Veteran dancehall singer Anthony Malvo says artists must prioritize self-care, in order to maintain their vocal abilities and overall health.
At 62, Anthony Malvo attributes his youthful appearance to eliminating detrimental habits such as smoking and alcohol consumption.
“For me, I take care of myself. I don’t drink, I don’t smoke. I go to my bed early. I only go out when I’m getting paid. You know what I’m saying? And I don’t eat meat. I take care of myself. God is 100 percent in my life. The Almighty 24-sevens,” he told DancehallMag in an interview following his Gold School performance at Reggae Sumfest last week Saturday.
“Anything you see outside, are the good things inside… It’s just pureness. We don’t stress. We just have a good vibe. The heart is good. Yuh si if yuh have God inna yuh, trust mi, everything is just nice. Everything jus flow,” he added.
Continued Malvo: “But I’m always preaching eating good and taking care of yourself. And I help a lot of my friends. Because a lot of them a die out, and have bad sickness. I have nothing (no illness). My health is just great”.
According to the Guns and Roses artist, his compatriots who chose to dedicate themselves to maintaining their physical well-being, are making a wise and commendable choice.
“It’s a great thing because it’s best for them. Because they live longer. A lot of them have more sickness, walking and dropping down on the floor, because they’re not taking care of themselves, and unnecessary smoking and drinking. I used to do all those things, but I said, too much of one thing is good for nothing,” he said.
“You have to have a standard. I mean, nothing is wrong with it, but you have to know when to stop. And I’m planning to build live to 110,” he quipped.
In addition to his health tips, Malvo revealed his most recent musical endeavor: a remix of Jimmy Cliff’s classic reggae anthem The Harder They Come.
“It’s a song that I love. It’s a great song. I know that a lot of people don’t know it. You need the younger generation to know the big song… We have to modernize it and bring it to the younger people,” he said of The Harder They Come.
Beyond health and music, Malvo stressed the importance of image and presentation.
“You see, that is the key. That’s why we come from the gold school. You have to come with everything. Not only talent, but you have to have punch. Yuh caan come pan stage an look like yuh a come outta yuh bedroom,” he said.
Now based in Atlanta, the Kingston native began his career in the early 1980s on the Black Star sound system and later became a part of the Lloyd ‘King Jammy’ James’s camp.
In 1987, along with Dancehall deejay Tiger, Malvo released the hit single Come Back to Me, which he considers one of his most enduring songs.
This was followed by other hits, including Can You Stop the Rain, Ready or Not, Smoking Sensi featuring Josey Wales, and Greatest Gal Lover featuring Daddy Lizard.
In the early 1990s, Malvo teamed up with Dancehall singer Anthony Red Rose to establish the How Yu Fi Say Dat label, under which they produced hits for several emerging dancehall stars of the era, among them Bounty Killer, Beenie Man, Capleton, Simpleton, Sean Paul, Mad Cobra, and Fabby Dolly.
In 1999, Malvo launched his own label, Real Music Production. Through this imprint, he produced music for himself and other prominent reggae and dancehall artists, once again Capleton, Buju Banton, Bushman and Glen Washington.
In 2022, Malvo celebrated 40 years in the music industry with the release of his 12-track album titled Matured.