Warrior King last performed in Bermuda 16 years ago, alongside veteran artists Freddie McGregor and Glen Washington. He returns to the BAA gymnasium on Saturday for a concert marking Bob Marley’s birthday.

“Bermuda is a beautiful place with a lot of beautiful people and what I remembered most is the lovely hospitality and the warm reception I got,” said Warrior King, who will perform with roots singer Aaron Silk. “I can’t remember everything but what I remember is Bermuda is a place I’ve always wanted to revisit.”

Those who come out should expect “total and complete excitement and love plus a ton of positive energy”, he added.

The 36-year-old artist is in the middle of an American tour promoting his fifth album, The Rootz Warrior. It is scheduled for release by Zojak Worldwide this month.

While most of his shows are performed in the US and Europe, Warrior King said building and maintaining a base in the Caribbean was critical.

“Well, the Caribbean link is important because I’m from Jamaica and we as Caribbean people have a lot in common, especially the music we sing; the people can relate to it as well,” he said.

“We face the same struggles and share the same aspirations.”

Despite that, he was proud to hear that Barack Obama was a fan. The US President named Warrior King and Bob Marley as his all-time favourite reggae artists in an interview with CNN.

“I was speechless at first,” the singer said. “To be honest, it is an overwhelming feeling to this day be acknowledged by the President of the USA and in the same breath as the great Bob Marley.”

The Rootz Warrior is his first album in five years. He worked with European and Jamaican producers in a bid to broaden his audience.

Warrior King co-produced the lead track, Ain’t Giving Up. I Wouldn’t do That, with Beres Hammond, is produced by one of Jamaica’s top producers, Colin “Bulby” York. Walboomers Music from the Netherlands produced Heartbreakers, his collaboration with Richie Spice.

Born Mark Dyer in Clarendon, a rural parish in south-central Jamaica, Warrior King hit the boards in a big way 14 years ago with Virtuous Woman and Never Go Where Pagans Go.

He said his love for women inspired him to write Virtuous Woman.

“First my mum and [then] women in general and the teaching of the Holy Bible and also the teaching of His Majesty,” he said. “And also knowing that woman are the cradle of civilisation.”

As for the so-called neo-roots-revival taking place in Jamaica, led by the charismatic Chronixx, Warrior King has encouraging words: “Great, great, great!

“I love to see when the youths them keep it positive, they are all Rootz Warriors.”