Reggae legend covers country classic

Whenever country singer Chris Stapleton sings his version of the 1981 classic Tennessee Whiskey at his shows, it gets raucous response.

He covered the song in 2015 and his version has become an anthem. Singer-guitarist Wayne Armond recently put his spin on the track which was first recorded by David Allan Coe. Armond is best known for his work with reggae band Chalice.

"My business partner and I were in the studio working with one of his artistes and he said he would love to hear a reggae version of a song named Tennessee Whiskey, which I had never heard before," he recalled.

Armond checked out Stapleton's mega hit on YouTube once he got home and went about transforming its country-blues flavour to reggae. His version was released in May by My MM Productions, a company launched in Florida last year by Orville Marshall, his business associate.

Once he listened to Stapleton's bluesy cover, Armond found it easy giving it a reggae feel.

"As a guitarist, it wasn't anything outstanding. I liked the lines, I liked the lick .... it was the simplicity, the beautiful melody and the way the guy sang it. Basically, that's it," he explained.

Armond's 'reggae-rised' cut of Tennessee Whiskey is among My MM Productions' initial releases. There are two other songs, Don't Trust Dem by Costa Rican singer Stevie Malekuu and War A Gwaan by reggae crooner Luciano, both done on the Transfusion rhythm.

The label's current productions are completed by Wayne Picks on Alton Ellis, an instrumental album of Alton Ellis songs.