By Chantalé Fletcher
MICHAEL BOOTHMAN’S contributions to his country were finally acknowledged with the Hummingbird Medal (Gold).
His latest milestone is the digital re-launch of his iconic vinyl Heaven album on Friday morning on streaming platforms and through, at https://www.michaelboothmanmusic.com.
Boothman, a mentor, bandleader, arranger, producer and elder statesman, shared some of his accomplishments with AZP News last week.
After coming close to death twice, Boothman said, “I am happy to be recognised for my contributions, as in 2019 I suffered a stroke and contracted Covid-19 in 2021.”
A God-fearing man, he remains humble despite his numerous achievements in life.
Boothman recalled sharing the stage with renowned musicians and performers such as Fitzroy Coleman, Stevie Wonder, Ray Charles, Freddie Cole, Natalie Cole, Percy Sledge, Babyface, Shaggy, along with many others but never lost himself.
Laughing, he said, people called him the “Trinidadian Quincy Jones” who is his idol which led to his music being placed into the genre of World Music, but maintaining Calypso fusions.
Before the music
A child of the 1940s, Boothman attended Tranquility Government School where his music skills developed by joining the school’s choir and studying the piano and cello.
However, his passion was the guitar. It was the late musician Joe Lewis, who recognised his unique talent and convinced his father to purchase Boothman’s first electric guitar.
Soon after, the band The Rockafellas was born when Boothman was only 14 years and Lewis became his mentor as the band performed at galas, fetes, concerts and other occasions.
Boothman said many years later, he performed with renowned musician Fitzroy Coleman at the Silver and Gold Concert in Queen’s Hall to mark their 25th and 50th anniversaries in music with celebrated Trinbagonian musicians.
He said an invitation in 1964 by his music teacher Schofield Pilgrim to join the Queen’s Royal College (QRC) Jazz Ensemble, introduced him to Shango Baptist rhythms that set the course of his future direction.
Musical journey
In 1970, the band The Family Tree was formed along with Wayne (Barney) Bonapath, Raul Mitchel and his brother David.
His first single Tabu with the band Family Tree featured Andre Tanker on the flute along with Andrew Bedo, Earl Edwards and others.
Meanwhile, in 1972, Boothman recalled a festival to celebrate T&T’s 10th year of Independence at the Queen’s Park Savannah where they entered and won a contest and caught the attention of Len “Boogsie” Sharpe who joined the band.
The Family Tree also helped build via fundraising concerts the establishment of Phase 2 Steel Orchestra.
Boothman recalled his band playing at the 21st birthday of Prime Minister Dr Eric Williams’s daughter Erica upon his request.
He said, “This was a proud moment and I still hold dearly the letter of recommendation written by Erica after our performance.”
Boothman said she described the band as, “A group of highly talented musicians and performers, dedicated to promoting T&T’s culture”.
His career evolved from singing to consultancy in the music industry in 1974 at the KH Studios in Port of Spain.
Boothman also worked on the late Maestro’s Fiery and Bionic Man in 1978 and Lord Nelson’s Hot, Sweet and Jumpy album.
Then came a change in the wind with his second single in 1975, Diego Shuffle which coincided with the dance of the same name, introduced by Boothman.
He said, “This attracted the attention of music industry icon Clarence Avant, known as The Black Godfather who flew to Trinidad to sign my label Tabu Records at age 25 and in 1976 Michael Boothman’s Say it with Music was pressed and re-released in the USA.”
His album Heaven, released in 1977 was one of the first albums by a Trinidadian artist signed to an international record label, Tabu Records, to be released and distributed worldwide through RCA Records.
Boothman recalled sharing the stage with Michael Jackson and the Jackson Five in 1978.
However, it was in 1980 he released a US Billboard hit single Touch, which introduced Trinidadian singer Charmaine Forde and produced one of the first non-Calypso hits produced out of T&T.
Boothman said his producer and manager based in the UK, Zab Spencer Music Limited, devotedly stood by his side from remastering to publicity.
Memories
He said, “In 2016, I learnt that the UK based Vinyl Factory’s 100 greatest disco 12 inches of all time, as voted for by international DJ’s, Waiting For Your Love and my rendition of What You Won’t Do For Love stood at number 23 out of 100 in the charts.
“I was speechless.
“We placed ahead of musical giants such as George Benson’s Give Me The Night, Marvin Gaye’s A Funky Space Reincarnation, Luther Vandross’s You’re The Sweetest One and Earth, Wind & Fire, Let’s Groove.”
He said this motivated him to work harder and over the years he performed throughout the US, Europe and in the Caribbean.
In 2021, the album, Songbook in commemorated Independence Day and his independence as a musical artiste.
He said, “The Songbook is a compilation of musical genres with jazz, Latin vibes, and most the national instrument, the steelpan.”
Boothman stated the albums Heaven and Songbook also paid tribute to his late right-hand musical partner and friend Orville Roach who died two months ago from Covid-19.
He and Roach had played together in the band, Kysofusion established in 1994. They had been together for 40 years
He said, “Roach was the best partner I ever worked with. He worked alongside me in most of the productions and never one day did we argue.”
Boothman described music as his passion and believed that God had given him this gift.
He said, “So I do it with utmost respect, as I prefer to spread messages of positivity through my music.”
A teacher at heart, he devoted service to the advancement of the Arts, through his Poui Tree Studio in Cascade, Port-of-Spain.
Boothman continued to mentor several young artistes, encouraging the next generation of artists, to fearlessly explore their full creativity without limits or constraints while simultaneously paying mindful attention to the disciplines of musicianship which is the crucial component to business etiquette and career longevity.
He said, “Trini Bad has emerged from the creative collaborations taking place at my Poui Tree Music Studio where music continues to evolve under the youthful direction of extraordinarily talented in-house producers and musicians.”
Boothman has worked with singers such as Carol Addision, Marvis John, Benjai, Denise Belofon and many others.
