dominickbrady:The Upsetterradiochantier Lee‘Scratch’Perry
Lee "Scratch" Perry, The Upsetter in Dub
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Lee "Scratch" Perry (born Rainford Hugh Perry March 20, 1936) is one
of the most influential people in the development of reggae and
dub music in Jamaica.
Perry began his career in the late 1950s working with Prince Buster and
Clement Coxsone Dodd's sound system. He was soon producing records
with Dodd and recording at Studio One, but the pair eventually stopped
working together due to personality and financial convicts.
Working with Joe Gibbs at Wirl Records , Perry tried to begin his recording
career, but again, personality and financial problems caused conflict, and
Perry left to form his own label, Upsetter , in 1968 (see 1968 in music). His
first single, "People Funny Boy", which was an insult directed at Gibbs, sold
very well. It is notable for its innovative use of a slow, sluggish, bass-driven
beat that would soon become identifiable as a distinctively "reggae"
(or, more accurately, roots reggae) sound.
During the 1970s, Perry released numerous recordings and acquired a variety
of nicknames including Scratch, Pipecock Jackxon, The Upsetter, and Super
Ape. Most of his hits were big in both Jamaica and the UK, and he soon became
known as much for his eccentric character and outlandish style in his
appearance as for his music.
In the early 1970s, Perry participated in the creation of dub. He formed a studio,
The Black Ark, to experiment in the style and produce tracks from notable musicians like
Bob Marley & the Wailers and The Congos. With a studio of his own, Perry was free to
experiment without concern for paying hourly for studio time, and he lavished a great
deal of time on the records he produced.
Virtually everything recorded in The Black Ark was on a 4-track recording deck. Perry
remained in the forefront of dub innovation and experimentation until, surrounded by
rumor and controversy, The Black Ark recording studio burned to the ground. Perry
generally insists it was an accident due to faulty wiring, but he is fond of telling stories
and regularly tells new versions of old stories. It is unlikely anyone but Perry will ever
know if the burning of The Black Ark was purposeful or accidental.
Even after producing such seminal singles as"Small Axe", Perry sold the tapes to Trojan Records without telling Marley,Peter Tosh or Bunny Wailer. After Marley & the Wailers signed to Island Records,Perry began accusing Chris Blackwell (head of Island Records) of cultural imperialism and psychic vampirism, as well as calling Marley an accomplice and a sell-out to his race. In spite of his difficulty getting along with some, Perry continued working with a variety of musicians, including the Clash,the legendary British punk group who were perhaps the earliest white artists to combine rock'n'roll with reggae rhythms.
Perry took a public stance against all drug use except cannabis,an integral part of the Rastafarian religion, but rumors still circulated regarding the use of LSD, cocaine and even gasoline and tape head-cleaning fluid. These stories are likely urban legend, though Perry's behavior is known to be erratic when he is drinking alcohol.
Since leaving
Jamaica soon after the destruction of Black Ark ,
Perry has lived in
Switzerland. He continues recording with great success, though his production
work has slowed down significantly, without a studio of his own. Lee has collaborated and toured
In 2003, Perry won a Grammy for Best Reggae Album with the album Jamaican ET.
Found on: Wikipedia.org
References:
- David Katz, People Funny Boy. The Genius of Lee "Scratch" Perry, 2000, Payback Press, UK, ISBN 0862418542
- David Katz & Jeremy Collingwood , Give Me Power: A Complete Discography, Trax On Wax
- Gary Simons , Super Scratch: The Almost Complete Lee Perry Discography, 1999, Secret History Books