| INTRODUCING LORNA BENNETT
Lorna Bennett was born on 7th June, 1952 in the rural St. Elizabeth town of Newton in the parish Saint Elizabeth.
She had dreams from an early age of becoming a singing star, declaring to all and sundry that she would be going to Hollywood. She would sing to anyone who was willing to listen and when she started to attend school at age 3, she would take over the directing of the music class from the teacher.
The happiest time of her young life was the day a stereogram was purchased for the home. Her brother Donovan, now a practicing Medical Doctor and the father of top producer “Don Corleon Vendetta Bennett” was an avid music collector and exposed Lorna to various types of music.
Lorna would sit on the ground of her living room and sing and harmonize to songs for hours on end. Life seemed perfect and satisfying as she and her sister Kay sang along with Diana Ross, Astrud Gilberto, Nancy Wilson and others.
She attended high school in Kingston and while at St. Andrew High School for girls Lorna made many an attempt to jump-start a singing career; but whenever she set up any appointments for auditions or performances she would get cold feet and cancel. She was extremely shy and lacked confidence to complete these arrangements.
In about 1970, 18 year old Lorna while in Sixth form at Excelsior High School was approached by Carl Grant, then a student of The College of Arts and Science and Technology and founder of Bare Essentials Band; (which is still in existence); to
become the female singer in the said band. Lorna agreed and along with her sister Kay and male singer Errol Lee, provided vocals for that band.
The band contracted with “The Epiphany Night Club” in New Kingston and played there every Wednesday night.
People started to take notice including Geoffrey Chung (now deceased) who was a musician in the “Now Generation Band”.
He approached Lorna to record a song called “Morning has Broken,” which gave her exposure on the airwaves. In 1971, her brother Kenneth “Toney” Bennett then gave her a Dusty Springfield Ballad titled “Breakfast in Bed,” and dared her “I bet you can’t sing this.”
Lorna took the record to Geoffrey Chung who gave the song a reggae arrangement and the song became an instant hit. It became a number one on the charts in Jamaica and stayed there for 6 weeks.
This was an exciting time for her and she enjoyed having a hit and was overjoyed for having gotten the opportunity to do what she loved best.
However, she also knew that she wanted to be an Attorney-at-Law and on leaving Excelsior, enrolled at the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus in Jamaica. While at the Mona Campus, Lorna still continued to record and released songs including “Letter from Miami”, “Chapel of Love”, “Run Johnny Run,” “Stay with You Awhile” and an album titled “This is Lorna.”
She then went to Barbados to complete year 2 and 3 of Law School and on her return to Jamaica in 1974 did only one other recording titled “Dancing to my Own
Heartbeat,” a Pluto Shervington original produced by Toney Scott, which was very popular.
Lorna then went back to the parish of Saint Elizabeth after completing Law School and set up a private practice there. She went into legal mode and never considered recording a priority at that time.
She however, continued to sing at Weddings, Funerals, shows for charity, Church and school functions.
She married Michael Ollivierre, a track coach and Calypso singer (now divorced) and had 2 children, Oje and Leann. Oje is now 24 years old and a DJ who calls himself “Protogé.” Leann 18 is studying Digital Media Production at the Arts Institute of Fort Lauderdale in Florida.
In 2001, Lorna felt the urge to return to music. Errol Wonder, a promoter, had approached her to do some Christmas Vintage shows he was putting on. She wavered, not being sure what the response would be. She finally relented and was surprised at the response she received.
This led to her performing at Heineken Star Time and shows in Florida and England. These shows opened her eyes and made her realize that there was still a niche out there for her type of music and Lorna decided to attempt a comeback into the musical arena.
She was directed by dub poet Yassus Afari to speak to Marcia Simpson of Ajang Music Production who gave her the necessary assistance in contacting Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare, who met with her and gave her some rhythms to work on.
Not being accustomed to writing on a rhythm, Lorna was quite concerned as to whether she would be able to master this art. However it proved quite easy as each rhythm brought new ideas and once the hooks were achieved it was smooth sailing.
She has since completed several recordings for Sly and Robbie, Ajang Music Production and Gibby and is presently working on her own productions including a remix of Breakfast in Bed which will feature a DJ. Songs will be chosen from these recordings to create her next Album slated to be released during 2005.
In December 2004, she released a single titled HOW U LIKE IT featuring SPRAGGA BENZ. This song is a steamy rendition, written by Spragga Benz & Lorna. It describes a subtle sexy invitation by a female (Lorna) to a man (Spragga Benz), whom she finds terribly attractive and irresistible, both physically and mentally. She wants to give herself to him and can't help asking him "How he likes it". Spragga Benz responds effectively while riding the rhythm with his mastery, stating the various ways in which he can be pleased.
Lorna hopes that this song will be as successful as Breakfast in Bed was and has already completed the music Video with Spragga Benz.
Definitely committed to re-embarking on her musical career, Lorna plans to put her all in promoting her music. She hopes that she will recapture her former fans and attract new ones in her quest for success with her music while still continuing to practice law, thereby engaging in her two chosen professions.
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