I met Zola in 1997 when he was the Tour Manager for The Spirit of Unity Tour and I was working for Buju Banton. He gave my Mom a pair of sandals on that tour (that she still has today) and she always asks me how her friend Zola is doing. My last 3 years back at VP Records, gave me the privilege again to work with Zola as he has been with Beres Hammond as his Tour Manager for many years. I have so many great memories on the road with Zola, Beres, Mervis and the crew. They are the true sense of a Reggae family.
As many know (Maxi Priest, Roberta Flack, and the list goes on), Zola’s hard work, commitment and knowledge of the music made him one of the best in the business. There will NEVER be another like him. He will truly be missed!
Until we meet again, My Dear Zola, May You Rest in Peace!
Cristy Barber, VP Records
To lean more about Zola Burse, click here.
I met Zola back in the mid eighties through a friend ‘Popcorn’ who then worked with ‘New Kids on the Block’,'Lionel Ritchie’ and ‘Luther’,the little time i got to meet and be in the presence Zola i found him very much a smart and knowledgeable person and i ocassionally asked my friend Popcorn about Zola over the years,in the short time knowing him i liked him and enjoyed his presence,Zola i haven’t seen him for years but will never forget meeting him sincerely he was an inspiration if you were in the music business,we’ll miss you Zola sincerely your friend,Emmett North Jr.
I worked as Zola’s production assistant on that Sprit of Unity tour. I’d lost contact with him over the years and was just thinking to look him up again when I found your post. I learned so much from him about how the music world really works (ie not according to the glossy words in contracts)…I think of him often now that I am a lawyer myself and I believe my clients benefit from my Zola reality training. RIP Zola, I’m certain your hanging out with the best in the green room of Heaven.