Entertainment

Sanchez Flips the Script

By GERMAINE SMITH, Staff Reporter

Sanchez - File

ONE OF DANCEHALL'S original singers is changing gears for the better.

He blasted off as one of the original dancehall singers in the 1980s, and although known more for cover versions then, Sanchez rose to prominence on that wave. Armed with a powerful voice and an ageless face, he maintained that momentum, switching gears to record more original material over the years.

Now, with close to 30 albums packed under his belt, Sanchez is raising the stakes with his recently expanded record label, a movie deal in the making, and more original recordings.

The 41-year-old singer told THE STAR this week that he has begun stacking up different projects under his hat. He has started to produce his own material under his Sanmonik Promotions Label, with the first recorded artist, who happens to be a close relative, to be unleashed later this year.

"Recording is going good, I am starting my label and doing some recordings myself. My son is going to be the first on my label in a little while," he stated. "My label is going to be on the streets soon and I am supposed to be going into some different aspects of music."

These different aspects according to his publicist Vonney McGowan, are a record and movie deal coming from the US based company Megamedia Ltd.

"We are almost complete with the negotiations for him, and it will result in music being distributed by them for him, plus a film role which is scheduled for worldwide distribution." Shooting, she added, will begin in the summer.

Extensive tours

"It's just being yourself and doing your work to the best...God almighty is the reason, cause I still go out, I still do my thing but the age just not showing," Sanchez stated about the happenings.

"The sky is the limit for me. If they want me to model, anything, as long as it will enhance my career, I will do it, no problem."

Between these movements, Sanchez has been hopping around the world on extensive tours.

For 2004, he toured 37 countries to promote the No More Heartaches album, which was released in 2003. This tour gobbled up most of the year for him and ended in January 2004, yet Sanchez is preparing to hit the road again for July, to reach the countries he could not reach last year.

These worldwide performances have taken him away from Jamaica for several years. Before Sting 2003, he had not been here for seven years, and he is back for a concert in Negril on the weekend. Several producers here salivate at the thought of recording him on one out of the army of rhythms being produced daily, but Sanchez's head space is not there right now.

"It's not no disrespect thing, but sometimes yu want to keep a clear head and a low profile with things, so I am away from much working," he stated. "Jamaica is my roots though, my hometown, so I could never trade it for nowhere else or nutten anytime anywhere, it's just my hometown. Sometimes you have to come out of the picture to see it, but I am out of the picture and I like it. Sometimes you just want to get a new feel or new taste of something."