Simply calling Rich Lowe a DJ, Radio Personality or Selector is an understatement.  Rich Lowe has been filling Cleveland's airwaves with 'true' Reggae music for over 20 years, published a Reggae newsletter and is a genuine encyclopedia who manages to drop knowledge about any and every facet of Reggae music here in Cleveland and beyond. 

Chat 'Bout Cleveland caught up with Rich Lowe to talk about respect, 'watered down' reggae and what he wants for the Reggae Dancehall here in Cleveland....presenting Rich Lowe (2008 Criss List BEST Radio Personality).

Bashy B:  Please give Chat 'Bout Cleveland readers some background about Rich Lowe.

Rich Lowe:  I've been a radio announcer in Cleveland, Ohio since 1982.  I play most all forms of Jamaican music and stick to Jamaican music almost completely.  I published a quarterly reggae magazine called "Reggae Directory" from 1988 to 1992.  I play live as a selector on a sound called "Jamaica Way."  I first visited Jamaica in 1983 and have been back numerous times, always visiting Kingston. I love Jamaican music, culture, food, history, and people.

Bashy B:  What initially drew you to Reggae Music?

Rich Lowe:  I watched an episode of Don Kirshner's Rock Concert in the late 1970's.  Bob Marley was the feature and it was very striking to hear that hypnotic beat, dreadlocks flashing, and all of The Wailers grooving.  A friend told me about The Wailers and about Rastafari and I found it interesting enough to go down to a record shop at Coventry to buy the "Live" LP on vinyl.  The driving beat really sparked my interest.  That was it.  I started college in 1982 and got a reggae show that first semester. I've been playing ever since.

Bashy B:  Explain your show, ?Night of the Living Dread' to the first time listener.

Rich Lowe:  I play a wide range of Jamaican music from mento, ska, rocksteady, roots, reggae, early dancehall, modern dancehall and all of the variations in between.  I feature artist interviews regular, with commentary, and special features. I look at it like this:  If I throw you some music, I want it to cut up your hands when you catch it. 

Bashy B:  I caught a show in which your mother discussed your ?collection in her basement', how do you keep updated with current Caribbean based tunes?

Rich Lowe:  No music in my mother's basement no more.  It used to be stacked with racks of music when I was in college.  It's grown quite a bit since.  Now I have it at my apartment in old metal racks, in plastic containers, boxes of all shapes and sizes.  I am very careful to collect everything that I can from new vinyl, CDs,  interviews with artists, dubplates, T-shirts, collectibles, audio equipment, magazines, written material, promotional material, Jamaican newspapers, photographs, etc, etc. 

            I keep up-to-date by checking the Jamaican radio charts to see what is popular and I have a friend in JA who sends me music regularly.  I check the Internet and talk to friends in JA on the phone to get stay in touch with the runnings.  I am a longtime listener of soundsystem music, going back to original cassettes from Socialist Roots, Stur Grav, Stur mars, and Jaro.  I still listen to sounds on sound clashes from Mighty Crown, Bass Odyssey, Matterhorn, Rodigan, Black Kat, Trooper and Sentinal.  There's much to be learned from the modern sound system, also a lot of humor.  I have a few other connections to keep me up to date, but those will remain secrets.

Bashy B:  Anyone who listens to your show knows you have an extensive knowledge about reggae music as well as the Caribbean culture; do you feel that knowledge builds a connection with your audience?

Rich Lowe:  Yes it does.

Black Scorpio with Rich Lowe

Bashy B:  How do you think you as well as other Cleveland Reggae Radio DJ's contribute to reggae dancehall community?

Rich Lowe:  I know that it a great thing.  I have too many places and always check the reggae music and we have some of the best reggae radio (and live bands ands Sounds over the years) here in Cleveland.  The only places that do it better on radio are JA, NYC, and the UK.   There's something about Cleveland that has produced great reggae radio.  It's really the good natured, but competitive nature of it all.  Reggae radio is a part of Cleveland's reggae and dancehall culture.  All of the announcers contribute their piece of the puzzle with their contribution.  I really celebrate reggae radio and have always listened to all of the shows since I first started listening. 

Another completely different view is that the city of Cleveland can be a very dangerous place.  As a city in the U.S. we have ranked high in crime and violence.  The radio provides a safe place for "reggaemusiclovinpeople" East, West, North and South to enjoy their music wherever they may be.   

Bashy B:  What have you experienced in other cities that you wish to see for Cleveland's reggae community?

Rich Lowe:  Commercial radio playing reggae music and a large hall with a liquor license that is Jamaican owned.

Bashy B:  Being on the air 20+ years, what advice can you give to Cleveland's up and coming Reggae DJ, Selector, Promoter or someone else trying to make an impact here in Cleveland?

Rich Lowe:  Respect the music.  You can never be bigger than the music and you can never have a lock on the music on anything more than a temporary basis.  The music is designed and intended to be enjoyed and shared, so share the music.  Keep it Jamaican reggae.  We don't need watered down reggae. 

We need smart promoters to support the music.  This will help to bring good shows to Cleveland.  If the promoter is smart, he'll make money and stick around.  Eat your food, drink your drinks, be nice to the ladies, and know your music and culture. 

Bashy B:  How do you think the loss of Macka B affected Cleveland's Reggae community?

Rich Lowe:  Macka B was a good friend.  He respected reggae music and carried the vibes.  For a period of time, he was the face of Cleveland reggae and really hyped up the scene.  The scene dropped quite a bit when he died.  People are still openly sad about it to this day.  

Cleveland's own Makka B and Rich Lowe

Bashy B:  Ideally, what do you see for Cleveland's Reggae/Dancehall scene?

Rich Lowe:  It would be great to have a hall that was Jamaican owned and had their own liquor license. This would let promoters keep a dance and have the ability to make some money outside of the door alone.  We need to have the income from the liquor.  Too long, these larger clubs have chewed up and used Jamaican artists and our local promoters, cashing in on the liquor sales.  That's where the missing money has been all this time.

Rich Lowe with Caribbean Flavor owner, Gary

Bashy B:  Living or dead, who would be included be your all time best reggae stage show lineup?

Rich Lowe:  Now I could set that a number of different way, but here's one...

Four nights.

Thursday Night Foundation Sound System:

Warm up by Hometown HiFi

Opposing sounds The Trojan and Downbeat (with new tunes just in from Miami)

Count Matchukie, King Stitt, U-Roy, Cuttings, King Sporty 

Friday Night Dancehall: 

MC Barry G

Sound Jah Love Sound with selector Ilawe

Lord Sassafrass, General Trees, Michigan & Smiley, Papa Levi, Ninja Man, Admiral Bailey, Supercat, Peter Metro, Josey Wales, Charlie Chaplin, U-Roy (again)

Saturday Night Singers Night:

MC Tommy Cowan

Backing Bands - The Soul Syndicate, The Skatalites.

Dennis Brown, Burning Spear, Elijah Prophet, Inner Circle (with Jacob Miller), Black Uhuru (with Puma & Michael Rose)

Alton Ellis, The Heptones, Jimmy Cliff, Delroy Wilson, Higgs & Wilson, Bob Andy

(True performers) Ken Boothe, Sugar Minott, Roy Shirley

Bob Marley & the Wailers with Bunny and Peter with the three-part harmony.

Sunday Night Folk & Mento:

Music by Chin's Quartet    

Alerth Bedasse, Lord Kitchner,  Mighty Sparrow and Count Boysie.

Bashy B:  Is there anything else you would like Chat ?Bout Cleveland readers to know?

Rich Lowe:  My preferred drink is a cold Guinness.