It’s not often that you hear of an artist making their first reggae album at the age of 69, but that is exactly what Dave Black did with his music project The Dave Black Expression. And when I first heard the song “Where Would I Be”, I was surprised by how good the track was!
My internet piqued, I reached out to Dave to discuss his foray into reggae music and writing this beautiful track, and he was kind enough to let me know the background of his reggae discovery and the personal inspiration that went into the song and reggae album.
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The Indy Review: So what inspired you to want to release your first reggae album at the age of 69?
Dave Black: I have been a reggae fan since 1976 when I was walking around a popular lake side trail and there was a house party blaring this crazy beat music. The people there were so welcoming and invited my girlfriend and I to their party. They explained it was a new album by Bob Marley (Rastaman Vibration) and I was forever hooked on reggae.
I had just completed my first album that was made mostly with a country rock backdrop (My Rear View Mirror -July 2023) and wasn’t sure where I wanted to go next musically. My wife and I attended a Rebulation concert that summer and I decided that I wanted to try and see how I would do making a reggae song. I was afraid that my producer was going to say I was nuts, but it was just the opposite. He said you write it, and we’ll build a good set of music to suit. And thus, “Reggae Star” was released in August 2023 as my first reggae song.
At that time one of my close friends came down with a serious health issue and I knew he was a big reggae fan so in doing “Reggae Star” I dedicated it to him. He told me that song lifted his spirits and renewed his love for reggae.
So as time went on, I did a ton of research and learned more about just how vast the reggae genre is and just how many spin offs of reggae there are. I also discovered that with reggae there was a unique spiritual side which intrigued me. I had done one Christian song on My Rear View Mirror (“Miracles We See”) and always wanted to get back to writing more of these type of songs.
Discovering that reggae had Christian connotations made me more inspired to write even more reggae down the road. I promised myself that I would pursue reggae further after we completed the Genre Jump’n Fool album. I guess this is where I grew the most as an artist was by experimenting with songs in different genres and the joy it gave me. Once GJF was out I went back to reggae and kind of developed a theme for my next work, a reggae album based on various sub genres of different styles of reggae.
In writing the songs for the Reggae Island Reign album I began working closely with a vocalist I had contracted with in doing “Reggae Star”. He goes simply by the nickname Miracle, and he is just that. He understood my vision and my writing style along with his freedom to perform the songs with his own personal flair.
Next thing you know the album was done and I registered with the USA Reggae Association and found out that I am the oldest person known in the USA to debut their first reggae album at age 69. To clarify, there are several other older reggae artists but none who made a debut album at this age.
It was my honor to do a cowrite of the song “Ring the Bell” with my longtime friend Mark who I had mentioned earlier who was suffering from a health issue that required 24 weeks of chemotherapy. I later dedicated the entire album to my friend Mark as he was a driving force with my writing and wanted to hear all about it as part of his rehab to keep him thinking of other things besides his own health.
IR: Living in St. Paul, MN,(a famously cold climate), has reggae music been a form of escapism for you, mentally taking you to a warmer, tropical climate?
DB: Great Question! I think you might be right. We take a winter vacation each year not always to a Caribbean Isle but in my mind “it Takes Me There”. I do admit writing the bulk of this album over the winter months and it did bring great joy and escape from the drudgery of the long Minnesota winters. At least in my mind!
IR: What sparked the initial writing of “Where Would I Be”?
DB: In 2022, I was diagnosed with prostate cancer and began receiving a time release daily injection of a hormone medication that would thwart the growth of the cancer. At that time, I was undergoing some difficult times coping with everything. I shared my story with a younger co worker who happened to be a female hockey player and her advice was simple; get back on the ice and play as much hockey as you can to keep your mind off it.
But she became more than just a helpful co-worker. We became close friends, and she quietly became an inspiration, confidante and someone who could push me to greater things. We talked a lot about lyrics and music, and she taught me about country music and encouraged me to try and make a love song for my wife.
When I look back at that time in life, she came out of nowhere and took me under her wing and I have always been grateful for everything she did when she didn’t have to do any of it.
She and her boyfriend are still close friends who my wife and I enjoy doing things with. As per my friend, she wants no credit and said doing this song was unnecessary, so I did it anyways and surprised her.
IR: Lyrically, the song could be interpreted in different ways (I can hear it from a faith-based perspective, or as an ode to a loved one/friend). Did you intentionally want to leave the meaning up to the listener?
DB: You are very perceptive. In many of my songs I like to write relatable tales that can happen to anyone. And I like to keep a background of faith base into a lot of my works, as was the case with this one.
When I wrote the song, I spent time with Miracle before he did the vocals telling him the back story and to let his talent take over. He did it marvelously on this track. I really think this track and maybe the title track “Reggae Island Reign” were two of his finest.
I just love who he added the “Thank You” and highlighted the “angel” giving the song a strong faith base to it along with some good reggae sounds as well.
It is fact, “I don’t know where I’d be if this woman hadn’t rescued me.” There were some things I hid from my family during my cancer journey, mainly just how scared I was and how I wanted to appear strong and that I was able to rise above it. At that time both our adult sons were still living at home (post Covid) and I had to keep my fears aside and it was tough not sharing them with my wife, but I was afraid it would upset our house. That is in part why I wrote this song and to show my others friends who said they’d be there for me, as a reminder that it takes more than merely texting, when a friend is in need. I hope this encourages people to do more and put effort into friendships. Often friends like me won’t ask for help but it doesn’t mean we don’t need it. I understood that they were busy with their own lives, and I had made a new friend who filled that role and without it I am not certain where I’d be.
IR: One of the aspects that stands out to me on the track are the vocals and harmonies. There’s a real smooth beauty to the vocals here. I know you have used various vocalists in past projects – was that the case on Reggae Island Reign as well?
DB: Yes, part of the fun in being a studio group is that you can contract with various vocal talent based on the song. I think over the past couple years I have used maybe 8 to 10 different singers based on the song.
In making Reggae Island Reign, I continued doing that but found a different niche with Miracle where I would be more active in music development and decided that he would be my featured singer for 8 of the album’s 13 songs.
What I liked most was how he made the songs come alive with his beautiful knack for harmonies and add libs at just the right time. We started with a song “Jamaican Sunset”, and we clicked gaining confidence as we went.
In “Where Would I Be” we forever bonded. When I first previewed that song, I must have played it 20 times and each time I liked it more, all because of him. I just penned some lyrics on a page, and he brought them to life. I think that’s what I’m most proud of with the entire albums work is how much we grew working together.
IR: Outside of the legend Bob Marley, what other reggae artists/songs have been touchpoints for you when diving into this genre?
DB: Funny you ask this. I became a big fan of the group Rebulation as I was writing a piece and was researching revelation and up popped this group Rebulation so I played a song and became hooked. It was a Godsend and at a time when I was bored with country music and really unsure what I would do next.
I remember telling this same friend what I was thinking of doing and she was skeptical saying why not just try and get even better at doing country music and maybe one day you’ll write a hit.
I said that would be fun but boring, I want to try other genres of songs. I later told her I was just a genre jump’n fool and thus the title for my second album was hatched.
IR: The Dave Black Expression takes pride in writing songs in a number of various genres; do some styles come more naturally to you as a songwriter than others?
DB: Good Question. When I started I really didn’t want to do country but it appeared that was where my writing was taking me. In my heart I’m a long time rocker and rock ballad fan who happens to like almost every kind of music.
As my wife says, I just can’t sit still sometimes and need to try new things. With the Genre Jump’n Fool theme I did just that and it was so fun having no rules being an independent artist.
I think deep in my heart I’m a poet. I did publish a poetry book in 2022 based on my college days and love affairs, accomplishing one of my goals when I weas young; to write a book. The last goal was to write a rock song and I finally did that in writing a song “Cast Away” (Genre Jump’n Fool album 2024) and later a number of others.
IR: Any styles or sounds you’re still looking to explore that you haven’t yet?
DB: Funny you should ask this. A few of my friends were curious and I told them I want to write a really good blues song, try some indies, more alternative rock and more Christian songs.
Currently I have about 20 new songs in que and have two albums planned for the future. A more rock based work titled Cornerstones which will feature various type of rock songs, rock ballads and some jazzy works as well. It will come out likely in 2025.
Alongside I have written more faith-based songs and am planning on a Christian album titled Cross My Heart to be completed as my 5th album likely in late 2025.
Not bad for a late bloomer who just wanted to see if he could write one song!
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Thankfully, Dave reported to me that he is cancer-free, so grateful to hear that. And now I hope you’re grateful to discover “Where Would I Be” in our A Single Sit-Down Playlist!
The Indy Review 
go Dave!
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