by Howard Campbell
SOUTH FLORIDA – Maxi Priest was on high of his recreation in 1991 when he obtained a name at his London dwelling from R&B legend Roberta Flack. Inside weeks, they have been recording Set The Night to Music, which grew to become a large vendor that 12 months.
One 12 months earlier, Maxi Priest had hit primary on the Billboard Album chart with Bonafide, which yielded the hit single, Near You. A success with Flack — who died on February 24 in New York Metropolis — was the icing on the cake.
“As for whose thought the collaboration was, I really don’t know. Perhaps somebody informed me sooner or later, however actually, what stays with me is that second — the truth that Roberta Flack referred to as my dwelling telephone. That’s the clearest reminiscence of how it began, and it’ll perpetually reside with me, particularly between me, my sister Rose, and Roberta,” the British singer informed South Florida Caribbean Information.
Written by Dianne Warren, Set The Evening to Music was initially recorded by American rock band Starship. Like that minimize, the Roberta Flack/Maxi Priest model went into the Billboard Scorching 100 chart, peaking at quantity six.
Flack, who was 88, had been ailing for a while. In 2022, she was recognized with ALS which pressured her to retire from performing.
A graduate of Howard College, Flack was a formally-trained vocalist. She had plenty of hit songs. Together with Killing Me Softly With His Tune, and The First Time Ever I Noticed Your Face. Plus, Really feel Like Making Love, and The Nearer I Get to You (with Donny Hathaway).
The North Carolina-born artist had shut ties to Jamaica, visiting the nation steadily in the course of the Nineteen Seventies. She was shut mates with Bob Marley and Kapo, a non secular chief.
“Roberta all the time spoke about her love for Jamaica, the music, the tradition, the meals, and the truth that she knew lots of people from there. After all, I beloved the truth that she had such robust connections to Jamaica. Perhaps that’s one of many explanation why I obtained to do the collaboration along with her—wherein case, I’m so grateful for it,” stated Maxi Priest, who was born in the UK to Jamaican mother and father.
