ReggaeWoman's Page

Carmelita Harris, is the woman behind California's Reggae television show, Irie Vision. She stumbled unto the world of Reggae and took over hosting, producing and promoting one of Reggae's most popular TV shows across California. We caught up with Carmelita online and did this interview. She speaks of her introduction to Reggae, TV producing, her vision for IrieVision TV and her hopes for women in the Reggae arena.





Hey Girl.....'yes'

RW: can i ask ya couple questions

Carmelita says: what up Angel?

RW: are ya busy

Carmelita says: how are you?

RW: fine thanks

Carmelita says: just got in to work

RW: is your website up yet??

Carmelita says: yes,

Carmelita says: irievision.com.... plus other producer working on irievision.tv.....but i still have more work to do on it

angel says: cool............



Irie history.......'...anybody irie was me'

RW: so how long you been doing this television show???

Carmelita says:10 years but on my own for 5 years now

RW: what brought you to the media and specifically tv producing?

Carmelita says: My producer thought i would be a great host and personality and they needed someone that live in San Francisco and said if any body irie it was me.... so i took class from San Francisco Access and training on the job and the rest is history.

 RW: so your producer was the one with the idea for this show ? Where did you work first?

Carmelita says: Yes, Michael Ealey wanted to do a show on Reggae and i came abroad... Producing i started as a co-producer learning the video, camera and hosting. But after 5 years he went to work for the big Computer Company and didn't have time anymore



Direction.....'live performances, reviews, interviews..'

RW: your show is all about reggae artists, events and etc right? Now with your experience, what are your plans for your show.....

Carmelita says: Irie Vision covers live performances from festivals all over California and interviews and review cd's, Michael got married and the computer company in California was making lots of money.... So when i return from Europe the second tine i I decide to re start irie vision, and started from beginning and learn the editing system



Vision everywhere?.......'Irie Vision internationally that's my dream'

RW: where does your show air?

Carmelita says: Irie Vision goal is to go international and soon is coming to Berkeley, San Francisco & filling out papers for Berkeley California right now. Hopefully i can come to New York. For the last few years i been making Irie Vision tighter and now i am working with a animator cartoon of a character of myself.

RW: so who does all the work. Ddo you have a team of people that work with you right now?

Carmelita says: Cartoonist from one of the Art Colleges

RW: is this a contributed effort or is it a real business. One that's growing??

Carmelita says: I have an UC Berkeley in-turn that help me out on camera for interviews. I have a staff at the station that help me on camera like 3 sony camera at the tv station director & sound person when i do live prerecorded studio work like Reggae Revolution came from London. I do most of the editing for the show every week i am in the studio about 3 times a week. I do 52 episodes a year.

RW: how's the response from your audience?

Carmelita says: Irie Vision is something that i do for the San Francisco Community. My fans love Reggae and want to know who's who? I bring them who's hot and old legends; the true stars in Reggae. I give cd's away almost every week and t-shirt's from record companies and the Artists. I am making irie vision a business, but i produce it myself from my own funds.

RW: you say the show will be going international, do you plan to travel the world doing your shows??

Carmelita says: I been to Amsterdam in '94 covering Reggae over there, that's where i first met Wayne Wonder and Buju Banton. Now Amsterdam is my second home i've been there 3 times since then. I have friends that come visit me here from there. I talk to Amsterdam almost everyday.

RW: so with the right backing your show will definitely be the world's link to Reggae?

Carmelita says: I plan to market Irie Vision internationally that my dreams i hope to expose the true stars of Reggae to the world and hopefully make money from my efforts for irievision and the stars



Otherwise employed.....'i work'

RW says: where and how did you come up with the name, Irie Vision??

Carmelita says: Irie mean feeling good and this showing the Vision

It was Michael's idea. We are still very close and he advises me on some things but i do all the video and editing

RW: what do your fans know you as?

Carmelita says: Carmelita

RW: seen do you work a day job

Carmelita says: yes that were i'm at now that's what make irievision

RW: what do you do for a living in the 'day' world?

Carmelita says: I work for the Assessor Office in S.F. We assess business and real property. We determine the value of property and business. I help people nationally and internationally at the counter and phones



Roots....'i knew nothing about Reggae'

RW: Are you related to Jamaicans in any way?

Carmelita says: Not that i know of. I love reggae music. It's a freedom in the music and spirit of it. Being born a raise in San Francisco i have a free spirit and i know i am different from the norm.

RW: how did you first become associated with Reggae?

Carmelita says: San Francisco has great musicians here that i was raise on Jimmy Hendix music and Santana & jazz allot from here

RW: that is different from our reggae music, how did you gravitate this way?

Carmelita says: From the tv show directly. I knew nothing about reggae other than Bob Marley. Every thing was on the job training and learning about reggae. Even now i still learning about the real artist of reggae and true stars from pass to now. I meet Bryon Lee in 2001 and had the honor of videoing him and spreading him to the viewers of he was the first international Reggae & ska and sola star..... He thank me for spreading the word about him. Some up and coming don't do that. I have love in my heart for him, a beautiful man.



Reggae...dancehall....'i love roots'

RW: so you like many others were brought to reggae music from the mystics of Bob Marley and the Wailers........have you explored the music from it's past up until now and how do you prefer the differences?

Carmelita says: I love going to see the older Reggae Stars like Carton Livington, Rankin Joe, Sugar Minott & other older stars like Ken Boothe, i love watching them they have so much showmanship like Marcia Griffins and Dawn Penn. Plus i am still learning, and like yourself Angel you be getting down also. There needs to be more women in reggae

RW: sure thing, well thank you for keeping reggae alive. But what are your thoughts on dancehall music?

Carmelita says: I love dancehall but i know the older dj that started it before it got popular now, I love Roots also cause its meaning in the song. But dancehall is exciting part of the music.

angel says: do you think dancehall should be separate from Reggae and not titled the same kind of music? To me it's the same but it probably wouldn't give other artists a chance in the Grammy awards if it was separate. Like Freddie McGregor was nominated and Bootie Killer was nominated. Freddie is true Reggae music with beautiful message and poem. Booty Killer is true dancehall and its a different kind of Reggae music.



Women in Reggae....'it can be done'

RW: what are your thoughts about women in the Reggae music business, do you see enough of them around?

Carmelita says: No, i don't.At the festivals i don't see enough of them on stages or on the billing

RW: what's your take on what the problems that are facing the women in the biz?

Carmelita says: I think some of it is sexism

RW: how do you think we can go about turning the tables?

Carmelita says: I think the women can make it, like yourself. What it will take is a major hit like Beenie Man & Sean Paul and Shaggy. It can be done. I think in time it will be a woman that will bust out like it is in hip hop, like Miss Elliot & women like that. It's a hard business in music industry. I being around press people i hear alot of things.....but the women will have to perservere though all the up and downs in the business.

RW: the labels are afraid of the investment , what do you think may be the cause ?

Carmelita says: I don't know if it's a man world in Reggae I would hate to say that. But, it will have to take a cd that muti-style on the music. She can sing like yourself and maybe hip hop style. I already know that a women in Reggae will have to work even harder in Reggae than the guys do, not saying they don't work hard. But the women will have to work harder



women on irievision tv.......'not enough'

RW: by the way so far what women have appeared on your show?

Carmelita says: You Angel, Sister Carol, Marcia Griffin, the sister from Damian Marley tour I forgot her name, some bay area women like Nomi,  Dawn Penn, Dela Grant, Indian singer of Reggae can't write her name she from bay area. It's not enough.

RW: seen, well thanks Carmelita for all your efforts to help Reggae .......... truly a Reggae Woman

Carmelita says: thanks Angel. I will be looking out for you Sister cause u are up and coming also.

RW:  blessed love and all the best.

You can find out more about Carmelita Harris at www.irievision.com