Tribute to Garnet Silk

Cruz, who is a nephew of the late singer, says the set hears him  covering 15 of Silk’s songs including Mama, Seven Spanish Angels and Nothing Can  Divide Us.

(L-R) Anthony Cruz and  Garnet Silk Anthony

(L-R) Anthony Cruz and Garnet  Silk Anthony

“I am really enthusiastic about this project as he (Garnet Silk)  had a great influence on my music style,” Cruz told the Jamaica Observer.

The album is produced by Courtney Cole, whose Roof International  label was a key player in Silk’s trans-formation from sound system performer to  mainstream hitmaker.

Garnet Silk, whose real name was Garnet Smith, had a brief but  remarkable run in the early 1990s.

He recorded a number of hit songs for various producers, including  It’s Growing, Mama Africa and Lion Heart.

He was one of the leaders of the roots-reggae renaissance in  Jamaica 20 years ago.

Silk was working on an album for Atlantic Records at the time of  his death (in a fire at his mother’s Manchester home) in December, 1994. He was  28 years old. Like Silk, Anthony Cruz is from Manchester. His most popular songs  are Half Way Tree and a cover of Santana’s Maria Maria.