Say the name Diana King and music fans the world over think, Shy Guy, the block buster three million worldwide selling single from her first album, the 6 Million selling CD ‘Tougher than Love’ comes to mind. Say “Kingsinga” and you get blank stares and the reaction, huh? King, whose new moniker is “Kingsinga” was a hit on two continents back in the 90’s when her name and monster jam, Shy Guy, which was certified gold in the US, crested at #13 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the US, #1 on the European Hot 100 chart and # 2 on the UK chart made her an house hold name across the globe. Shy Guy was also featured on the soundtrack of the movie Bad Boys, staring Will Smith and Martin Lawrence. Her last successful musical outing on this side of the Atlantic was in 1997 when her ‘Think like a Girl’ album entered Billboard’s Top Reggae Album chart at # 1 and her cover of “Say a Little Prayer for You”, featured on the soundtrack of the movie “My Best Friend’s wedding’, entered Billboard’s Hot 100 Top 40.
Diana’s soon to be released CD, the first in number of years, titled ‘Spanish Town Blues” is a tribute to her birthplace, Jamaica’s first capital, Spanish Town or Saint Jago Dela Vega. On ‘Spanish Town Blues, King, flexes her considerable production skills along with world renowned producer/musicians Sly and Robbie.
Senior writer Stan Evan Smith (jamaicans.com) talks to eclectic King about, her growing up, her music, being sexually abused as child in Jamaica, and the way females are treated in the music industry.