‘We’re family’: Reggae legend Luciano performs in Miramar with special connection to residents

Relaxing before his New Year’s Eve performance at Miramar’s Regional Park Amphitheater, reggae legend Jepther “Luciano” McClymont played dominoes and joked in his hotel room as if he were at home in Jamaica. His humility shows in the way that he irons his own clothes before he takes the stage.

Performing in front of South Florida’s diverse Caribbean audience always makes him feel that way.

“The vibe I get is very special because it’s like we’re family,” the two-time Grammy Award nominee said. “There are island people that support reggae music and come out. It’s like a homecoming festival for me. These people can relate to your music because they speak English and they respond even better than some other places you may go.”

The impact of Luciano’s uplifting, soulful music has transcended genres. On New Year’s Eve, it showed as hundreds of fans gathered in Miramar to welcome in 2024 with him during a performance that combined the uplift of church with the high energy of a party.

The audience sang in unison with Luciano as he performed hits like, “It’s Me Again Jah” and “God Give Me Strength.” In between and after the Rastafarian musician’s two sets, he took time to speak with every fan, artist and elected official that knocked on the door to his green room backstage.

His effect will once more be on display on March 3, when the Florida Grand Opera, the Rhythm Foundation and the City of Miami Beach combines his roots reggae music with opera for the Opera Reggae Concert on March 3 at the Miami Beach Bandshell.

Before his Miramar performance, Luciano took time to discuss his legacy, beginnings as a reggae artist, his spirituality and how his music has become even more important after the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced artists like him to forgo touring for smaller appearances with some of them singing at funerals. This interview has been edited for clarity.

What was your inspiration for sharing your spirituality as a Rastafarian in your music?

I grew up in the church. My father was an evangelist and he was also a carpenter. The first instrument that I was affiliated with was the guitar that my father built. Hence, I learned how to write my songs by playing the guitar. I would always be singing gospel songs and choruses and hymns, so I kind of adopted that way of singing the choruses when I learned how to write my songs.

We didn’t have TV and it was a very humble beginning. My father would go around with his lantern and his Bible and preach. Even in my early years, I remember he would take the Bible out on Saturdays, like on Sabbath morning, would observe the Sabbath because we were sitting there. I grew up Seventh day Adventist. With my father’s teachings and the way he instilled in us the principles of the Bible, I still adhere to them.

As a fan of Bob Marley, how significant was it for you to work with his collaborator and Island Records founder Chris Blackwell?

I was very excited to meet Mr. Blackwell because I really honor and respect his effort and his energy. He really does good business. Once you’re disciplined enough to stick to your word and people can respect you.

He and Bob Marley knew the secret about communicating and when they talk they look you straight in the eye. We worked together on the album deal that included “Where There’s Life” and my album “The Messenger.” It was really a respect and an honor to meet with Mr. Blackwell, because he worked with the legendary Bob Marley and Jimmy Cliff and all these other greats.

What changes have you noticed for yourself as a touring reggae artist post pandemic?

We couldn’t go anywhere. There were no dances, no parties, nothing. Some people were hurting and have probably lost loved ones, so you can definitely see in their eyes that they’re feeling the pain and that they have lost loved ones. When you sing certain songs, they can actually recapture the moment when they used to come with their loved ones to my shows and to know that they’re there alone. People really need inspiration. They need encouragement. They need strength. The pandemic was rough even for us as musicians and singers. It was a tough time.

This is why I always tip my hat to the sound system fraternity because they were the ones who kept us going. A lot of people were at home and working on the internet and doing a lot of online stuff. They were also requesting dubs and songs. A lot of my songs also were for people like memorial songs. When people pass away and things, they pay me to sing a song in memory of a loved one. It was a mixture of sadness because we were doing these dubs. It’s like doing business and you’re really sad but you still have to eat and bills have got to be paid.

What lasting effect do you want your music to have on your listeners?

I just want to be an inspiration for the people. I’m just a messenger delivering a message for the people, right, I don’t want to come here as no lamb to the slaughter. I don’t want to be no revolutionary. I just want to inspire the people and educate them with music. Let them have more love for each other and respect for you know, you know each other.

These are the kinds of messages I really embrace. I want to teach the people out there, especially my fans. I want to encourage them through the rough times because a lot of people are facing financial and spiritual difficulties. We can inspire the people to at least never give up their pride. Just yesterday I was hoping for tomorrow.