Growing up in Olympia, I hit up the Backstage, heard weird little bands come out of garages and had an ear on ska, but it wasn't until I lived a stint in northern California that I got the stroke of true reggae against my soul. Maybe it was the connection between all the ganja that comes out of Humboldt. Maybe it was the sunshine or the Redwoods or the Pacific Ocean. Ultimately, it wasn't until I moved away from Oly that I was able to open my heart to reggae.

While it has been an honor to talk with Chris Ballew of Presidents of the United States of America, Calvin Johnson of K Records and other masters of the art of music, it was an overwhelming honor to interview Clinton Fearon, a reggae legend who, for more than 40 years, has opened hearts with his powerful messages and soulful music.

Fresh off a tour in France, Fearon and his wife, Catherine, chat with me via Skype and discuss his new acoustic album, Heart and Soul, his tour, the weather, the legalization of marijuana and of course, positive vibrations.

Heart and Soul racks up the acoustic versions of songs Jamaican roots reggae band The Gladiators performed in the '70s when Fearon played bass and sung. It's a nostalgic, yet refreshing collection. In a world of mass consumption and more, more, more attitudes, the acoustics are a revitalizing pull back to simpler sounds.

"It's a way of coming back to Earth quickly," says Clinton, his Jamaican upbringing rounding out the edges of his words.

"Heart and Soul is new so a lot of people are talking about Mi an' Mi Guitar. It's very simple, just guitar and voice," adds Catherine.

The guitar that they refer to is a 1957 Martin and is the perfect catalyst for his messages of love and good will. 

"It's a sweet little guitar," says Clinton. "I've been playing this one for awhile."

Clinton says his tour in France was like a dream, as he was able to combine members from both The Gladiators and his current group, the Boogie Brown Band.

Back in Seattle, where the Fearons live, they will hunker down for a bit after playing the Northwest and before going on a solo acoustic tour in England.

When I ask if it's hard to get a groove on when it's getting so effing cold outside, Clinton laughs heartily and answers simply, "When you have love in your heart - when it's right beside you - no matter the weather you get your groove on."

The conversation switches as I ask him his thoughts on Initiative 502, the legalization of marijuana.

Clinton laughs even more heartily and then says seriously, "I think it's very necessary. I think its medicine."

He shares with me that he has survived cancer (when I congratulate him, he playfully replies, "you're welcome") and that herb helped him through.

"The doctor prescribed me Marinol for pain, I think it cost 70 bucks, and I tried to be polite, but smoking is much better, apart from smoking the thing is good for many different reasons."

The conversation then picks up about positivity, about being happy.

"You know my thoughts are always that I run into unhappy people, meaning they are not doing something, or doing too much of something, or not paying attention to something they need to do for themselves," says Clinton. "If your spirit is down and your soul is empty - find something that you love, and do it from the bottom of your heart - even if you have to do it all hours of the day. Just do it.

"My own experience is the more I do what I love, the happier it makes me feel," he continues. "I'm not getting rich, but I'm surviving. I laugh, I smile, I feel my worth. When someone says they love my music so much, that's my pay. That is rich. Do what you love, love what you do." 

Catch Clinton Fearon and the Boogie Brown Band doing what they love this Friday, Nov. 16 at The Olympia Ballroom and next Saturday, Nov. 24 at Jazzbones in Tacoma.

THE OLYMPIA BALLROOM, WITH DJ LOVE SELECTOR, FRIDAY, NOV. 16, 9 P.M., ALL AGES, $15 AT RAINY DAY RECORDS OR BROWN PAPER TICKETS, 116 LEGION WAY SW, OLYMPIA, 360.359.8636