. The poetic nature of his lyrics to "Kingdom" or "When the Right Time Comes" catapults us back to era long ago forgotten. He particularly enjoys accompanying the band on his handmade flute.

 

FarEye admittedly doesn't have his musicianship up to standard just yet. His unorthodox use of percussion instruments pulls from influences from a different cosmos. These days he is the flagman

who helps his brethren keep their eyes on the future and their hearts full of positivity.

 

Also appearing in the film and on the soon-to-be-released studio recordings are Devon "Pattyhead" Bradshaw, Nelson Miller and Ian "Beezy" Coleman from Axxhive Studio in Norwich, Jamaica.

 

Devon's contribution on bass to the improvised live sessions in the documentary were crucial to rounding out the sound. He and Nelson are road warriors on bass and drums. They have toured with

the best, from Burning Spear to President Brown. Beezy is also a veteran session guitarist and has toured in Ziggy Marley's band.

 

Two additional percussionists also participated in the live sessions in the documentary. Danny Masters, who is working on a solo career as a songwriter and vocalist and Jah Roy, who nowadays prefers chilling out by the sea at Long Bay.