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One Jamaican artist that has all but 'disappeared' is Gregory Isaacs, 'The Cool Ruler', a man who refused to bow to the major labels and started his own studio at The African Museum Shop in Kingston. Isaacs cut his first record at a Kingston studio in the late1960s aged around 18.
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Advantages: Great Voice and Persona Disadvantages: Rarely heard now in Mainstream
...has all but 'disappeared' is Gregory Isaacs, 'The Cool Ruler', a man who refused to bow to the major labels and started his own studio at The African Museum Shop in Kingston. Isaacs cut his first record at a Kingston studio in the late1960s aged around 18.
This singer, with his rich, crooning voice was to make a big name for himself in Jamaica, the UK and even the US when the heavy Rockers Reggae gave way to the more sensual Lovers ... ...little later, Dancehall took over Gregory made a seamless transition to the genre in a brilliant come-back. This should come as no surprise because this was Gangsta' music and Isaacs was a true Rude Boy and took to it like a duck to water.
Yes, Isaacs was a product of the shanties as were Peter Tosh and Marley and he stood no nonsense. You had to be tough to survive in Trenchtown and Isaacs, apparently, always met visitors on the doorstep ... more
It's rather unfortunate that Bob Marley was taken on by Island Records as I'm sure that history would have consigned Bob and the Wailers to the voluminous dustbin of Jamaican music had it been otherwise. As it is, many great reggae singers have missed their chance and drifted into obscurity, overshadowed by Chris Blackwell's creation, Bob Marley.
One Jamaican artist that has all but 'disappeared' is Gregory Isaacs, 'The Cool Ruler', a man who refused to bow to the major labels and started his own studio at The African Museum Shop in Kingston. Isaacs cut his first record at a Kingston studio in the late1960s aged around 18.
This singer, with his rich, crooning voice was to make a big name for himself in Jamaica, the UK and even the US when the heavy Rockers Reggae gave way to the more sensual Lovers Rock towards the end of the 1970s. This suited the subtle tones of Isaacs' voice to a tee and he was soon driving the women crazy with desire in the Carribean and Europe. Some of Isaacs' songs from this era are classics: Night Nurse (later covered by Sly & Robbie), Permanent Lover, Let's Dance, and My Only Lover.
When, a little later, Dancehall took over Gregory made a seamless transition to the genre in a brilliant come-back. This should come as no surprise because this was Gangsta' music and Isaacs was a true Rude Boy and took to it like a duck to water.
Yes, Isaacs was a product of the shanties as were Peter Tosh and Marley and he stood no nonsense. You had to be tough to survive in Trenchtown and Isaacs, apparently, always met visitors on the doorstep with an array of abusive threats and a rusty old knife. This Tosh had failed to do on one occasion and was shot dead in 1987, when he unwittingly answered the door to a gunman.
Notable recordings from Isaacs in the Dancehall era were ‘Rumours’ and ‘Rude Boy in a Penitentiary’ - both refer to the ‘Gangsta' lifestyle for which the singer was gaoled on at least one occasion.
Although Isaacs has drifted from the limelight somewhat over the years he has continued recording and releasing albums. The voice is now broken and crooked (by over-use of cannabis?) but this seems not to have dented his appeal and may, indeed, have boosted that appeal.
A new release by Isaacs (2005) on RAS records ‘Gregory Isaacs sings Dennis Brown’ covers a catalogue of songs written by his long-term friend, the late Dennis Brown.
