Dobby Dobson was a Jamaican reggae singer and record producer.
His signature song was “Loving Pauper” (c. 1970)
Tag Archives: reggae
RIP Millie “My Boy Lollipop” Small (1947 – 2020)
Millie Small was the singer of “My Boy Lollipop” (1964), her only hit.
She was the first Jamaican artist to break through to an international audience.
Did this mean international recognition for ska and reggae?
Well, not exactly, “My Boy Lollipop” was considered a novelty song rather than ska or reggae.
Thus reggae’s invasion into the mainstream actually only began that same year in the United Kingdom with songs such as “Al Capone” (1964) and “Guns of Navarone” (1964).
But in the United States, the wait was for 1969 with “The Israelites” (1968) to give reggae international repute and recognition.
RIP Bob Andy (1944 – 2020)
Bob Andy was a Jamaican singer-songwriter famous for compositions like “Feel Like Jumping” (1968) and “Life” (1972).
“Life” is compiled on Nova Classics volume 1.
RIP Glen Brown (1943/1944 – 2019)
Glen Brown was a Jamaican musician known for his work in dub music.
RIP Keith Flint (1969 – 2019)
Keith Flint was an English vocalist and dancer associated with the electronic dance act The Prodigy.
He contributed to “Out of Space” (1992) which sampled the classic reggae track “Chase the Devil” (1976) by Max Romeo, which was produced by Lee Scratch Perry.
That track featured the Afrofuturist lines “I’m gonna send him to outa space, to find another race.”
RIP Lonnie Simmons (date of birth unknown – 2019)
RIP Lonnie Simmons, American record producer (“Don’t Stop the Music“).
Lonnie Simmons was an American record producer best-known for co-writing “Don’t Stop the Music” (1978).
In 1981, the song was successfully covered by Bits & Pieces [above].
Another reggae hero dies violently
RIP Style Scott, Jamaican drummer, famous for playing in the Roots Radics and, later, with Dub Syndicate.
Above: Scientist Meets the Space Invaders (the cover and concept is an example of black science fiction).
The number of reggae musicians who have died of crime violence is high (think King Tubby and Henry “Junjo” Lawes).
It has parallels with the violence in hip hop (think 2Pac, think The Notorious B.I.G.).
Both are fueled by machismo and have homophobia and misogyny as side effect (see homophobia and black music and misogyny in hip hop culture).
RIP Prince Jazzbo (1951 – 2013)
Prince Jazzbo toasting on “Croaking Lizard“
Linval Roy Carter (3 September 1951–11 September 2013), better known as Prince Jazzbo, was a Jamaican reggae and dancehall deejay and producer.
“Croaking Lizard” is a musical composition by Lee Perry, published on the 1976 Super Ape album.
On this recording, Prince Jazzbo is heard chanting (toasting is what the Jamaicans call it) over the “Chase the Devil” riddim. The lyrics are largely nonsensical. Shards of texts I recognize are “on the river bank” and what I believe is “it’s slippery out there.”
Super Ape is a seminal recording in the history of 20th century music.