Mikie Bennett says OD is ‘icing on the cake’

For more than 45 years, Michael ‘Mikie’ Bennett has been a driving force in Jamaican music, creating music, nurturing talent, and helping to shape an industry that has become one of the country’s most powerful cultural exports. Along the way, he has also mentored generations of up-and-coming musicians, earning him a place among the industry’s enduring figures. That decades-long contribution was recognised on Thursday, when Bennett was named among 140 Jamaicans to be recognised at this year’s National Honours and Awards ceremony on Heroes’ Day in October. He has been conferred with the Order of Distinction in the rank of Officer.

For a boy who grew up in Vineyard Town, Bennett could not have envisioned that his journey would have led him to this moment.

Speaking to The Sunday Gleaner on Friday, the veteran music producer and musician said that he did not know it would “feel so good”.

“It is an acknowledgement of what I have done over the years. I have been receiving a number of calls from friends and family members, and it means a lot to them,” Bennett said.

He explained that at this point in his career, getting the national honour means that he “did something right. It means that my work has stood up to scrutiny and it passed”.

Bennett told The Sunday Gleaner that he has received recognition from his peers in the music industry over the years, but a national honour was never something he had considered.

“When I got the call, I said ‘wow’. I am truly humbled by it,” he added.

Bennett was born at the Victoria Jubilee Hospital and grew up in Vineyard Town, where he attended Morris Knibb Preparatory School before moving on to Kingston College. He later attended West Indies Teachers’ College (now Northern Caribbean University), where he earned a degree in business.

“Music was the furthest thing from my mind. I did fool around with music and harmonise with some of the musicians at the university, but I had no thought about making a career in music,” he explained.

Noting that he grew up in the Adventist faith, Bennett said harmonising came naturally to him.

Bennett shared that he loved writing music and would take his compositions to music producers in hopes of having them recorded. However, it was not until he was introduced to Mikey Chung, a top music producer and versatile musician, that things began to change for him.

Bennett recalled taking one of the lyrics he had written to Chung, who in turn introduced him to the group Home T-4. It was through the group that Bennett began his music career in the early 1980s.

According to his bio, in 1986, under his direction, the reformed group, now named Home T, entered its most successful period, producing international reggae hits including Don’t Throw It All Away, Who She Love, Pirates’ Anthem and Spreading Rumours.

This period saw him working with leading producers at King Jammy’s and Music Works studios as a vocal arranger and staff writer.

Songs such as Telephone Love, Rumours and Champion Lover, along with several other hits for artistes including Dennis Brown, Gregory Isaacs, Cocoa Tea and Sugar Minott, brought him greater recognition.

In 1989, Bennett and his friend Patrick Lindsay formed Two Friends Ltd., a recording and management company that allowed Bennett to exercise creative freedom while developing young artistes such as Brian and Tony Gold and Chevelle Franklin.

Billboard hits such as Housecall, by Maxi Priest and Shabba Ranks, and Mr Loverman, by Shabba Ranks, further cemented his standing in the music industry.

Bennett has also worked with a wide range of international and Jamaican artistes, including Roberta Flack, Cyndi Lauper, LL Cool J, Doug E. Fresh, Caron Wheeler of Soul II Soul, Beres Hammond, Buju Banton, Aswad, David Hinds of Steel Pulse, Third World, John King, Nicholas Brancker, Chris Alman and Toni Norville of 4D People, to name a few.

In 1998, when the Reggae Boys qualified for the World Cup, his song Rise Up helped champion their cause.

Bennett’s influence spans generations, with artistes such as Tarrus Riley and Natel among those he has worked with. His production credits include Mr Vegas’ Sweet Jamaica and Noddy Virtue’s Addiction, while his collaborations include Dean Fraser, Arturo Tappin, Gladstone Wright, Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare. He also wrote and produced Find the Flag in Your Heart for Jamaica’s 50th Anniversary celebrations.

His biography further states that, as managing director of Grafton Studios, Bennett has been involved in music projects and continues to speak on issues affecting the industry. It also highlights his launch of ‘Reasoning with Seasoning’, a town hall-style forum created to connect communities with industry experts and explore the wider role of music.

Bennett has also used music and culture to support at-risk youth, including through the BYND (Beyond) programme for the Jamaica Business Development Centre (JBDC), which was based at his Grafton Road facility, and the Grants Pen youth programme.

Among his many roles over the years, Bennett has served as founding musical director of the Calabash Literary Festival and director of culture for the FIWI Jamaica project at the University of Technology, Jamaica.

In 2017, he received the Jamaica Reggae Industry Association (JaRIA) Award for Mentorship.

Bennett pointed out that this honour makes all the sleepless nights worthwhile.

“I have had a good career in the music industry, and this (OD) is the icing on the cake,” he said.

Bennett is among nine members of Jamaica’s entertainment industry being recognised for their contributions to the development of the music industry.

Among them are veteran producer Robert Livingston for his contribution to the music industry locally and internationally; reggae and dancehall artiste Clifford ‘Mr Vegas’ Smith for his contribution to reggae music; acclaimed musician Earl ‘Chinna’ Smith for his contribution to the music industry; and pioneering ska, rocksteady and reggae singer Stranger Cole, who is being honoured posthumously for his contribution to the development of Jamaican music.

Four additional entertainment practitioners will receive the Badge of Honour for Meritorious Service.

They are Herman Constantine ‘Bongo’ Davis for his contribution to Jamaican music and culture; Shirley Deloris Findley-Willis for her contribution to gospel music in Jamaica; Lawrence Anthony ‘Dundas’ McDonald for service to the field of entertainment; and Carlyle Palmer for his contribution to the growth of Jamaican music in the United Kingdom through Jet Star Music.

The recipients will be invested during the annual National Honours and Awards Ceremony, traditionally held at King’s House on National Heroes Day.

entertainment@gleanerjm.com