Siccaturie Alcock, p/k/a Jah Cure, is recognized today as “The Prince of Reggae.” From the age of three music constantly reverberated through his small frame, slowly hypnotizing the souls of all those who listen to his universal healing voice.
Born in Hanover, Jamaica on October 11, 1978, the young man with the voice of a canary snuck out of his bedroom window late at night to visit local dance halls and stage shows. At times, he also visited the annual Reggae Sunsplash shows in his community. At these shows he saw the great Reggae icons performing … Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Burning Spear, Beres Hammond, Marcia Griffith, Garnett Silk, Yami Bolo, Jacob Miller and Black Uhuru … and, by the age of eleven, Jah Cure made the decision he wanted to become part of that elite group. Becoming a reggae star and an icon was his dream and his sole mission. Initially using the name “Little Melody,” Siccaturie began his musical onslaught on the public. He soon became the talk of Jamaica and was well on his way to success. His voice started to leave an indelible impression in the streets, and at the age of fifteen, he moved to Kingston, where he met Capleton, Sizzla and Jah Mason. Little Melody was starting to fulfil his dream.
Capleton, the world renowned Jamaican artist, and the David House Crew later bestowed on Siccaturie the name Jah Cure … primarily because of the vast amount of herb he smoked … a daily custom of his Rastafarian religion. The symbolism was obvious … the singer looked young and healthy … and he was “well preserved,” as in “WELL CURED,” using the plants of the land for medicinal purposes. It was at this time that Cure became enlightened spiritually and his belief in living naturally became heightened.
Jamaican music icon Beres Hammond subsequently took Cure under his wing and began mentoring him in the studio and producing him. However, Cure’s studio education and musical journey would be suddenly and unexpectedly interrupted. His growing success took a radical turn in 1998 when he was stopped and arrested late one night in Montego Bay. Cure was charged with four crimes, all of which he has vehemently denied. He has maintained his innocence to this day all through his arrest, trial and incarceration. A non-jury trial was convened, and Cure’s lawyer unsuccessfully based his defence on the “Identification vs. Recognition” case law. Unfortunately, based on one victim’s claim that she could not visually identify Cure, but he sounded like one of the perpetrators, Cure was sentenced in 1999 to 15 years in prison.
While in jail, Cure recorded and released several records, many of which topped the charts as # 1 singles. Two songs, “Jamaica,” produced by DZ Productions and “Longing For,” produced by Don Carleon, both hit # 1 on the Jamaican reggae charts and were international hits. Cure’s first album, “FREE JAH’S CURE,” was recorded in jail and subsequently released in 2001, approximately one year after he began his incarceration.
It is a project that has been lyrically compared to Bob Marley’s “EXODUS.” On that first album, Cure gives thanks for life while spreading love through his music. He believes his incarceration was Jah’s way of teaching him humility, kindness, forgiveness and love for his fellow man. Consequently, he has forgiven all those who have done him wrong, and all those who have judged him unjustly and unfairly. While still in jail in 2003, Beres Hammond produced Cure’s second album, “GHETTO LIFE,” which featured the single “Divide and Rule.” This song, a duet with Sizzla, was voted the best song of that year.
As Jah Cure’s records saturated the airwaves globally many took up the call for his release from prison. After many international appeals to the Jamaican government, eventually, after serving eight years in jail, Cure was released from prison on July 28, 2007. On the first day of his release and freedom from prison Cure publicly stated that his only remaining goal for the rest of his life was to spread love and to promote peace and healing, universally through his music.
Since his release in 2007 Jah Cure has topped the music charts with three # 1 singles. First, it started with Call on Me featuring his label mate Phyllisia, followed with You’ll Never Find, and presently the # 1 smash, Unconditional Love. His new single, Like I See It, featuring Rick Ross, and the re-mix with dance hall king Mavado, are starting to rock the international clubs and dance halls across the reggae diaspora. This record is destined to be his fourth # 1 consecutive single.
Cure’s new album, “WORLD CRY,” is his second recorded album since his release from prison. It is scheduled to be released at the most appropriate time. The first single off that album, “Unconditional Love,” recorded with his label mate, recently shot to the top of the charts and became the # 1 Reggae single worldwide. That collaboration was the first of many for Cure on the upcoming album. The album contains collaborations with Tupac, Keri Hilson, Mavado, MDMA, Rick Ross, Jazmine Sullivan, Shyne and several others, crossing the reggae, hip-hop, Latin, Pop and R&B genres.
