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

Click to find at amazon.com

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

Died On This Date (September 28, 2011) Leonard Dillon / Pioneering Reggae Singer For The Ethiopians

Leonard Dillon
December 9, 1942 – September 28, 2011

Leonard Dillon was known to reggae fans the world over as the founding lead singer of pioneering Jamaican ska and rocksteady group, the Ethiopians.  Formed during the mid ’60s, the Ethiopians cut their first records for legendary Jamaican producer, Coxsone Dodd, who had already recorded a handful of tracks by Dillon but under the name, Jack Sparrow.  Over the next several years, Dillon and the Ethiopians released a collection of songs that went on to influence countless ska and reggae acts to come.  That list includes “Train To Skaville,” “Everything Crash,” and “The Whip.”  Dillon has also been credited for introducing more socially conscious lyrics to reggae.  As reported in the Jamaica Observer, Leonard Dillon was 69 when he passed away on September 28, 2011.  He had been suffering from lung and prostate cancer.

What You Should Own

Click to find at amazon.com

Train to Skaville - Anthology 1966 to 1975 - The Ethiopians

Died On This Date (August 16, 2011) Joel Chin / A&R Exec For VP Records; Murdered In Jamaica

Joel Chin
DOB Unknown – August 16, 2011

Joel Chin was the Director of A&R for the family run reggae dynasty known as VP Records.  Founded in New York City in 1979 by Chin’s Jamaican-born grandparents, Patricia and Vincent Chin, VP has grown into the world’s largest independent reggae label. Its name has become synonymous with contemporary roots reggae, dancehall and soca.  During the mid ’90s, Chin joined the family business – his father is legendary reggae producer, Clive Chin who has worked with Black Uhuru and Augustus Pablo, to name a few.  The younger Chin quickly became instrumental to the careers of Beenie Man, Beres Hammond, Sizzla, and Sean Paul whose Dutty Rock album has sold in excess of 7 million copies.  Chin is also credited with creating the wildly successful reggae compilation series, Reggae Gold and Simply The Best, the genre’s answers to the NOW That’s What I Call Music pop collections.  In 2009, Chin moved to Jamaica to work more directly with the label’s artists.  During the late night hours of August 16, 2011, 35-year-old Joel Chin was stepping out of his car in front his Kingston home when he was fatally shot in the head in what initially appeared to have been an ambush.  The assailant or assailants quickly vanished into the night and authorities were not immediately aware of any motive for the killing.



Died On This Date (May 12, 2011) Lloyd Knibb / Longtime Drummer For The Skatalites

Lloyd Knibb
March 8, 1931 – May 12, 2011

Lloyd Knibb is best remembered as the longtime drummer for influential Jamaican ska band, the Skatalites.  Helping to form the group in 1964, Knibb was their for the early development of ska, a form of Caribbean music that included elements of calypso, mento, American jazz, and R&B that was the foundation of reggae.  The Skatalites’ biggest hit was “Guns Of Navarone.”   Knibb began his career during the 1940s when he played in various Jamaican jazz bands. That lead to session work for legendary producer Coxsone Dodd and recordings for the likes of reggae pioneers, Duke Reid and Prince Buster.  He provided the back beat for the Skatalites from their inception in 1964 until their break up just a year later, and then from their much heralded 1983 reunion at Reggae Sunsplash until the time of his death.  He performed his last show with the band in April of 2011.  On May 12, 2011, Lloyd Knibb died of liver cancer.  He was 80.

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

What You Should Own

Click to find at amazon.com