Junior Byles

Last updated

Junior Byles
Junior Byles2.jpg
Junior Byles
Background information
Birth nameKenneth Byles (Junior)
Also known asKing Chubby
Born2 February 1948 (1948-02-02) (age 75)
Kingston, Jamaica
Genres Reggae, rocksteady, Ska
Occupation(s)Singer-songwriter
Instrument(s)Vocals
Years active1967–present
Labels Randy's, Dip, Love Power, Magnet, Trojan, Black Wax, Micron, Nighthawk, Heartbeat

Kenneth Byles (born 2 February 1948 in Kingston, Jamaica), also known as "Junior Byles", "Chubby", or "King Chubby", is a Jamaican reggae singer. [1]

Contents

Biography

The Versatiles

Named after his father Kenneth Snr, Kenneth Byles Jr. was born at Jubilee Hospital in Kingston, and grew up in the city's Jonestown ghetto, where his father worked as a mechanic, and his mother as a schoolteacher. [2] [3] His family were devoutly religious, and his early musical education came from singing in church. [4] He formed the vocal trio The Versatiles in 1967, along with Dudley Earl and Ben 'Louis' Davis, while also working as a firefighter. [1] Lee "Scratch" Perry, then working as chief engineer at Joe Gibbs' studio, was scouting for talent for Gibbs' new Amalgamated label, and spotted the group while they were auditioning for the 1967 Festival Song Contest with "The Time Has Come". [1] [3] Perry signed the group to the label, but left Gibbs soon after. The Versatiles stayed with Gibbs for two years, before moving to work with Perry, and then to Duke Reid's Treasure Isle label, also recording for other producers such as Laurel Aitken. [1] The group split up in 1970, with Byles still working as a firefighter but continuing to record solo for Perry (sometimes with the other former-Versatiles providing harmonies). [4]

Solo peak

When Perry's association with Bob Marley came to an end, he sought a singer-songwriter to work with who would fill the void, and Byles fit the bill. [3] With Perry, Byles had a minor hit with "What's The World Coming To", released under the name King Chubby, and over the next five years the partnership would result in some of Perry's most highly regarded work, with Byles' Rastafarian beliefs clearly evident, including "Beat Down Babylon", "King of Babylon", and the plea for repatriation, "Place Called Africa". "Rub Up Festival" was Byles' entry for the Festival Song Contest in 1971, but the song's suggestive lyric led to it being disqualified after reaching the final eight. [1] The following year's "Festival Da Da" fared better, finishing as second runner-up. Also in 1972, Byles began self-producing, and set up his Love Power label, releasing singles such as "Black Crisis" and "Our Mistakes". [4]

Byles was one of several reggae musicians to offer support to Michael Manley's 1972 general election campaign, releasing the singles "Joshua Desire" and "Pharaoh Hiding" ("Joshua" referring to Manley and "Pharaoh" to the ruling Jamaican Labour Party's leader Hugh Shearer). [1] [4] [5] Manley was elected, but improvements for Jamaica's poor were not immediately apparent, and Byles was one of several artists who had supported Manley who voiced dissent, releasing the scathing "When Will Better Come?". [3] [6] At the end of 1972, Byles had his biggest hit to date, with a cover version of Peggy Lee's "Fever", with a dubby rhythm produced by Perry. November 1972 saw the release of Byles debut album, Beat Down Babylon, which along with a series of singles that followed, established Byles as a major force in Jamaica as well as establishing him with audiences in the United Kingdom, "Curley Locks" being particularly successful there. [1] [5] Byles moved away from Perry in the mid-1970s, recording three duets with Rupert Reid for Dudley Swaby and Leroy Hollett's Ja-Man label, as well as recording for Lloyd Campbell ("Bury-O-Boy") and Pete Weston (covers of "Ain't Too Proud To Beg" and "Oh Carolina"). Regarded by some as his greatest work, "Fade Away" was recorded in 1975 for producer Joseph Hoo Kim; It was a massive hit in Jamaica and was also a big success in the UK, and was covered five years later by Adrian Sherwood's New Age Steppers group. [1] It also featured on the soundtrack for the film Rockers . [4] He also released a second album, Jordan, in 1976, produced by Weston. [5]

Health problems and later career

By 1975, Byles' health had begun to decline. Suffering from depression, he was deeply affected by the death of Haile Selassie, unable to reconcile this with his belief in Selassie's divinity, and attempted suicide. [1] He was admitted to Bellevue Hospital, after which his health continued to decline. Although he had regular spells in the hospital, he continued to record, reworking "King of Babylon" for Winston Holness, working again with Campbell, and recording a cover of The Archies' "Sugar Sugar" with Big Youth. By the end of 1976, he had all but vanished from the music scene, with a comeback attempted in 1978, recording two singles for Joe Gibbs. It was clear that he was still not well, however, and it would be 1982 before he re-emerged, working with New York City label Wackie's. Progress on a planned new album was slow, and Byles was beset by tragedy when his mother died, and he lost his home in a fire. His wife and children also emigrated to the United States, and aside from a few singles, Byles would release nothing until 1986's Rasta No Pickpocket album. [1] The album did not, however, see a long-lived upturn in Byles' fortunes, and by the following year, he was living on the street, scavenging for food in dumpsters, and begging from passers-by. [1] [7] Byles occasionally resurfaced, recording "Young Girl" for Holness in 1989, and "Little Fleego" three years later, and played a few live shows with Earl "Chinna" Smith in 1997 and 1998. He contributed to the Medicine I compilation album in 2000, [8] and returned to live performance in 2004 in Jamaica, receiving positive reviews. [9] [10] This led to a short tour of the United Kingdom. His legacy of recordings from the 1970s, however, maintain his status as one of roots reggae's leading talents. [5]

A diagnosis of prostate cancer and his ongoing mental health issues resulted in renewed attention in Jamaica toward Byles' health and musical legacy in the late 2010s. In early 2019, a benefit and celebratory concert took place, followed by a large cash donation to Byles from the charity foundation of dancehall artist Bounty Killer the following year. [11] [12]

Discography

Singles

Albums

Compilations

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bounty Killer</span> Jamaican musician (born 1972)

Rodney Basil Price, known as Bounty Killer, is a Jamaican lyricist and reggae and dancehall deejay. AllMusic describes him as "one of the most aggressive dancehall stars of the '90s, a street-tough rude boy with an unrepentant flair for gun talk". He is considered one of the best dancehall lyricists of all time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lee "Scratch" Perry</span> Jamaican reggae producer (1936–2021)

Lee "Scratch" Perry was a Jamaican record producer, composer and singer noted for his innovative studio techniques and production style. Perry was a pioneer in the 1970s development of dub music with his early adoption of remixing and studio effects to create new instrumental or vocal versions of existing reggae tracks. He worked with and produced for a wide variety of artists, including Bob Marley and the Wailers, Junior Murvin, The Congos, Max Romeo, Adrian Sherwood, Beastie Boys, Ari Up, The Clash, The Orb, and many others.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">U-Roy</span> Jamaican musician (1942–2021)

Ewart Beckford OD, known by the stage name U-Roy, was a Jamaican vocalist and pioneer of toasting. U-Roy was known for a melodic style of toasting applied with a highly developed sense of timing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bob Marley and the Wailers</span> Jamaican reggae band

Bob Marley and the Wailers were a Jamaican ska, rocksteady and reggae band. The founding members, in 1963, were Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, and Bunny Wailer.

Delroy George Wilson CD was a Jamaican ska, rocksteady and reggae singer. Wilson is often regarded as Jamaica's first child star, having first found success as a teenager. His youngest son, Karl "Konan" Wilson, has found success as part of British duo Krept and Konan.

Joe Gibbs born Joel Arthur Gibson was a Jamaican reggae producer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Big Youth</span> Musical artist

Manley Augustus Buchanan, better known as Big Youth, is a Jamaican rapper and singer, mostly known for his work during the 1970s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dennis Brown</span> Jamaican reggae singer (1957–1999)

Dennis Emmanuel Brown CD was a Jamaican reggae singer. During his prolific career, which began in the late 1960s when he was aged eleven, he recorded more than 75 albums and was one of the major stars of lovers rock, a subgenre of reggae. Bob Marley cited Brown as his favourite singer, dubbing him "The Crown Prince of Reggae", and Brown would prove influential on future generations of reggae singers.

Clancy Eccles was a Jamaican ska and reggae singer, songwriter, arranger, promoter, record producer and talent scout. Known mostly for his early reggae works, he brought a political dimension to this music. His house band was known as The Dynamites.

Heartbeat Records is an independent record label based in Burlington, Massachusetts. The label specializes in Jamaican music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Count Ossie</span> Jamaican Rastafari drummer and band leader

Count Ossie, born Oswald Williams, was a Jamaican Rastafari drummer and band leader.

Derrick Clifton Harriott OD is a Jamaican singer and record producer. He was a member of the Jiving Juniors with Herman Sang before embarking on a solo career. He has produced recordings by Big Youth, Chariot Riders, The Chosen Few, Dennis Brown, The Ethiopians, Keith & Tex, The Kingstonians, Rudy Mills, Scotty, Sly & Revolutionaries, and Winston McAnuff.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Junior Murvin</span> Jamaican reggae musician

Junior Murvin was a Jamaican reggae musician. He is best known for the single "Police and Thieves", produced by Lee "Scratch" Perry in 1976.

Winston Holness, better known as Niney the Observer, is a Jamaican record producer and singer who was a key figure in the creation of many classic reggae recordings dating from the 1970s and early 1980s.

The Heptones are a Jamaican rocksteady and reggae vocal trio most active in the 1960s and early 1970s. They were one of the more significant trios of that era, and played a major role in the gradual transition between ska and rocksteady into reggae with their three-part harmonies. The Heptones were contemporaries of the Wailers and the Maytals, and every bit their equal in the mid-1960s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Earl "Chinna" Smith</span> Musical artist

Earl "Chinna" Smith, a.k.a. Earl Flute and Melchezidek the High Priest, is a Jamaican guitarist active since the late 1960s. He is most well known for his work with the Soul Syndicate band and as guitarist for Bob Marley & the Wailers, among others, and has recorded with many reggae artists, appearing on more than 500 albums.

<i>Jonny Greenwood Is the Controller</i> 2007 compilation album by various artists

Jonny Greenwood Is the Controller is a compilation album created by Radiohead guitarist Jonny Greenwood and released on Trojan Records. Released to commemorate Trojan Records' 40th anniversary, it collects Greenwood's favorite reggae and dub Trojan tracks, from artists including Lee "Scratch" Perry, Joe Gibbs, and Linval Thompson. The title references Thompson's track "Dread Are the Controller".

The Now Generation Band was a Jamaican reggae band during the late 1960s into the 1970s. Beginning as a dance band on the road, they gradually undertook more recording dates and, in 1972, quit road work to concentrate on studio work.

Larry Marshall was a Jamaican reggae singer, who recorded both as a solo artist and as part of the duos Larry & Alvin and Larry & Enid.

Leo Graham was a Jamaican singer.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Thompson, Dave (2002), Reggae & Caribbean Music, Backbeat Books, ISBN   0-87930-655-6
  2. ↑ "Junior Byles Biography", Nighthawk Records
  3. 1 2 3 4 Katz, David (2000), People Funny Boy – The Genius of Lee "Scratch" Perry, Payback Press, ISBN   0-86241-854-2
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Barrow, Steve & Dalton, Peter (2004), The Rough Guide to Reggae, 3rd edn, Rough Guides, ISBN   1-84353-329-4
  5. 1 2 3 4 Greene, Jo-Anne, "Junior Byles Biography", Allmusic
  6. ↑ Katz, David (2003), Solid Foundation: An Oral History of Reggae, Bloomsbury, ISBN   0-7475-6847-2
  7. ↑ Henry, Balford, "S.O.S. for fallen entertainers Archived 7 September 2008 at the Wayback Machine ", Jamaica Gleaner .
  8. ↑ "The Record Shop", Jamaica Gleaner.
  9. ↑ Walker, Karyl (2004), "Junior Byles Makes Triumphant Return", Jamaica Observer , 19 January 2004
  10. ↑ Belcher, Deborah (2004) "Fiery devils disturb 'Rebel Salute'", Jamaica Gleaner, 23 January 2004.
  11. ↑ "Junior Byles' family humbled by benefit and celebratory concert". Jamaica Gleaner. 12 February 2019. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
  12. ↑ Francis-Pitt, K'Shema (5 February 2020). "Bounty Foundation to assist reggae veteran Junior Byles". IrieFM.net. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.