On the afternoon that I walked into The Ritz-Carlton suite to meet Orville Richard Burrell – otherwise known the world over as award-winning recording star Shaggy, and due to perform at the Breast Cancer Foundation gala the next evening – I wasn’t sure what to expect.
My only previous interaction with him had been many years ago when I just happened to get the seat next to his on an early morning Cayman Airways flight to Miami. We’d exchanged about two words and then he promptly fell asleep – I hope from being tired due to a very late concert the night before.
As he greeted me at the door with that signature hairstyle, wearing a fashionable, casual outfit and shades, I said, “You’re taller than I thought you would be.”
Good start.
A brief early history
Born in Jamaica, Shaggy and his mother moved to Brooklyn when he was 18 years old. He was a talented artist and passionate about music, and after four years in the United States Marine Corps, he pursued the latter full time. In 1993, he got his first smash hit with ‘Oh Carolina’, making his mark with that instantly recognisable, signature voice. Since then, he has won multiple awards – including two Grammys – and has collaborated with a host of successful artists, including Sting.
In the interview, we talked about some of the highlights of his career, the inspiration behind his songs, and what he really thinks of those singing competitions on TV.
What drove your mother to move to Brooklyn?
I was a single-parent kid, you know, my mom was a journalist … and I think her raising a child on her salary just wasn’t really amazing. She took a chance and she went to the States … and I, you know, I’m there, stepping into this melting pot of cultures, and like a fish out of water. I think one of the craziest things for me is [that] we lived at a place called The Irma, which is an apartment building right on New York Avenue; [we had] a one-bedroom apartment. And the first time she took me to do laundry at the laundromat, that freaked me out, because, you know, in Jamaica, you do your laundry and hang it up on a line, yeah … it’s pretty private, you know, you’re not folding your drawers in front of everyone at the laundromat [laughs]. So that was a little shocking for me.
What is the highlight of your career so far?
I’ve had a lot of great moments. I think performing at the 30th anniversary of Michael Jackson was a big one.
The most moving [experience] out of all of them [was] sitting across from Nelson Mandela and having a wonderful conversation with him. He just had an aura around him.
I toured with James Brown – he was such a fan. Every night he came on stage and watched me from the side of the stage. But I think, overall, the biggest one – and I say this because it’s probably the most meaningful one – is my relationship with Sting. I think that’s the brother I never knew I needed.
You’ve worked with Sting a lot recently. What are the origins of that collaboration?
Very organic. You know, I met Sting in 2004 – we went on stage and we sang ‘Roxanne’ together. And it wasn’t until 2017 that we ran into each other again with Martin [Kierszenbaum], who was not my manager at that time – he was my A&R [executive] (Artists and Repertoire), and he was Sting’s A&R – and he heard me with a song called ‘Don’t Make Me Wait’. He said, “Shaggy, can I get this song?” and I was like, “Yeah, take it – there’s a lot more where that came from” [laughs]. So he took it, and I’m at the studio in LA, and in comes Sting, singing it, and says, “Hey Shaggy, this is a hit, let’s make it.” We sat down and he asked me to produce him. He says, “I want you to produce my vocals for me, because it’s an authentic reggae, and I want it to be as authentic as possible – it’s your genre”. The whole session kind of ended up with us just talking and joking the whole time … we just had more fun than even work, and wanted that to continue.
We were writing songs and coming up with ideas and then after a while, I was like, there are eight songs in there. Sting, you got eight songs on this album – it can’t be [just] your album. [I’ve got] eight songs on there. It’s like a Sting and Shaggy album. And he says, “Why not? Why can’t it be a Sting and Shaggy?”
So, [that’s what it ended up being], and then, once we toured, we became closer. There’s so many things we had in common. We just intertwined like that … and [now] people know Sting and Shaggy [as] a brand.
What inspired you to become a singer in the first place?
People ask me how I got into music. I got into music, really, for women, because when I was in school, I got girls – I got popularity – by spitting rhymes.
Where do you consider your home to be?
With my family. It could be Jamaica, it could be Miami, it could be New York, you know … it’s wherever they are, that’s home.
Favourite place to perform?
Africa is always amazing. I haven’t been there in years, but that was always fantastic, because I’d have to sing songs off the album that I’ve never rehearsed, ever, and they’d just know it front and back, everything about it, and I was always fascinated about that.
What do you think of reality shows like ‘The Voice’ and ‘American Idol’?
I like ‘American Idol’ because [it] has made a lot of stars. ‘The Voice’ is yet to really garner a proper star, [and hopefully] that will change, but it’s also the most successful because it’s such a unique concept, you know? And they’re very smart with the characters they put on there. I think now that they got Snoop … he’s so great.
What is the one thing about you that your fans might not know?
I cook [laughs]. I’m a good griller; I throw down.
And … the most important question of all: Tastee or Juici patties?
[Laughs] I thought you were going to ask if ‘it was me’. I’m a Tastee guy.
Related Videos
