Burning Spear’s ‘Call On Me’ eyes Grammy nod

‘Call on Me (Live’), his latest album, is the 81 year-old singer/songwriter’s most personal work. It features collaborations with big names such as Ziggy Marley, Julian Marley and Luciano.

Released last April, ‘Call on Me (Live’) is one of 119 albums on the provisional list for Best Reggae Album for next year’s Grammy Awards. On November 16, the Recording Academy, which organises the Grammys, will announce the five nominations for that category which Spear has won twice.

‘Call on Me (Live’) was inspired by his wife Sonia’s fight with dementia, which she was diagnosed with four years ago.

“It would be an awesome deal if we make the final cut, because this album is very personal to us. The album was made to bring awareness to dementia,” said Patricia Elliott, a member of Spear’s management.

Elliott, who is also Spear’s sister-in-law, says it was her idea to record an album driven by the rhythm of ‘Call on Me’, a song he recorded at Studio One in 1974. The album has 16 collaborations, all done to a live track Spear recorded while on tour with Ziggy Marley in 2025.

“I presented it to Spear and he did not hesitate. The 15 other artistes on the album had no hesitation once we explained the purpose of the album,” Elliott explained. “All for charity. They assumed the costs for their contributions. We don’t have enough words of gratitude to express our gratitude.”

A Grammy nod for ‘Call on Me (Live’) would be the 14th for Burning Spear. His two Grammy wins are for ‘Calling Rastafari’ in 2000 and ‘Jah is Real’ in 2009.

Originally recorded as ‘Call on You’, the song was released during a heady period in Jamaica.

Youth in the country were as passionate about Black Power and Rasta as the rebellious Flower Power Children in the United States a decade earlier.

Spear’s Studio One songs were well-received by the underground, but did not sell strongly. It was not until he teamed with producer Jack Ruby and Island Records for ‘Marcus Garvey’ that his career took off.

Dedicated to the Pan African giant and Jamaica’s first National Hero, it contained the title song, ‘Slavery Days’, ‘Tradition’ and ‘Jordan River’.

Patricia Elliott has a strong feeling Burning Spear will be among the nominees for Best Reggae Album.

“Spear is fired up with the outcome of this project. Nothing like this has ever been done. One rhythm, 16 different vibes,” she said.

(Photo contributed)