RAFAEL CAMERON’S NEW CD
A CELEBRATION OF THE SEASON
By Sandra Seeraj
Guyana Chronicle
December 19, 2004
TAKE a generous helping of divinely inspired vocal and musical talent, add distinctively Caribbean rhythm, blend with soulful background vocals and skillfully arranged accompaniment and you have Rafael Cameron’s latest CD - a collection of 12 songs celebrating the reason for the Christmas season.
Sounds easy? Well, not quite.
First, you need a captivating voice, one which grabs the attention from the get-go. Rafael Cameron’s voice has that “it” quality - that indefinable something which defies designation, but which is unquestionably arresting.
You’d also need the other “ingredients” to give the CD the widest appeal possible. West Indian flavour, especially reggae, predominates from the very first cut, `We wish you a Merry Christmas’. It sets one’s toes a-tapping. Another song, `The Most Important Night’ is the kind of get-up-and-dance soca tune perfect for joyful exultation. It immediately conjures packed congregations merrily singing, clapping and swaying to the melody, in celebration of Christmas. This song will appeal to both young and old, and is over all too quickly.
Those who prefer Rap would quickly embrace `Wise Men Came’ which expertly marries Reggae and Rap and has the kind of catchy refrain that lingers in the mind long after the song has been heard.
The background vocals on the CD are smooth, polished and add just the right touch of harmony and sophistication. The do not overwhelm the lead vocals.
Hints of brass and a suggestion of steel pan, float through many of the songs, like soulful punctuation marks here and there. The brass comes to prominence in a compelling saxophone solo by Ronnie Clarke featured in the title song, `Unto Us a Child is Born.’
This CD testifies to Cameron’s considerable musical acumen, which enables him to write the lyrics and produce and arrange his own music, as he has done from the very beginning of his musical journey.
Cameron was born blessed with vocal talent. He was born in Wortmanville, Georgetown Guyana, grew up in Vergenoegen, West Coast Demerara, Linden and in Georgetown. He has always been a musically oriented. To him, singing was always and addiction and his name is immediately associated with singing.
He recalls that some of his earliest performances were given at the annual Christmas variety shows at his alma mater, Preston High School in Wismar, where he would perform to standing ovations.
Later, as a young adult, he was invited to “pinch hit” in the `In Crowd’ the popular house band of the Hotel Belvedere, a posh and trendy hangout of the rich and famous in Georgetown, in the 1970’s. That marked his big break and his introduction to the live band scene in Guyana. He went on to become a household name, performing with such popular bands as the `Nite People’ and `Curtis MGs’, while holding down a day job at Radio Demerara.
Cameron muses that on reflection, it is evident the God put certain people at strategic points of his life to influence him in very special ways. For him, the late John (Abie) Abrams was one such that person, a true source of inspiration. It was Abrams who recognised his talent as a young singer, who invited him to perform as substitute lead singer for the `In crowd’, and who helped him nurture and hone his talent throughout this career as a musician. Sadly, Abrams passed away earlier this year, in October, before he could hear Cameron’s newest work.
The other source of inspiration for Cameron is Johnny Braff, another Guyanese performing artiste. “I was always fascinated that his style is so unique and that he writes and composes his own music. He has been quite an influence.”
Following his migration to the United States in 1973, Cameron started working and attending school, but quickly felt the tug of his musical propensity and was diverted. By the third week of his arrival, he was drafted into the Pan Harmonics band. Here he met fellow Guyanese performer, Randy Muller, with whom he established a working relationship. Out of their collaboration came his first recording `The Magic of You’, in 1980. This album quickly rose to the Top 20 and the title track, a top 10 single on the R& B charts in America.
His second album, `Cameron’s in Love’ followed in 1981 and also produced two top 20 R&B singles. Cameron was voted `Best New Male Vocalist’ by Billboard and Record World, two very prestigious sources of news and information from the music and entertainment industry.
Two years later, he released his third album, `All the Way’ toured Africa and Europe and later returned to work in the United States.
Cameron answered God’s call in 1995 and was born again. That same year he recorded the song `Mothers’ which was featured on the `Mother’s Dream Come True’ segment of the Regis Philbin and Kathy Lee Gifford show. The song also became the unofficial Mother’s Day Anthem in Guyana and in around the Caribbean.
Since then, he has produced four Gospel Albums, `I’m New in Christ Jesus’, `The Heart’ from which came the popular single, `Benefits’, `From Right Off the Pages’ and the most recent, `Unto Us a Child is Born, Unto us a Son in Given’ which was released in October this year. On this album as he did in the previous, Cameron claims that he was inspired to put special passages of Scripture to music.
All of the songs on the new album were produced, arranged written and composed by Cameron himself. He also sang all but three – `Holy Baby’ which was sung by Rochelle Drake, `Mary’s Song’ by Barbara Alexander and the Rap on Wise Men, which was performed by Dexter David.
Background vocals were provided by Debra Haynes, Barbara Alexander, Pastor Michael Clarke and the Collins Sisters Three. Phil Nichols co-arranged and produced the CD, and provided accompaniment on keys and drums and Larry Masden played guitar. Cameron had been married to his second wife, Veviena for five years. He has five children.
The CD can be purchased online from www.cdbaby.com or directly from him at 718-444-5284