Coco Tea Biography

MAWGA K June 19, 2013 0

COCO TEA is one of Reggae’s most talented and versatile artistes. His smooth, easy-going vocal presentation (pre-recorded or live) have become his trademark, earning him wide international acclaim; with songs like “Lost MY Sonia,” “Tune In” and “Rocking Dolly,” becoming world anthems in Reggae land.

Born Calvin George Scott on September, 3, 1959, in Rocky Point, Clarendon, he was later schooled at the salt Savannah Primary school in Rocky Point and the Bustamante Junior Secondary School in Lionel Town Clarendon. From the exposure gained by singing on church and school choirs, COCO TEA recorded his first song, “Searching In The Hills,” in 1974. Only Fourteen years old and having other interests, Calvin had no plans of making music his career. “Searching In The Hills,” was far from a financial success. The disappointment was keenly felt by Calvin, and so he took the music business off his mind for a while. The next five years found COCO TEA first as a Jockey, and then as a Fisherman. It was during this time of fishing that he began structuring his music career. His training grounds were the dancehalls, where he would test his lyrics on the various Sound systems that came to play in his area.

Two months after an impressive performance at a dancehall in December 1983, COCO TEA journeyed to Kingston where he met Henry “Junjo” Lawes. “Who’s The Champion” and his first big hit, “Rocking Dolly,” were the first products from what was to be a successful union. These songs along with “Christmas Is Coming,” and “On Top Of The World,” were all compiled with COCO TEA’S next big hit, “I Lost My Sonia” to produce his first album, by that name (“I Lost My Sonia”). In 1985 COCO accepted the Rastafarian faith. The conversion was reflected in his music, with songs like “Settle Down,” “Don’t Be Shy,” Too Much Fussing And Fighting” and “86 Flood.” The single “Rikers Island made it to number one in the US and UK.

COCO TEA has been performing all over the world since 1984, with extensive tours to the U.S., Canada, Europe and the Caribbean. Earning his stage name because of his love for hot cocoa, Coco Tea attributes his inspirations to Jah and is often perturbed by the changes in reggae music saying, “There is a lack of consciousness from what it used to be… if one of my songs can be remembered and or quoted and be of inspiration to anyone, then I shall be forever happy with my contribution musically.”

 

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