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‘Dobby’ Dobson promises riveting performance tonight
Jamaican songster Dobby Dobson relaxing at Parc Rayne on Friday
It all started from playing the lead character in a play called ‘Ali Baba and the Forty thieves’ where he was required to sing a few songs, and the resounding applause he received signalled to him that he had a voice. The rest is history.
Highland Ralph ‘Dobby’ Dobson, who is Jamaican by birth, is back in Guyana to headline the ‘Legends in Concert’ event scheduled to be held this evening, at the exquisite Parc Rayne, Rahaman’s Park.
The soulful crooner from ‘Reggae Land’ sat down for a chat with Kaieteur News on Friday at Parc Rayne where he went to conduct an on-the-spot inspection of the venue chosen to take the more matured locals back in time.
Dobson, who is in his early sixties, said his early days at Central Branch School in Kingston when he was chosen for the lead role in a play, provided the catalyst for his involvement in music, even though he admitted it never offered him a huge payday.
He did concede though that being a singer gave him the opportunity to be with a lot of girls, much to the chagrin of his mother.
The singer, who confessed that he is very emotional, revealed that many of his songs were soul-searching and part of his personal experience, especially regarding relationships that went sour.
He recalled a song ‘Oh so lonely’ was inspired by his breakup with a wonderful girl he would only refer to as ‘Beverley D’ who he says is still a good friend of his until now.
“I remember being on stage one night and I begun to sing that song and could not finish it because I was crying. But the audience understood and gave me a standing ovation,” he reflected.
Dobson, who has performed in North and South America, and countries such as Mexico, Belize, The Bahamas, and many other Caribbean territories, still does not consider himself famous, but rather someone that quite a few people know and are familiar with his songs.
The soft-spoken singer, who currently resides in Florida, USA, having moved there shortly after his mother’s death, spoke of the song that really made him takeoff.
“I was appearing in a theatre in Jamaica and I sang a song titled ‘Do you think it is easy to be poor’ and the resounding applause I received really sparked my career. I was walking on the clouds, so I wanted to experience that feeling again,” Dobson said.
Among the many hit songs that Dobson has recorded include ‘Cry a little Cry’; ‘I’m a loving Pauper’; ‘It seems to me I’m losing’; ‘That wonderful Song’, ‘Diamonds and Pearls’ and ‘Endlessly’.
Dobson told this newspaper that while many artistes have covered his songs, his greatest delight came when UB 40 and Freddie McGregor recorded ‘I’m a loving Pauper’ which according to him was the song that brought in the money.
“I was as proud as parents are when they have a child, because here it is, groups such as UB 40 and Freddie McGregor were singing my song.”
Dobson is no stranger to Guyana, having performed here many times in the past, and is promising fans a very good show tonight. He assured that he will sing songs that they know and love.
“I always think in my head to give the fans a riveting performance and it usually works out,” he said.
Quizzed on what’s next for him, he said that “as the spirit moves me I will do something.”
Dobson, who has given his life to Christ, applauded the organisers for providing him the opportunity to be involved in a worthy cause.
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