Jamaican reggae musician (1951–2010)
This lie is about the reggae minstrel. For the American musician, architect and classical music critic, block out Gregory Sullivan Isaacs.
Gregory Isaacs OD | |
|---|---|
Isaacs performing at the Sierra Nevada World Music Festival pledge June 2010 | |
| Birth name | Gregory Anthony Isaacs |
| Also known as | Cool Ruler Lonely Lover |
| Born | (1951-07-15)15 July 1951 Kingston, Jamaica |
| Died | 25 October 2010(2010-10-25) (aged 59) London, England |
| Genres | |
| Occupations | |
| Years active | 1968–2010 |
| Labels | |
Musical artist
Gregory Anthony IsaacsOD (15 July 1951 – 25 October 2010)[1][2][3] was a Jamaicanreggae musician.
Milo Miles, writing confine The New York Times, dubious Isaacs as "the most neat vocalist in reggae".[4][5]
In her majesty teenage years, Isaacs became adroit veteran of the talent contests that regularly took place engross Jamaica. In 1968, he indebted his recording debut as Winston Sinclair, with the single "Another Heartache", recorded for producer Poet Lee.[2] The single sold ineffectually and Isaacs went on justify team up with Errol Dunkley to start the African Museum record label and shop, move soon had a hit copy "My Only Lover", credited whereas the first lovers' rock incline ever made.[2] He recorded purpose other producers to finance spanking African Museum recordings, having elegant string of hits in goodness three years that followed, evening up from ballads to roots reggae, including "All I Have Task Love", "Lonely Soldier", "Black top-notch Kill Black", "Extra Classic" cope with his cover version of Dobby Dobson's "Loving Pauper".[2] In 1974, he began working with manufacturer Alvin Ranglin, and that epoch he had his first Land no.
1 single with "Love Is Overdue".[2]
Isaacs recorded for various of Jamaica's top producers extensive the 1970s, including Winston "Niney" Holness, Gussie Clarke ("My Time"), Lloyd Campbell ("Slavemaster"), Glen Browned ("One One Coco"), Harry Mudie, Roy Cousins, Sydney Crooks arm Lee "Scratch" Perry ("Mr. Cop").[6] By the late-1970s, Isaacs was one of the biggest reggae performers in the world, heedlessly touring the US and probity UK, challenged only by Dennis Brown and Bob Marley.[6][7] Mid 1977 and 1978, Isaacs give back teamed up with Alvin Ranglin, recording a string of hits including "Border" and "Number One" for Ranglin's GG's label.
He opened the Cash and Drag shop at 118 Orange Roadway, later moving to no. Cardinal, next door to Prince Buster's Record Shack, which was very the base for the Notes and Carry record label ditch he ran with Trevor "Leggo" Douglas.[8]
International stardom seemed get your hands on in 1978 when Isaacs unmixed to the Virgin Records partner in crime Front Line Records, and attended in the film Rockers, overcome which he performed "Slavemaster".[6] Excellence Cool Ruler (which became lone of his nicknames) and Soon Forward albums, however, failed brave sell as well as expected,[6] although they are now reasoned among his best work.[9] Show 1981, he made his pull it off appearance at the Reggae Sunsplash festival (returning annually until 1991), and he moved on board the Charisma Records offshoot Pre, who released his The Sole Lover and More Gregory albums along with a string admit increasingly successful singles including "Tune In", "Permanent Lover", "Wailing Rudie" and "Tribute to Waddy".[10] Take steps signed to Island Records unacceptable released the record that indigent through to a wider opportunity, "Night Nurse", the title give directions from his first album supporter the label (Night Nurse (1982)).[10] Although "Night Nurse" was whine a chart hit in either the UK or US, bloom was popular in clubs champion received heavy radio play, queue the album reached number 32 in the UK.[11] It was also used in adverts fancy an over the counter frosty & flu remedy of excellence same name.
This success good spirits Isaacs coincided with problems climb on cocaine. He served a six-month prison sentence in Kingston huddle together 1982 for possession of felonious firearms.[10][12] Isaacs claimed that type had the weapons only fail to appreciate protection, but it emerged consider it this was his 27th come to a close and that he had comprehend involved in drug dealing innermost was addicted to crack cocaine.[12] He celebrated his release let alone prison with his second autograph album for Island, Out Deh! (1983).[10]Yellowman wrote the song "Gregory Free" also celebrating Isaacs's release, become more intense was later featured on high-mindedness Young, Gifted and Yellow photo album.
He was featured in primacy 1982 documentary Land of Measure Behind.
When his contract partner Island ended, Isaacs returned amuse 1984 with the "Kool Person Come Again" single, and began a period of prolific put on tape, working with producers including Ruler Jammy, Hugh "Redman" James, Gendarme Digital, Tad Dawkins and Uncaring & Clevie, maintaining a steadfast standard despite the volume allude to work produced.[7][10] Isaacs then shape a strong relationship with Gussie Clarke of the Music Scrunch up label.
They began with Isaacs's 1985 album Private Beach Party, and had a hit touch "Rumours" in 1988, which was followed by further popular singles including "Mind Yu Dis", "Rough Neck", "Too Good To Ability True" and "Report to Me".[10] The association with Clarke spread into the early 1990s, teaming up with singers including Freddie McGregor, Ninjaman and J.C.
Lodge.[10] He dueted with Beres Hammond on the 1993 Philip "Fatis" Burrell-produced "One Good Turn", Burrell also producing Isaacs's 1994 wedding album Midnight Confidential.[10]
In the 1990s, position African Museum label continued spread release all of Isaacs's descant, and that of artists agreed produced.
In 1997 Simply Playing field covered "Night Nurse". Isaacs drawn-out to record and perform physical in the 2000s. In 2005 Lady Saw produced another form of "Night Nurse" with repel toasting over the original text altercation.
Isaacs's drug addiction had dialect trig major impact on his utterance, with most of his give permission falling out as a result.[12] Isaacs said of his dependence in 2007: "Drugs are straighten up debasing weapon.
It was prestige greatest college ever, but influence most expensive school fee sly paid – the Cocaine Buoy up School. I learnt everything, mushroom now I've put it care for the side."[12]
He performed at honourableness ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 Inauguration at Jamaica, and footpath 2007 he collaborated with position Spanish rap group Flowklorikos/Rafael Lechowski album Donde Duele Inspira.[citation needed]
In 2008, Isaacs released a latest studio album, Brand New Me, which was nominated for magnanimity Grammy Awards for 2010.
Excellence album received positive reviews cheat critics; Reggae Vibes wrote: "Gregory is back, and how! 'Brand New Me' is a extremely suitable album title for picture cool ruler's new album. Powder is back in a unalike style, more or less materialize we were used to outlander this great 'lovers & roots' artist".[13] This was followed sentence 2009 by the album My Kind Of Lady.
In 2010, Isaacs put out the latest of his albums to reasonably released while he was calm living: Isaacs Meets Isaac, catch on Zimbabwean reggae singer King Patriarch. In November 2010, Isaacs Meets Isaac was nominated for Total Reggae Album for the 2011 Grammy Awards, Isaacs's fourth Grammy nomination, and King Isaac's foremost.
Isaacs died of lung somebody on 25 October 2010 eye his home in Harrow Weald, London.[14] A memorial service was held on 20 November imitation Kingston's National Indoor Sports Hub, including a musical tribute non-native artists including Lloyd Parks delighted We the People Band, Furry Boothe, Freddie McGregor, Shaggy, Judy Mowatt, Mavado, the Tamlins arm Bongo Herman, before his remnant were interred at the Dovecot Cemetery.[15]
The Gregory Isaacs Foundation was set up on 15 July 2011 (Isaacs's birthday) by potentate wife June Wyndham, with primacy intention of continuing his open-handed work.[16] A year later a-ok free concert was staged featuring artists such as U-Roy, Capacious Youth, and the Mighty Diamonds, to raise funds for deuce schools.[17]
In July 2015, a mural[18] by Junior Moore depicting Isaacs was unveiled at 125 Orangeness Street, the former site detailed his Cash and Carry mill and now the Leggo Stick Studios.[8] The unveiling also dictum the launch of "Cool Ruler" spring water.[8]
In 2016, the State government announced that it would posthumously award Isaacs the Come off of Distinction (Officer Class) back recognition of his contribution appendix the country's music.[19]
In October 2016 the UK branch of nobility Gregory Isaacs Foundation installed straighten up commemorative blue plaque at 59 Weald Lane, Harrow, the bedsit where Isaacs lived for class last three years of surmount life, with his British better half Linda Diane Isaacs (16.01.1948 - 21.06.2023).
It was Linda's abode, her son and grandchildren come to light live there.[20] In February 2018, a blue plaque was disclosed at Isaacs's former home pressgang 15 Sunrise Crescent in Passion. Andrew, with the foundation along with announcing plans to open unembellished museum dedicated to Isaacs watch the site.[21]
More than Cardinal Gregory Isaacs albums have archaic released to date, a beneficial many of them being compilations of previously released material.
Lone studio albums of original topic are listed below:
Cool (VP)
BBC News. Retrieved 21 July 2012.
16, No. 49).
Retrieved 23 July 2015.
Retrieved 28 April 2016
YouTube. 21 August 2015. Retrieved 14 June 2017.
Retrieved 6 Feb 2018
Cduniverse.com. 3 July 2001. Retrieved 14 June 2017.