This document summarizes an interview with Dr. Greene, a white British reggae artist who has found success in the genre over the past decade. Some key points: 1) Dr. Greene became interested in reggae from listening to his father's record collection as a boy. He realized he had a talent and interest in creating his own reggae music. 2) Factors in his success include touring extensively, being in the right place at the right time, hard work, and consistency over many years. 3) Major inspirations include Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Bunny Wailer, and British bands like Steel Pulse that showed white musicians could succeed in reggae. 4

1. Dredds magazine sent me along to chat to Dr Greene about the success he has increasingly gained
over the past decade. Since breaking into the reggae scene the Doc has had numerous successful
albums that have continued to enhance this successful talent, who has dominated the reggae scene
for the past five years. This white guy from suburban Manchester, which I’m sure you’ve all heard
about by now, has continued to shatter the reggae stereotype of black domination with its Jamaican
roots. So let’s see if we can find out what it is that makes this guy break the mould of other reggae
artists. I met up with him at BBC Media City after his guest performance on The Voice.
1. What first interested you in reggae music? I became interested when I began listening to my
Dad’s record collection. Although it was an eclectic mix of all different genres, the one thing
that stuck out for me was the reggae music in his collection. I felt drawn towards it and
found I wanted to listen more and more to this music. As I got older I sought out more and
more reggae music and artists and the more I heard the more I knew I wanted to create my
own versions of this type of music.
2. When did you first realise you had this interest?I’m not really sure when I first became
aware. As I say it was as a young boy that I listened to this music, and the more I listened the
more I became enthralled by it. But it was something that just evolved over time in my early
years. There is not a definite time when I could say that it happened. It’s been a gradual
progress of interest.
3. When did you first realise you had a good reggae voice?Who says I have a good reggae
voice? In my opinion it’s not but then it’s for other people to judge. Presumably other
people must think it’s suited for the type of music I produce. But it’s something I continually
work on and try to improve, but I’ve always felt that the voice on its own is not the be all and
end all. It’s there to complement the music, which is the significant factor. Reggae music is
to be judged as a whole, with contributions from all artists and not merely an individual.
4. What have been the significant factors of the success of your career? It’s time. Lots and lots
of time. I try to rehearse and perform as much as I can. Plenty of gigs which in turn hones
the performance. Getting in front of people and letting them know you’re out there. A bit of
luck,lots of hard work, and being in the right place at the right time. There’s also lots of
travelling involved. But in this type of music there is no pattern or formulae for success. It’s a
question of keep doing it.
5. Who has inspired you? Numerous people. Obviously artists such as Bob Marley, Peter Tosh
and Bunny Wailer together with originators such as Clancy Eccles and Lee “Scratch” Perry.
Also the Jamaican influence of Coxsone Dodd, ,Leslie Kong, Duke Reid, Joe Gibbs and King
Tubby.Then there’s the early 70’s influence of Jonny Nash and Jimmy Cliff and the at around
the same time there was the British influence that came in with multiracial bands like Steel
Pulse, Aswad and UB40 who perhaps had the greatest influence on me. It showed me there
was room for white musicians in what had been a predominantly black genre of music.
6. How important is the make-up of your band to you? Very important. Obviously you want to
play with the best musician possible. But that I true of any artist. Within the band there are
different spheres of influence. The fact the Jonny Henderson and I have been together for
the past 16 years is the most stabilising influence within the band and contributes a
harmony of ideas. Other band members come and go but they all bring their own influences
into the band, and that too is important as fresh ideas are constantly being bounced around.
It’s like the band is a living organism that is constantly growing and changing. I want to know

2. that the band are not just performing at each gig but are bringing something new to each
performance.
7. Has your background caused you any problems? No I don’t think it has. In fact I think it’s
worked in the opposite way. We haven’t been stereotyped into a standard reggae format
but have been able to bring in influences from other music genres like Ska and Punk. There
are even influences of funk, jazz and R&B at times in our music. As I say this has not tied us
to the stereotype and we have experimented with differing sounds that have gone down
well when we did tours of America and even in Jamaica when we went there three years
ago. In fact I think there is more of an acceptance in places like America where the British
Reggae scene is embraced. It can sometimes be harder at home.
8. Where would you like to see your career heading?I would like to see it build on current
success, be sustainable and reach as many people as possible. Unfortunately this is a very
fickle industry, so as long as we can perform consistently, we can hopefully continue to find
success. We have another album that we are going to studio with this summer. I think it’s
going to be a little different from what people normally expect from us. But I’m sure it will
be well received.
Well, thank you Dr Greene. That was frank and informative. Let’s all wish him continued success with
his reggae music, and I for one am looking forward to the release of this new album.