Alex Duncan taking things to another level

By John Larson

Tacoma Weekly
jlarson@tacomaweekly.com
Published on: July 24, 2008

Spend an hour with Alex Duncan and one can hear him sing snippets of famous songs in a range of voices as well as philosophical observations on business, music and human nature.

The local reggae singer satisfies his fan base with a steady schedule of gigs in clubs and outdoor festivals, while reaching out to new listeners with the sort of upbeat, socially- conscious mindset common to so many reggae musicians.

“If you have a microphone, you have a certain responsibility,” he said

Duncan was born in St. Kitts, an independent island in the Caribbean. Sugarcane is a major export. “Everything was sweet,” he said fondly.

He grew up listening to the sounds of the Caribbean – reggae and soca – as well as jazz and surprisingly, a fair amount of country. His family was too poor to own a radio or television, so his exposure to music came from listening to people play it around the neighborhood.

He knew at age 4 he would have a career in music.

He stuttered as a young boy. Determined to overcome the problem, he studied people singing. He does not stutter anymore, and developed a vocal range that goes from high to low, deep to sweet.

He moved to Bellingham in his youth. He became the lead singer of Jumbalassy, a reggae band formed in the mid-1980s that went on to become the most popular act in the genre in the Northwest.

He began working as a solo artist while still in that band. He also was lead singer for a while for Inner Circle, a Jamaican band known for the “Bad Boys” song for the television program “Cops.”

The Jumbalassy fan base is still here and many attend Duncan’s shows. Several members of the group are in his backing band, he added.

He traveled back and forth between here, where he kept busy with Jumbalassy, and the Caribbean, where he focused on solo material.

Lately he has been shuttling frequently between Seattle and Tacoma, where he is busy with Platinum Reign, a recording studio and production company that recently opened up shop in an office downtown.

“You have got to keep growing to keep your mind active,” he said.

He is confident the operation can sell records by him and other artists.

“I want to find a good local base here.”

He has been recording tracks at the studio for his next album, which he is confident will be his best work yet. Over the past two years he has written 90 songs. He is also working on his first video. “I am very excited about that.”

Communication breakdowns are the biggest problem facing individuals and society, in Duncan’s view. “It always comes down to a lack of communication in some way, shape or form.”

He truly views music as a healing force that can brighten spirits and end poverty. “As an artist I look at a different side of things,” he said.

Fear of the unknown is a major stumbling block for humanity, he continued. He pushes education as a tool for people to overcome hurdles in life.

Reggae is huge in the Caribbean and is big in certain areas of the United States, notably Hawaii. Given its sunny vibe and danceable rhythms, it is somewhat puzzling the genre never achieved the popularity level of rock or country.

Duncan finds several reasons for this. One is that many promoters consider it summertime music, fitting for outdoor festivals, but overlook it when booking venues year round.

Another reason is many clubs have shifted from live music to DJs, he added.

Duncan truly feels he can make a difference in people’s lives with his music. “I look at success as the amount of people you can impact.”

The female fans appear to have had an impact on him. “I want to thank the ladies. I continue to make albums for them.”

For more information go to www.alexduncanmusic.com.

Alex Duncan plays Ethnic Fest at Wright Park in Tacoma at 6 p.m. July 27.

Alex Duncan taking things to another level

By John Larson

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