Jamaican reggae artiste, Richie Stephens has released a first joint album with his mother, Mama Carmen.

The album, titled Mother & Son will be debut tomorrow and Stephens described this project, as his greatest musical accomplishment.

According to the Jamaican music ambassador, “I’ve always had this idea of doing an album with myself and my mother, and now that we’ve done the album, I would say it is one of my greatest musical achievements so far….This is historic. It has never been done in the reggae genre before.”

He stated that, “This is an album with my mother that (who) carried me for nine months and who nurtured me, as I never grew up with a father…That should explain even more how excited I am about this project. I feel very, very excited that we have accomplished this dream together.

Speaking with Caribbean Life’s Nelson A. King, Stephens advised that, “My mother has always wanted to be involved in music.” He continued, “This is the ultimate satisfaction for her. Every time I see her, she is happy. Every time we get a compliment from someone, it means so much to her and to me, as well.”

Excited at the album release

Stephens, who in 2017 was awarded by ASCAP with “Song of the Year” and “Digital Sales of the Year” is excited at the album release. “I’m just so happy; I’m so excited,” he trumpeted adding, “what I especially love is that my mother was able to deliver at such a higher level vocally.”

“People like for Freddie McGregor, Reggae Queen Marcia Griffiths, Sanchez and my other peers have congratulated Mama on her performance,” Stephens posited noting that, “they have called me up to really, really salute her and to congratulate her on a great vocal performance. This is just so special to me.”

Stephens said his mother is one of the original singers in the family explaining that his grandmother also used to be a top singer, as well. “My mother inspired and supported my decision to pursue music professionally,” the reggae ambassador added.

Recording with Mama Carmen

Stephens said he started recording Mama Carmen about 25 years ago, with Mama’s Blessings. Several years after that they recorded a song called Shine.

 “And then, we recorded a couple of other songs that I included on a gospel album that I did. Recently, she recorded her first solo song called They Call Her Moses,” he explained.

After that song, he decided to put the album Mother & Son together with both of them. Stephens has been an established global superstar for more than three decades.

He garnered recognition from his very first performance, at 11, which left the crowd in awe. Whether appearing with reggae greats such as the late Dennis Brown or with the late Sir John Holt, he has Jamaican audiences rocking and dancing in the aisles.

The singer was one of the top performers at the newly-branded Reggae Sumfest, which drew record crowds at Catherine Hall in Montego Bay.

He and his Ska Nation band then embarked on a successful six-week summer European tour, which included stops at Reggae Jam in Germany and the Untold Festival in Romania, which attracts over half a million patrons annually.

Stephens’ work was recognized in 2006 by the government of Jamaica with the Governor-General’s Achievement Award for his contributions to various civic, social and recreational projects.