At a glance you just could not tell but reggae singer and producer Leroy Sibbles is all of 77 years old.
He celebrated his birthday on January 29 and he’s just giving thanks and kicking on.
He’s still doing what he does best…making and delivering good quality music.
His looks belie his age and he puts it all down to genes. His father Gilbert Sibbles will turn 101 this year and is still going strong while his mother Mavis Veronica Brown is in her 90s and also doing very well.
His lifestyle has contributed to his defiance of age having adopted good health practices over the years. “My doctor says my only problem is that I don’t drink enough water. I try my best to eat right although sometimes I have a sweet tooth. I don’t have any conditions to speak of although I take blood thinners to guard against things like stroke but that’s about it.”
Leroy might not have made the kind of money many would expect for a person with his talent but he’s happy and grateful that he has great health. “Some people get it in wealth but I get it in health. I prefer health over weath any day.”
He has witnessed the passing of several reggae legends in recent times, among them, Jimmy Cliff. Stephen “Cat Coore” and Sly Dunbar. He says their passings shook him up but he’s not alarmed. “They say when a mango is ripe it falls from the tree and these guys were all getting on in age. A couple of them were younger than me but it is a part of life that we all have to accept. It’s personal when it happens because these guys were my peers but that’s how it goes.
I say to those of us who are still around and capable of doing our thing, every day you rise make it a blessed day because you never know what awaits.”
Leroy is still busy doing shows locally and overseas. In fact when we caught up with him he was making preparations to leave for Miami where he is scheduled to receive an award. Sly Dunbar was also listed as an awardee but time never allowed.
He moves on to Toronto where he will perform at the Jamaican Canadian Centre at a pre-valentine show on February 13.
He admits that overall he is not as active musically as he used to be but he is still recording and just had a new release on the Penthouse label called “A Chance at Love” He also has another new release in combination with Cassanova, Fab Five’s lead singer called “To All The Girls.”
Many people know Leroy for his work with the harmony group The Heptones which recorded numerous hit songs for Coxsone Dodd’s Studio One label. But his musical roots have much deeper foundations including his work as a session arranger and session bassist. Leroy Sibbles played many of the iconic reggae basslines that have been used by various artistes and producers over decades. He was once regarded as the “King of the Reggae Bassline”
“I was considered super talented and it showed in those great basslines that I played for Dennis Brown, John Holt and others. I didn’t get paid but it paid off in the end. Most singers from that time and through the years benefitted from my work which is still being used in many different fashions today.”
Like many artistes of his era Leroy was short changed for his talent. “When I started out in the 1960s it was an exciting time and we made music for the love of it. It’s not like today where contracts and agreements have to be in place before a line is sung or a note is played. When I took over from Jackie Mittoo at Stdio One as musical director and arranger I got a chance to learn so much from my interactions with the Skattalites and other established performers of the time.
“But the music has evolved and it’s a different era now. We see technology playing a much greater role and we embrace that. We have to accept it and move ahead.
“Today’s artistes are making crazy money out of music because everything hinges on your ability to connect internationally.
Some of my works have paid off internationally to make me get paid and It’s only when the songs go international that you make money. They might be popular locally but you don’t really get paid. That is why artistes like Sean Paul do so many international collaborations with big stars.”
And what of his intellectual property rights? “Over the years I have managed to sort some of it out and it’s these royalties that I live off today. Songs like “Dutchie” by Musical Youths and the Champion rhythm that was used in a James Bond movie have done well for me. “Queen of the Minstrel was covered by American singer Jasmine Sullivan and it went to the Billboard charts and I benefitted. So it’s not been all bad.”.
“The music has changed. It’s far better financially for the new people who are involved right now. The quality of the music has improved and there are more instruments available and technology has played a great part in that,” he said.
For all his talent and his work Leroy Sibbles has never been considered for a Grammy award. But that doesn’t faze him and he pays scant regard to the recording academy. “The Reggae Grammy is a big joke. It is controlled by a set of people who are more political than musical. So the best thing to do is to keep putting your best foot forward and keep making great music.”
Leroy's passion for music extends beyond just performing; it is deeply ingrained in his everyday life. He often dedicates time to mentoring young artists like upcoming singer Young Garvey, sharing his wealth of knowledge and experience. “The youth are our future,” he emphasizes, “and it’s important for us older folks to pass down what we can.” He takes pride in seeing the new generation produce fresh sounds while retaining the essence of reggae.
Despite the challenges in the industry, Leroy remains optimistic. “Reggae has its ups and downs, but the music continues to find a way to touch hearts,” he asserts. He often reflects on the evolution of the genre and its spread across the globe, acknowledging that while the faces in the spotlight may change, the message of love, unity, and resilience remains constant.
In his downtime, Leroy enjoys spending time with family, drawing strength and inspiration from them. He believes that love and companionship are key to a fulfilling life. “Family is everything,” he says with a smile, “they keep me grounded and remind me why I started this journey in the first place.”
The future for Leroy Sibbles looks bright, with plans to release more music and perhaps even collaborate with more rising stars. “Music is forever, music alone shall live” he notes, “and I have many stories yet to tell.”
As he celebrates Reggae Month and prepares for his upcoming shows, he feels grateful for every moment, truly embodying the spirit of reggae—a celebration of life, enduring even in the face of loss.