"This is my first album since I have become a star, since mi buss, so it is special in that respect, and she has always encouraged me to be the best, so this album is for her," Anthony Cruz said.

Cruz is feeling supremely confident about the direction of his career.

"It's just my time. My contract was up with my former label and I just decided that this was the way to go and the time to go," Cruz said.

"I was thinking about it for years and I believe that the time is right, I registered the company a year ago, so it was always in the works."

The company kicks off with some new releases on its Shan Shan label which are scheduled to hit the record racks soon on a new rhythm, 'The Formula' he developed with the Fire House Crew.

" The rhythm will feature a number of top artistes including Luciano, Richie Spice, Spanner Banner, Mikey General, Ras Shiloh and Cruz himself. He said that several more artistes will be added in time.

"I am still voicing, looking forward to getting Capleton and Buju Banton on it as well," he said.

The album, 'Mama's Blessing' is also named after an earlier single which will also be included among the tracks. Other tracks include his old favourites 'You Got It Bad', 'Turn It Up' as well as the bonafide #1 hits 'Too Bloody', 'No Gun A Dance', 'Respect People' and 'Half-Way-Tree'.
It is scheduled to hit the road by November.

Cruz says he has no fear about being able to balance his own singing career with a business. Setting himself up in the music business was always his goal, a goal he has been able to realise some five years after returning home from a long sojourn in the United States.

"As artistes, the business side is known to all of us. It is part of our business to know the business but, in any case, I won't be doing most of the work, I have a team to do that," he pointed. He noted that one area he will not be looking at immediately is that of artiste management; however, he says that if it becomes a necessity it will certainly be added.

Born to Rohan Smith in Mandeville, Manchester in 1974, Cruz is a nephew of the late Garnett Silk. He grew up in Mandeville, but left for the United States after graduating from Holmwood. He lived in New York with his parents before moving to Miami. While in Miami, he met veteran producer Willie Lindo who was so impressed with him he immediately signed him to his label and produced his debut single, an original titled Tell Me What's Up.

Cruz's first hit in Miami was Just Call My Name, which led to his debut album, Where There Is Love, produced by Lindo. But, it wasn't until he returned home in 1999 that Cruz really started to achieve the level of success he desired.

He covered G&B's 'Maria Maria' and was immediately recognised in as a star act. His other hits have included: 'You Got It Bad', 'Closer I Get To You', 'Single Once Again', 'Crazy Over You', 'Turn It Up', and 'I Pray'.

Now Cruz believes that he is about to capture an even wider audience when his latest single, Half-Way-Tree (Footsteps) is released. The song places him in the mould of our musical storytellers like Ernie Smith and Grub Cooper, with a story about what happens in the popular uptown meeting place, especially at nights. "If you go to Half-Way-Tree and you will know."

BOOKINGS FOR CRUZ ARE AT 432-3781