Reggae

Died On This Date (January 31, 2012) King Stitt / Legendary Jamaican DeeJay

King Stitt (Born Winston Spark)
September 17, 1940 – January 31, 2012

King Stitt was, until the time of his passing, recognized as Jamaica’s oldest living deejay.  Stitt’s career dated back to the mid ’50s when he began deejaying for the legendary Coxsone Dodd on his Sound System.  Before he knew it, Stitt was releasing such influential deejay tracks as “Lee Van Cleef,” “Dance Beat,” and “Fire Corner” with such producers as Clancy Eccles and of course, Dodd himself.  In recent years, Stitt was featured in the The Studio One Story documentary and the to-be-released Legends Of Ska concert doc.   King Stitt was 71 when he passed away on January 31, 2012.  Cause of death was not immediately released.

Thanks to Eric Foss at Secret Stash Records for the assist.

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King Stitt

Died On This Date (January 19, 2012) Winston Riley / Jamaican Musician & Producer

Winston Riley
1946 – January 19, 2012

Winston Riley was an influential and pioneering reggae musician, singer, and producer.  Born in Kingston, Riley was just 16 when he formed his first group, the Techniques.  The vocal outfit went on to work with such producers as Byron Lee and Duke Reid before splitting up in 1968.  It was then that Riley formed his own record label and began producing other artists.  Over the next several years, he worked with the likes of the Escorts, Alton Ellis, and Johnny Osbourne.  One of his early productions, 1971’s “Double Barrel” as recorded by Dave and Ansel Collins, is considered one of Jamaica’s first international hits for reaching #1 on both the British and Dutch charts.  In fact, Riley is widely considered one of the first people to introduce reggae to England.  He also produced one of reggae’s most influential albums, the 1979 General Echo release, The Slackest.  The list of artists who can give Riley some credit for their success includes Gregory Isaacs, Buju Banton, Sister Nancy, Cutty Ranks, and Frankie Paul. In August of 2011, Riley was stabbed, and then a month later, he was shot in the head.  As of the early months following the incidents, police had not apprehended any suspects nor determined motive.  On January 19, 2012, Winston Riley died of complications from the shooting.  He was 65.

What You Should Own

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Reggae Anthology: Winston Riley - Quintessential Techniques Disc 1 - Various Artists

Died On This Date (January 19, 2012) Errol Scorcher / Jamaican Raggae Deejay

Errol Scorcher (Born Errol Archer)
1956 – January 19, 2012

Errol Scorcher was a popular Jamaican deejay who built his following while working several soundsystems during the ’70s.  In 1978, he joined Prince Jammy’s Tapetown soundsystem which went on to become of Jamaica’s most popular.  Scorcher released albums like Rasta Fire, Unity Showcase, and Roach In De Corner.    The list of his hit singles includes “Roach In De Corner,” Frog In A Water,” and “Mosquitoes.”  On January 19, 2012, Earl Scorcher died after a blood vessel ruptured in his head.  He was 55.

Thanks to Henk de Bruin at 2+ Printing for the assist.



Died On This Date (December 3, 2011) Philip “Fatis” Burrell / Prolific Jamaican Record Producer

Philip “Fatis” Burell
July 23, 1954 – December 3, 3011

Philip “Fatis” Burrell was a well-respected reggae producer, artist manager, and owner of the influential label, Xterminator Records.  By most accounts, he was one of the most successful producers of the modern reggae era.  Burrell’s first credit was likely as producer of Sugar Minott’s “More Dogs To The Bone” in 1984.  Around that time, he also started his first label, Kings & Lions.  A couple of years later, Burrell launched Vena Records where he helped launch the careers of Sanchez and Pinchers.  He also released records by such established greats as Gregory Isaacs and Frankie Paul on Vena.  Over the course of his career, Burrell also worked with – either as their label head, producer, or manager –  Luciano, Sizzla, Cocoa Tea, Ras Shiloh, and Everton Blender, to name a few.   On December 3, 2011, Philip “Fatis” Burrell passed away from complications of a mild stroke he suffered two weeks earlier.  He was 57.

Thanks to Harold Lepidus for the assist.



Died On This Date (November 23, 2011) Barry Llewellyn / Founder Of The Heptones

Barry Llewellyn
1947 – November 23, 2011

Barry Llewellyn was the co-founder of influential Jamaican reggae trio, the Heptones.  Formed with Earl Morgan while still teens during the late ’50s,  the vocal group, which soon included Leroy Sibbles, went on to record some of the most significant records in the reggae history.  They have been cited as being largely responsible for slowing the beat of ska down to the less energetic rocksteady, which in turn spawned reggae.  Their three-part harmonies can be heard on such records as “I’ve Got A Felling, “Suspicious Minds,”  “Get In The Groove”, and “Fatty Fatty,” which became their first hit on Jamaican radio.  Many of their early songs were recorded by the legendary Coxsone Dodd at his Studio One, while later albums were made for Island Records, including Night Food, which was produced by Lee “Scratch” Perry.  The group continued to tour and record throughout the ’70s, but had disbanded by the dawn of the 1980s.  The Heptones reunited in 1995 to help bolster a ska and rocksteady revival.  Barry Llewellyn, who was 64, passed away in a Kingston hospital on November 23, 2011.  Cause of death was not immediately released.

Thanks to Henk de Bruin at 2+ Printing for the assist.

What You Should Own

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The Meaning of Life - Best of the Heptones (1966-1976) - The Heptones