The wise proverb stating "nothing happens before its time" easily lends itself to the career struggles and successes of Jamaican artist KC Jockey.

 

After thirteen years of working in New York City's Reggae sound system circuit, KC Jockey is ready to shine with his new release entitled The Gal Dem Jockey on June 8, 2004. NYC's Reggae circuit has spawned the careers of such Dancehall Reggae luminaries as Shelly Thunder, Shinehead, and the multi-platinum selling Shaggy.

KC Jockey experienced his greatest success in 2003 with several hits singles including the remix of "Beware of the Boys" featuring Jay Z and Punjabi MC and" Diggy Diggy" a combination with Elephant man released on KC's own label Sweet Sadies Records.

Born Karl-Marx Fernandez Waite on November 30 in Kingston, Jamaica, KC Jockey migrated with his family to Brooklyn, New York in 1978 where he has been honing his deejay craft since childhood.

The godson of the renowned Jamaican actor Carl Bradshaw and veteran Reggae artists Marcia Griffiths and Bob Andy, Karl was nicknamed KC because his father was a football and track and field coach at Kingston Collage (KC) and Jockey because of his superb "riddim" riding skills.

KC, assisted by his Juniour High school cohort MC Lyte, first experience the thrill of performing as the duo would entertain their classmates with comedy, skits and especially with their rhyming skills. But the lunchroom at Brooklyn's Somers Junior High School wasn't a big enough venue for the precociously talented KC who quickly made the transition to deejaying with various New York area sound systems including Third World High Power, Star Tone, Black Music, Stereo Pride, Mini Mart and Terrorist High Power. KC says, "Every time I'd come from school on a Friday, if I had a show on the sound system on Friday or Saturday night, I would pack my bag and literally run away from home to do my music. My father was very strict, he is a book knowledge type of guy, a doctor plus a professor at a soft heart and she would let me go. "KC continues," I was one of the youngest entertainers back in them time so the opportunity was there for me to get a little bit of shine."

Before long KC began recording for a variety of New York are Reggae producers. His earliest single include "Ah Na Mi Boopsie" released on the Stereo Pride label( at the height of the "boops" craze started by Super cat's wildly popular single "Si Boops Deh") and "Don't Gimmie No Crack" produced by Witty of Music Masters. KC hit single "Confused" (produced by Chuck B) climbed the Reggae charts in the early 90s providing the hopeful artist with opportunities for radio interviews and stage show/sound system gigs throughout the greater New York dancehall scene.

KC was also featured on the Satellite Lovers cover of BOB Marley's "Waiting in Vain" for Japan's Tachyon Records and he recorded the hit "jockey Ride" for New York based producer Sidney Mills of Living Room Records.

On his recordings and in live performances KC's animated mischievously appealing persona shines through, winning him many loyal fans throughout the New York area.
KC says of his music," Some of the things I am starting to write about are things that happened. Experience is the key and when somebody hears your music and says that happened to me before, that's the kind of song that lasts forever, instead of the imaginary stuff which can only lasts so long" .

A pivotal moment in KC's life was the passing of his beloved mother Sadie in 1997. Sadie had returned home to Jamaica to bury her mother and while driving from the church service to the cemetery, she was killed in a car accident. After that devastating event, KC realized life is too short to procrastinate in achieving one's goals so he concentrated on building his career to Sadies Production in loving tribute to his mother.

In addition to the tremendous strides KC has made as a recording label CEO, this has been a break-through year for KC's distinctive Dancehall flavor on the remix of "Beware of the Boys" in Combination with hip hop superstar Jay Z and Asian rapper Punabi MC help the song become one of the most requested radio records of the year. "Beware of the Boys" reached # 14 on the rhythm charts, #35 on the urban charts and broke the top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100, eliciting a deluge of record company offers; currently Atlantic, Universal and Warner Brothers are each discussing possible recording deals with KC.

KC's performance schedule has become quite hectic; appearing alongside Elephant Man, Beenie Man and Bounty Killer, he recently gave a dynamic performance at New Yorks' Reggae Carifest, the largest one day Reggae show on the East coast. He has performed a solo concert in St. Thomas Virgin Island, appearing in Florida with singer Ginuwine and alongside 50 Cent, L'il Kim, Busta Rhymes and Fabulous for the sell out " Hot Night X" concert at the Dunkin Donuts arena in Providence, Rhode Island. "They didn't believe the outcome of me performing onstage there, KC smiles." There were over 35,000 people, I was the 5th act before Fabulous.

Another milestone in KC's career will be his triumphant return to Jamaica in July for a performance at Reggae Sumfest, Jamaica's largest Reggae festival, held in Montego Bay. This will be KC's first performance in Jamaica and first return trip since the late 80's to his birthplace, the country that has given him his primary musical inspiration. The years of struggles, hard work and dedication to his deejay craft are now yielding.

Major success but for KC Jockey, it all gets back to that wise old saying. " When its your time, its your time," KC philosophizes," You could be in a little box house by your self and write a song or have somebody write it for you and you do it and blow up. You just gotta want it; if you don't want it, your gonna receive it. You got pay dues, I done paid my dues, I been through a whole lot, ups, downs, promissory notes, jokes, my mother passing away, a bunch of obstacles. Nothing happens before the time or after the time but now is the time, slowly but surly and I am going to try and hold onto it throughout my life until its time to kick the bucket. Because this is what I love, this what I want to do."