In a candid interview on I Never Knew TV on YouTube, Jamaican reggae icon Luciano shared profound insights about his career and the pivotal role that legendary tour manager Copeland Forbes has played in his success. The “Its Me Again Jah” artist spoke with deep respect and admiration for Forbes, praising him as a “walking encyclopedia” of the music industry. “Mr. Copeland Forbes, oh my God, that man is a working encyclopedia. If you need any knowledge, if you want any number, any contact for anyone in the business—someone, anyone who has a meaningful position in the reggae fraternity or just the music fraternity, not just reggae—Mr. Forbes is the man to call.”
Forbes who released his memoir Reggae My Life Is last year has been in the music industry since the 1960s, working with acts such as Peter Tosh, Marcia Griffiths, Beres Hammond and more.
For Luciano, Forbes became more than just a tour manager; he was a mentor who helped him understand the intricacies of the music business and how to thrive in it. One of the most practical lessons Luciano learned from Forbes is the importance of keeping detailed notes—whether it’s contacts, flights, or future plans—something he’s continued to apply throughout his career.
“That’s one thing I learned from Mr. Forbes. Make notes because you can’t remember everything by tomorrow. So much things bombard your brain, you forget about what happened yesterday.”
A major part of being a tour manager is to ensure that logistics were handled smoothly but Forbes also instilled in Luciano the importance of discipline and responsibility in the industry along the way.
“So I learned also a lot of stuff in terms of make sure you don’t miss a flight because a man can, a promoter can spend a lot of money for mood shows, and the day of Quest… I mean, it’s supposed to be on the plane,” Luciano said.
Revelations From Forbes’ Book
One of the most eye-opening moments for Luciano came when he read Forbes’ book and read his own paragraph in the book, Luciano was taken aback by the many things happening behind the scenes in his career that he was unaware of at the time. The revelation opened his eyes to the scale of his journey in the music business and made him realize the full scope of Forbes’ influence on his career.
“And you know, I was reading the book Mr. Forbes just released, and I was reading the book, and when I read my paragraph, I never realized there were so many things in the pipeline for me. Big things to go down for me in the music business. At that time, Mr. Philip Burrell was my producer. But when I read the book, I’m having to shake my head and say, my God, I didn’t know all of these things.”
Luciano admitted that when he first started out, he was purely focused on singing from the heart and treating his music as a hobby, unaware of the many strategic moves taking place behind the scenes. Reading Forbes’ book made him realize just how much more there was to his journey than he had initially understood.
The Power of Chemistry in Touring
Luciano also acknowledged Forbes’ expertise in the logistics of touring. While producer Fattis had a talent for creating great music, it was Forbes who was the master at managing the complex arrangements of tours—ensuring that everything from flights to routes was carefully planned.
“A lot of people don’t know, Fattis had a thing about chemistry. Now when it comes to the tour business, tying up the tours and making sure that it’s connected and fly from point A to point B, Mr. Forbes was the one for that. Fattis never had nothing to do with that. Many times Fattis might miss a flight, but Mr. Copeland had to find a way to reroute him or send him through Honduras.”
For Luciano, this attention to detail in managing his schedule was crucial for maintaining a successful career on the road. Forbes’ ability to keep things running smoothly, even when obstacles arose, was a key factor in Luciano’s ability to thrive in the demanding world of touring.
Forbes’ Resilience and Dedication
Luciano also admired Forbes’ resilience, describing him as someone who appeared to have a “fountain of youth.” Despite facing setbacks, including health challenges and accidents, Forbes continued to demonstrate an unwavering commitment to his work. Luciano found inspiration in Forbes’ strength and ability to continue pressing forward despite adversity.
“It’s like this man has a fountain of youth because Mr. Forbes is fresh. And he’s been through a lot because he dropped off stage two times now. And the next time I nearly broke his back.”
Last year Forbes suffered injuries from an accident that occurred at Junior Reid’s 60th anniversary concert at Plantation Cove in St. Ann, Jamaica. Even while heading to Florida for treatment after experiencing severe pain from the incident, Forbes took the time to sign copies of his book at the Norman Manley International Airport, in a wheelchair.
For his years of service in the music industry, in 2017, Forbes was honored with the Order of Distinction by the Government of Jamaica.
Luciano praised his ability to maintain professionalism, even in difficult situations.
“But I learned a lot from Mr. Forbes first of all to be on time, because if you’re not on time, you miss your flight. Many cases, you know, where things don’t work out like we go to a show and things don’t work out. Mr. Forbes always has a diplomatic way of fixing things and making sure that musicians are paid, and even if he is not paid, he makes sure that everyone gets their money, has a go, you know.”
Watch Luciano interview here.
