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Clinton Fearon

FAIRBANKS — There is an enduring quality to roots reggae. No matter how much the musical style changes, it’s impossible to avoid the original.

Bob Marley’s stature in popular culture assures that, but there are plenty of other quality acts from the same era still plying the roots rocker byways.

Acts like Culture, Israel Vibration, Steel Pulse, the Wailers and The Itals all draw from the original well bored in the desperate times of 1970s Kingston, Jamaica. A more recent edition to the above list is the Boogie Brown Band, fronted by Clinton Fearon, former bassist for another 1970s super group, the Gladiators.

Fearon brings his new group to the Blue Loon Wednesday, Oct. 1 for a concert of old Gladiators classics and classic sound new compositions.

But unlike some reggae acts these days, Fearon insists his music remains pure to the reggae soul —and struggles — it was founded on.

“Reggae is not gone with the ’70s, if you know what I mean,” Fearon explained by cell phone from the Seattle-Tacoma airport in Washington, having just returned from a tour in Brazil.

“Our sound is roots, its roots, lovers rock, rock steady. It’s not too far from the root. I’m not trying to branch off into anything I’m not totally relaxed with,” he continued. “A lot of (other bands) try to follow the market. I try to follow my creativity more so than follow the market. It’s what’s in your heart; you have to follow your heart.”

Fearon’s heart was always in music. When he was 10 years old he made his first guitar out of a single piece of recycled lumber. As a teen he moved from the country to Kingston where there was a thriving if not extremely competitive music scene. His first group was The Brothers, a now-classically styled vocal trio with Fearon playing acoustic guitar. Errol Grandison, a member of the Gladiators, an up-and-coming act with the hit song “Hello Carol,” noticed his playing and singing when the two bands shared a studio session, and dropped by Fearon’s house one day.

“The Gladiators were Albert Griffiths, Grandison and this guy David Webber,” Fearon recalled. “Webber got sick, and that’s when Errol check me out. He come in (my house) and we chat awhile and sing a few music together and he say, ‘You be perfect for the Gladiators because we need a member.’ Albert comes by two days later to meet me. That how it start.”

The new combo quickly recorded two singles, “Rock A Man Soul” and “Freedom Train.” Both were minor hits, but there was an edge to the music that attracted famed record producers Lee “Scratch” Perry and Coxsone Dodd, each of whom cut tracks with the band. Fearon said their sound was a sign of the times, a realization of the struggles taking place in Kingston at the time.

“It was tough times. In the ’70s there it was tough times,” he said. “Music was a way out. You go work for the big man and get nothing, or you become the bad man. You survive that way. We choose not to do that, we think that not right. I had already done some work for the big man and I can’t even buy a shirt. I owe money instead. So you put all that energy into the music, even though we were hungry, and we have the determination to be something.”

The Gladiators created a series of crucial songs like, “Bongo Red”, “Jah Jah Go Before Us,” “Write To Me” and “Roots Natty.” But most of the writing was being done by Griffiths, with a Fearon track or two finding a place on each album. Eventually, that senario proved untennable.

“When I joined I was already singing and writing songs. My hope for the Gladiators was that we share the vibe, share the creativity,” he said. “I realized after awhile it was only going one way. And I had a bunch of songs written I was doing nothing with. If I did something here and there it sent this huge jealousy and anger.

“But I love Gladiators, so I don’t even mind. I still take the back seat,” he continued. “After awhile it got worse and worse (until) I can’t give no more of my blood. It’s killing me. There’s no fun anymore. Once I think I’m not having fun anymore, I think that before my vibe bring down everyone else, I’m gonna leave.”

Fearon left the Gladiators in 1987 to pursue a solo career. He put down the bass and went back to playing the guitar, where he is more comfortable writing songs. And while his current eight-piece band hasn’t found the international success of the Gladiators, Fearon feels comfort in knowing he’s following his heart.

Looking back, Fearon said was unsure he’d survive as a musician, but the encouragement of other well-known musicians, like Wailers guitarist Earl “Chinna” Smith, kept his motivation high.

“You know, I don’t even know what it’s going to be, I only hope it’s going to be,” he said of his beginning with the Gladiators. “I just gave it my all and saw it as a good opportunity. Later on, musicians who I highly respect start say, ‘You bad bassman, blah blah blah blah.’ It gave me confidence. It looked like I’m doing something right.”

What: Reggaei concert featuring Clinton Fearon

When: 7 p.m. Oct. 1

Where: The Blue Loon

Tickets: $25, available at Gulliver's Bookstore, The Blue Loon and www.theblueloon.com