Wesley, originally, The Viceroys performed as The Interns for a while and there's also a different spelling of the band name: The Voiceroys.
Wesley Tinglin: "Well, what happened is that in those early days nothing much was happening for Viceroys, so we decided a name change would maybe give our music the boost we needed, resulting in us performing as The Interns for a while. We recorded a number of tracks and an album under that name for the Techniques label (the 'Consider Yourself' or 'Detour' album was actually recorded for Phill Pratt, red.), but when things started happening we reverted back to our old name. The spelling thing is just something some producers decided to do for some reason, but for us it has always been Viceroys."
One story explaining that different spelling is that it was to accentuate the great harmonies of your three voices.
Wesley Tinglin: "Yeah, I heard that as well and that might just as well have been the reason; I guess we'll never know for sure. (laughs)"
You guys started out at Studio One.
Wesley Tinglin: "Yeah, back in those days you'd go to do an audition at Studio One and the late Jackie Mittoo would be there listening. If he liked what he heard, he would get you into the studio to record you."
The Viceroys are part of that great tradition of vocal trios in Jamaica. Why was three always the golden number? Why not start a duo or even a quartet?
Wesley Tinglin: "It's all about the harmonies. With a trio you can have one lead vocalist, while the two remaining singers can do the harmonies. If it were only one singer doing the harmonies, it would sound completely different."
One Viceroys song we can't leave out talking about is 'Ya Ho', a very old pirate shanty you guys adapted. How did you come to record that tune?
Wesley Tinglin: "Well, that's a long story. When I was still a little boy I had read a book that contained some chapters about the Caribbean's whole pirate history; with figures like Captain Henry Morgan (Henry Morgan, ca. 1635 – 25 August 1688, was a Welsh Admiral and privateer, who made a name for activities in the Caribbean. He was one of the most notorious and successful privateers from Wales, and one of the most dangerous pirates who worked in the Spanish Main, red.), that whole period really fascinated me. When I learned about the song, those feelings of nostalgia resurfaced. We recorded the first version of 'Ya Ho' back in 1968 (at Studio One for Coxsone Dodd, red.)."
Over the years you haven't always worked in the music business. Neville (Ingram, red.) and yourself also had careers as goldsmiths, no?
Wesley Tinglin: "Yes, that is our trade. We've made jewellery for Helen Rickets and Lloyds Jewellery store, among others. I've stopped doing that now, but Neville is still active. Everybody can learn the trade, but you need the right tools to do the job; you need a gold mill and pliers and all that. The rough materials were always provided by the companies we worked for. As it goes, it's not a bad trade."
How did The Viceroys get involved in the whole Inna De Yard project?
Wesley Tinglin: "That happened through Winston McAnuff, who's a good friend of ours. I hadn't seen him for a long time, but then we met up again at Studio One one day and he told me about this project he was involved in. He asked us if we would be interested in participating, and the rest is history."
Inna De Yard is also a conscious project. Were The Viceroys a Rastafarian influenced outfit from the very beginning?
Wesley Tinglin: "My mother was a Rasta woman and so is Neville's, so we grew up in that culture, you know. Back in the day you didn't have all these different denominations, boboshanti, twelve tribes and what have you; the Rastafarians were still one set of people."
In conclusion, what is Viceroys all about?
Wesley Tinglin: "Viceroys is about making music and trying to put out some good songs. That's all we do! (laughs)"