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As we enter black history month, Davina Morris salutes some of reggae music’s past pioneers

IT’S impossible not to think of the late great Bob Marley when considering reggae icons. But, of course, there were countless artists before and since Marley who made a massive impact on the Jamaica-born genre.

Though not a music form widely regarded by the mainstream media (in Britain at least), reggae remains a popular and powerful genre, with the ability to inspire, uplift, make you want to move your feet and much more. Whether you enjoy female empowerment from Queen Ifrica; love songs from Tarrus Riley; or danceable tunes from Beenie Man, reggae is a varied and exciting music form. And with the genre continually churning out new talents, it is sure to have an exciting future.

But of course, there’s no present or future without a past. And with that in mind, we pay homage to some of reggae music’s lost legends.

Dennis Brown, 1957-1999

DUBBED ‘the crown prince of reggae’, Dennis Brown was regarded as ‘the people’s choice’. Though his career didn’t boast an abundance of mainstream successes, Brown was said to be an artist who performed for his public, and not with the intent of earning pop star status. However, he did achieve international acclaim when, in 1977, he scored a hit with the track, Money In My Pocket. He enjoyed later success with the gorgeous ballad, Love Has Found Its Way. He died on July 1, 1999 from lung failure related to pneumonia and heart failure. Brown recorded over 75 albums in his career, and was a great inspiration for future generations of reggae singers.

Alton Ellis, 1938-2008

THE ‘godfather of rocksteady’ Alton Ellis is famed for hits including I’m Still In Love and I’m Just A Guy. Though he originally recorded R’n’B-driven music for producer Coxsonne Dodd, Ellis found his niche when the rocksteady movement began to develop. His hit tune, the aptly titled, Rock Steady, was the first track to actually name the newly formed genre, and his 1967 album Mr. Soul of Jamaica is regarded as one of the definitive albums of the genre. He relocated to England in the 1970s, where he set up a south London-based record shop called Alltone, followed by a record label of the same name. In 1994, he was awarded the Order of Distinction by the Jamaican government in recognition of his achievements. He died of cancer on October 10, 2008, aged 70.

Desmond Dekker, 1941-2006

DESMOND Dekker, along with his group The Aces, had one of the first international reggae hits with the 1969 song Israelites, which topped the UK charts. Dekker moved to the UK in the 1970s and later recorded the hit You Can Get It If You Really Want, written by Jimmy Cliff. Regarded as one of the most popular reggae artists before the ascent of Bob Marley, Dekker is also well-known for his hit, 007 Shanty Town. His popularity received a fresh boost in the ‘90s when a UK advertising campaign for sunflower margarine Vitalite, used a parody of Israelites in a TV advert. He died from a heart attack on May 25, 2006.

Peter Tosh, 1944-1987

ORIGINALLY a member of The Wailers, along with Bob Marley and Bunny Wailer, Peter Tosh is one of reggae’s most celebrated singers/musicians. With The Wailers – and with production from the legendary Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry – Tosh recorded early reggae hits like Soul Rebel and Duppy Conquerer. The group went on to sign a record contract with Chris Blackwell, founder of Island Records, and released the massive albums Catch A Fire and Burnin’. Following a dispute with Blackwell, Tosh left The Wailers and pursued a solo career. His solo debut single, Legalize It, soon became an anthem for supporters of marijuana legalisation. Well-known for his rebellious and militant streak, Tosh regularly vented against the system, which he dubbed ‘the sh*t-stem’. At the 1988 Grammy Awards, he received a gong for his album No Nuclear War. However, the award was posthumous, as the star was murdered in his home in Jamaica on September 11, 1987. He was 42.

Garnett Silk, 1966-1994

HAVING died at the young age of 28, Garnett Silk packed a lot of material into a relatively short-lived career. Born Garnet Damion Smith, it was a meeting with production wizards Steely and Clevie that earned him the name Garnet silk, when the producers decided that the name reflected the singer’s smooth vocals. Silk signed his first recording contract with Steely & Clevie Productions and began recording his first album in 1990. The recording sessions only spawned one song, a collaboration with Chevelle Franklin entitled We Could Be Together. However, after meeting with producer Courtney Cole, Silk went on to release the popular tracks Nothing Can Divide Us, Mama and Seven Spanish Angels. He went on to work with producer, Bobby ‘Digital’ Dixon, and finally, in 1992, he released his debut album, It’s Growing. The album received huge acclaim, with many critics hailing Silk ‘the next Bob Marley’. He later released the massive single Hello Africa, which became an international hit. Sadly though, his rising success was cut short when, in 1994, he was killed in a house fire, after reportedly rushing into the house in an attempt to save his mother from the blaze. Tragically, neither of them survived. But Silk’s music has been kept alive through numerous tributes, and in 2000, Atlantic Records released The Definitive Collection, showcasing ten tracks the singer had recorded during sessions for his unfinished second album.

Lucky Dube, 1964-2007

THE celebrated South African star began his reggae career having drawn inspiration from the social and political messages of artists like of Jimmy Cliff and Peter Tosh. Keen to suppress anti-apartheid activism in South Africa, the apartheid regime banned Dube’s 1984 album Rastas Never Die. But the singer was undeterred and in 1985 he released his second album Think About The Children, which went on to reach platinum status. He continued to release commercially successful albums, and his 1996 compilation album Serious Reggae Business, led to him being named the best selling African recording artist at the World Music Awards. A popular performer, Dube appeared at the Live 8 event in South Africa in 2005. In 2007, he released what would be his final album, Respect. In October that year, he was shot dead by car thieves. Remembered as one of the apartheid regime's most outspoken critics, Dube remains loved and respected both in his homeland and throughout the world.

Coxsone Dodd, 1932-2004

ONE of the most revered, respected and influential reggae producers of all time, Coxsone Dodd nurtured the careers of countless reggae stars. An integral force in the development of ska, Dodd’s contribution to reggae is immeasurable. He began on the soundsystem circuit, setting up his own Downbeat Sound System, before setting up the world-renowned Studio One recording studio, located on Brentford Road in Kingston. It was here, in 1964, that The Wailers recorded the Dodd-produced track, Simmer Down, which was a number one hit in Jamaica. Throughout the years, Dodd attracted some of the best of Jamaican talent to his studio, including Burning Spear, Delroy Wilson and Sugar Minott. On May 1, 2004 Brentford Road was renamed Studio One Boulevard in a ceremony which paid tribute to Dodd’s accomplishments as a producer. Tragically, he died of a sudden heart attack four days later. He was posthumously awarded the Order of Distinction in the rank of Commander on October 15, 2007, for service to the Jamaica music industry.

Wycliffe ‘Steely’ Johnson, 1962-2009

A celebrated keyboardist and producer, Wycliffe ‘Steely’ Johnson – known simply as Steely – was one half of the production duo Steely and Clevie, along with his longtime musical partner Cleveland ‘Clevie’ Browne. Together, the pair helped to modernise the dancehall genre with their early embrace of digital studio technology. Steely first drew acclaim as a keyboardist on Sugar Minott's 1978 album Ghetto-ology. He also he played keyboard on Bob Marley's recording of Trench Town. But it was along with Clevie that he scored a huge international hit in 1994, producing You Don’t Love Me (No No No) as recorded by Dawn Penn. The pair later scored a hit with the Sean Paul and Sasha collaboration, I’m Still In Love. Among the many other countless artists Steely and Clevie worked with are Dennis Brown, Jimmy Cliff, Beenie Man and Billy Ocean. Steely died following a heart attack on September 1, 2009.

Byron Lee, 1935-2008

THE much-loved musician and producer is best-known for his work as leader of the ska band Byron Lee and the Dragonaires. The band formed in college and went on to score hits including Jamaican Ska, Tiney Winey and Give Me Soca. Lee is often credited for introducing the electric bass to Jamaica, which in turn, changed the sound of Jamaican music, especially after Skatalites bassist Lloyd Brevett took a liking to it. Lee also worked as a producer, creating many of the ska singles by The Maytals. In 1990, he inaugurated what became an annual event, the Byron Lee Jamaica Carnival. Lee was awarded the Order of Distinction in 1982, upgraded to Commander level on 15 October 2007, in recognition of his contribution in the fields of Music and Entertainment both locally and internationally. On November 4, 2008 Lee died, following a battle with cancer. Jamaican Prime Minister Bruce Golding paid tribute to Lee, calling him “One of the greatest band leaders ever to grace the entertainment stages of the world.”

Mikey Dread, 1954-2008

A singer, producer and broadcaster, Mikey Dread was a true innovator in reggae music. After college, he started out as an engineer with the Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation (JBC). Unimpressed by the company’s bland playlists, he convinced his JBC bosses to give him his own radio program called Dread At The Controls, where he played nothing but reggae. From there, he went on to earn a solid reputation as a singer and producer and began recording his own material. Distinctive albums include as Dread at the Controls, Evolutionary Rockers and World War III. Campbell's music attracted the attention of British punk rockers The Clash, who invited him over to England to produce some of their music. He went on to produce the group’s single, Bankrobber and through touring with them, gained many UK fans along the way. A competent performer, he did live appearances with acts including UB40, Bob Dylan, Carlos Santana and Macka B. In October 2007, it was announced he was being treated for a brain tumour. He died on March 15, 2008 aged 53.

Published: 27 September 2009
Issue: 1391

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