King Jammy

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King Jammy
King Jammy at Amazura night club in New York, May 27th, 2007.jpg
King Jammy in 2007
Background information
Birth nameLloyd Woodrowe James [1]
Born (1947-10-26) 26 October 1947 (age 76)
Montego Bay, Jamaica
Genres
Occupation(s)Record producer
Labels VP Records, Greensleeves Records, King Jammy's,

Lloyd Woodrowe James (born 26 October 1947), [2] better known as Prince Jammy or King Jammy, is a Jamaican dub mixer and record producer. He began his musical career as a dub master at King Tubby's recording studio. His dubs are known for their clear sound and use of effects. [3]

Contents

Biography

After earning money from building amplifiers and repairing electrical equipment from his mother's house in Waterhouse in the late 1960s, he started his own sound system. [4] He also built equipment for other local systems. [4] After leaving Jamaica to work in Canada for a few years in the early 1970s, he returned to Kingston in 1976 and set up his own studio at his in-laws' home in Waterhouse, [4] and released a couple of Yabby You productions. [2] When Phillip Smart left King Tubby's team to work in New York City, Jammy replaced him, getting to work with Bunny Lee and Yabby You. [4]

In the late 1970s he began to release his own productions, including the debut album from Black Uhuru in 1977. [4] In the 1980s, he became one of the most influential producers of dancehall music. His biggest hit was 1985's "Under Me Sleng Teng" by Wayne Smith, with an entirely digital rhythm hook. Many credit this song as being the first "digital riddim" in reggae, leading to the modern dancehall era. Later into 1980s, Jammy improvised Reggae and Dancehall, he digitalized old riddims, like Real Rock, and Far East. King Jammy then began working with top artists in Jamaica throughout the 1980s and 1990s such as Admiral Bailey, Admiral Tibet, Chaka Demus, Frankie Paul, Lieutenant Stitchie, Pinchers, and even Dennis Brown. Jammy's productions and sound system dominated reggae music for the remainder of the 1980s and into the 1990s. [4] He continues to work as a producer, working with some of today's top Jamaican artists, including Sizzla.

Partial discography

Solo records or records with co-billing

YearAlbum TitleArtistsLabel
1975
Prince Jammy vs King Tubbys – His Majestys Dub [5] Prince Jammy, King Tubby Original Music, Carell Music, Sky Juice
1977
Prince Jammy in Lion Dub Style [6] Prince Jammy VP
1979
Crucial Bunny vs Prince Jammy – Fatman Dub Contest [7] Crucial Bunny, Prince JammyAuralux UK
1979
Kamikazi Dub [8] Prince JammyVP, Trojan
1979
Harder Na Rass [9] The Rasses Band, Prince JammyWarrior UK
1980
Fatman vs. Jah Shaka in a Dub ConferencePrince Jammy, Barry Brown , Johnny Osbourne Third World Recording Co. Ltd.
1980
Big Showdown [10] Scientist v. Prince Jammy *Scientist said that Jammy never mixed one track on this album Greensleeves
1981
First, Second And Third Generation of DubKing Tubby, Prince Jammy, scientistKG Imperial
1981
Strictly Dub [11] Prince JammyPressure Sound, Arawak
1982
Black Uhuru in Dub [12] Black Uhuru, Prince JammyVP, Wesgram, CSA
1982
Prince Jammy Destroys The Invaders [13] Prince JammyGreensleeves
1982
Dub Landing Vol: 2 [14] Scientist, Prince JammyGreensleeves, Starlight
1983
Dub Culture [15] Prince JammyDressed To Kill
1983
Osbourne in Dub [16] Prince JammyVP, Charly
1983
Scientist & Jammy Strike Back [17] Scientist, Prince JammyTrojan, Music On Vinyl, Real Gone Music, Charly
1986
Computerised Dub [18] Prince JammyGreensleeves
2011
Crucial in Dub [19] Prince JammyGreensleeves/VP
2015
Alborosie Meets King Jammy – Dub of Thrones [20] Alborosie, King JammyGreensleeves/VP
2015
Jammy's Dub Encounter [21] King Jammy, Keith Hudson VP
2016
Rasta State [22] King Jammy, Mykal Rose VP
2016
King Jammy Presents: New Sounds of Freedom [23] King Jammy, Black Uhuru VP
2017
Waterhouse Dub [24] King JammyVP
2018
King Jammy Presents Dennis Brown: Tracks of Life [25] Dennis Brown, King JammyVP
2022
King Jammy Destroys the Virus with Dub [26] King JammyVP
2023
Rebirth of the Cool Ruler [27] Gregory Isaacs, King JammyVP

Compilations

Appearances on various artist compilations

  • Big Showdown
  1. Round 2
  2. Round 4
  3. Round 6
  4. Round 8
  5. Round 10
  • Black Black Minds
  1. Peace And Rest Version
  2. How Long Version
  3. Keep On Trying Version
  1. Channel One A Boy
  • Creation Rockers
  1. You're No Good
  • Don Letts Presents The Mighty Trojan Sound
  1. Out Of Order
  • Dub Chill Out
  1. Slow Motion Dub
  2. Black And White Dub
  3. Dub It in the Dancehall Dub
  4. Jump Song Dub
  • Dub Massive Chapter 1
  1. Out Of Order
  2. Fist Of Fury
  • Dub Massive Chapter 2
  1. Throne Of Blood
  2. Shaolin Temple
  • Dub Sessions
  1. Dub Investigation
  2. Brothers of the Blade
  • Dubwise & Otherwise
  1. Wreck Up A Version
  • Fat Man Dub Contest
  1. Jammy A No Fool
  2. Jammy's on the Move
  3. Jammy's A Shine
  4. Jammy's A Satta
  • Fatman Presents Twin Spin Vol I
  1. Second Generation
  • First, Second And Third Generation Of Dub
  1. Second Generation
  2. On The Scene
  • Flashing Echo
  1. Fist Of Fury
  2. Jammin For Survival
  3. Out Of Order Dub
  • Haul & Pull Up Selecta
  1. You're No Good (12")
  2. Jammin' For Survival (12")
  • Heavyweight Sound
  1. Problems Dub
  • In Fine Style
  1. A Useful Version
  • King Jammy in Roots
  1. Slaughterhouse Five
  2. Born Free (Extended Mix)
  3. Youth Man Dub
  • Kung Fu !
  1. Shaolin Temple
  2. Throne Of Blood
  3. Fist Of Fury
  • Punky Reggae Party
  • Run It Red
  1. Chapter Of Money
  2. Dub Ites Green & Gold
  3. Higher Ranking
  4. A Stalawatt Version
  5. Mr. Bassie Dub
  6. Music Dub
  • Scratchy Sounds
  1. Brothers of the Blade
  • Straight To I Roy Head
  1. Channel One A Boy
  • The Crowning Of Prince Jammy
  1. Life Is A Moment in Space
  2. The Crowning Of Prince Jammy
  3. Return Of Jammy's Hi-Fi
  1. Chapter of Money
  • The Trojan Story Vol 1&2
  1. Throne of Blood
  1. Love Can Conquer
  • This Is Crucial Reggae Dub
  1. Throne of Blood
  • Trojan 12" Box Set
  1. You're No Good
  2. Born Free
  • Trojan Dub Box Set Volume 2
  1. Fist of Fury
  2. Throne of Blood
  3. Shaolin Temple
  1. Sweet Teng
  1. Step It Up in Dub
  2. Dub There
  3. The Champion Version
  4. Dub Is My Occupation

Albums produced

Albums engineered and/or mixed

As an arranger

As a percussionist

  • Dennis Brown – Slow Down (1985)
  • Johnny Osbourne – Water Pumping (1983)

Bibliography

Lesser, Beth (1989). King Jammy's . Muzik Tree, UK. ISBN   1-55022-525-1.

Related Research Articles

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References

  1. "AFRICAN CULTURE". ASCAP. American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
  2. 1 2 Barrow, Steve & Dalton, Peter: "Reggae: The Rough Guide", 1997, Rough Guides, ISBN   1-85828-247-0
  3. Du Noyer, Paul (2003). The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Music (1st ed.). Fulham, London: Flame Tree Publishing. p. 357. ISBN   1-904041-96-5.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Larkin, Colin: "The Virgin Encyclopedia of Reggae", 1998, Virgin Books, ISBN   0-7535-0242-9
  5. "Prince Jammy / King Tubby – His Majesty's Dub". AllMusic.
  6. "Prince Jammy – Prince Jammy in Lion Dub Style". AllMusic.
  7. "Crucial Bunny / Fatman Presents Prince Jammy Vs. Crucial Bunny / Prince Jammy- Fatman Dub Contest". AllMusic.
  8. "Prince Jammy – Kamikazi Dub". AllMusic.
  9. "Royal Rasses – Harder Na Rass". AllMusic.
  10. "Sientist – Big showdown". AllMusic.
  11. "Prince Jammy – Strictly Dub". AllMusic.
  12. "Prince Jammy – Uhuru in Dub". AllMusic.
  13. "Prince Jammy – Destroys the Invaders". AllMusic.
  14. "Linval Thompson – Linval Presents Dub Landing, Vol. 2". AllMusic.
  15. "Prince Jammy – Dub Culture". AllMusic.
  16. "Prince Jammy – Osbourne in Dub". AllMusic.
  17. "Scientist – Scientist & Jammy Strike Back". AllMusic.
  18. "Prince Jammy – Computerised Dub". AllMusic.
  19. "Prince Jammy – Crucial in Dub". AllMusic.
  20. "Alborosie / Alborosie King Jammy – Dub of Thrones". AllMusic.
  21. "Keith Hudson – Jammy's Dub Encounter". AllMusic.
  22. "Mykal Rose – Rasta State". AllMusic.
  23. "King Jammy Presents: New Sounds of Freedom". AllMusic.
  24. "King Jammy – Waterhouse Dub". AllMusic.
  25. "Dennis Brown – King Jammy Presents Dennis Brown: Tracks of Life". AllMusic.
  26. "King Jammy – Destroys the Virus with Dub". AllMusic.
  27. "Rebirth of the Cool Ruler – Gregory Isaacs / King Jammy". AllMusic.