Native Wayne Jobson
Interview by Lon Levin (cont) to watch Cat Stevens produce and record, and watch Chris Blackwell produce Bob Marley. My first album was produced by the eccentric genius Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry and my band leader was Joe Higgs, the Godfather of reggae music (who taught Bob Marley to sing). So I was able to stand on the shoulders of GIANTS!! How did that evolve into “Native Wayne” ? Were you encouraged or discouraged by family, friends, teachers, mentors?
Native Wayne, is a Jamaican record producer of European ancestry. He has worked with such artists as No Doubt, Gregory Isaacs and Toots & the Maytals. He hosts the weekly radio show "Alter Native" Sunday afternoon on Indie 103.1. He previously hosted a similar radio show, "Reggae Revolution", at Indie's main competitor KROQ-FM. Jobson is also known as a musician. He recorded an album in 1977 produced by Lee 'Scratch' Perry at the Black Ark. When did you first think about writing and producing music as something you wanted to do? I grew up in Jamaica where my cousin Diki Jobson helped to start Island Records with Chris Blackwell. So I was was blessed enough to go to the studio
My band was called "Native" with my brother Brian and some friends.Everyone was very encouraging, and Bob Marley and Jacob Miller came to our very first show. You try doing your very first gig with the Master Marley observing you with mystic eyes!! What kind of kid were you? Where did you grow up? What were your influences?
I grew up in the misty mountains of Jamaica, about 9 miles from Bob Marley’s birthplace called 9 Mile. It was a magical spiritual place and my parents were friends with Bob’s mom Cedella Booker. My main influences were the two Bobs, Dylan and Marley, and of course the most important group in history, the Beatles.
