Admiral Bailey
Encyclopedia
Admiral Bailey is a Jamaican dancehall
deejay
who enjoyed his greatest success between the mid-1980s and the early 1990s. He has been described as "the hottest dancehall star of the late 1980s".
's King Sturgav Hi-Fi sound system and was taken to King Jammy
's studio in Waterhouse by Josey Wales
. He started a string of hits with a duet with Chaka Demus
, "One Scotch, One Bourbon, One Beer", which was followed by "Politician" (based on Larry Marshall's 1969 hit "Throw Me Corn"), "Chatty Chatty Mouth", "Ballot Box' (with Josey Wales) and, in 1987, the slack
"Punaany" (with a lyric that included "Gimme Punaany, Want punaany, Any punaany is the same punaany"), which was initially banned from radio play until it was re-recorded with a less offensive lyric, retitled "Healthy Body". His debut album, Kill Them With It, was released in 1987 and he went on to record for producers such as Papa Biggy and Donovan Germain
. He recorded further for Penthouse Records ("Help") in 1990 and Bobby Digital
("Ah Nuh Sin") in 1991. In 1993, he began working with Jammy again. In the 1990s he became known as a "clean" deejay, eschewing the slackness of many of his contemporaries. He recorded with Byron Lee
on some of the latter's big soca
hits, and even starred in television commercials for banks.
Dancehall
Dancehall is a genre of Jamaican popular music that originated in the late 1970s. Initially dancehall was a more sparse version of reggae than the roots style, which had dominated much of the 1970s. In the mid-1980s, digital instrumentation became more prevalent, changing the sound considerably,...
deejay
Deejay
A deejay is a reggae or dancehall musician who sings and toasts to an instrumental riddim .Deejays are not to be confused with disc jockeys from other music genres like hip-hop, where they select and play music. Dancehall/reggae DJs who select riddims to play are called selectors...
who enjoyed his greatest success between the mid-1980s and the early 1990s. He has been described as "the hottest dancehall star of the late 1980s".
Career
Bailey had worked on U-RoyU-Roy
U-Roy , OD, is a Jamaican musician, also known as The Originator. He is best known as a pioneer of toasting.-Biography:...
's King Sturgav Hi-Fi sound system and was taken to King Jammy
King Jammy
Lloyd James , better known as Prince Jammy or King Jammy, is a dub mixer and record producer. He began his musical career as a dub master at King Tubby's recording studio...
's studio in Waterhouse by Josey Wales
Josey Wales
Josey Wales, born Joseph Winston Sterling in St. Mary, Jamaica is an influential Jamaican dancehall deejay. He was considered, along with Brigadier Jerry, Yellowman and sound system partner Charlie Chaplin, one of the best deejays of the 1980s....
. He started a string of hits with a duet with Chaka Demus
Chaka Demus
John Taylor , better known as Chaka Demus, is a jamaican reggae musician and DJ.-Biography:Taylor was a regular attendee at Kingston dances and was given a chance by Prince Jammy to deejay on his sound system...
, "One Scotch, One Bourbon, One Beer", which was followed by "Politician" (based on Larry Marshall's 1969 hit "Throw Me Corn"), "Chatty Chatty Mouth", "Ballot Box' (with Josey Wales) and, in 1987, the slack
Slackness
Slackness refers to vulgarity in West Indian culture, behavior and the music. It also refers to a subgenre of dancehall music with straightforward sexual lyrics performed live or recorded. Its form and pronunciation varies throughout the Caribbean....
"Punaany" (with a lyric that included "Gimme Punaany, Want punaany, Any punaany is the same punaany"), which was initially banned from radio play until it was re-recorded with a less offensive lyric, retitled "Healthy Body". His debut album, Kill Them With It, was released in 1987 and he went on to record for producers such as Papa Biggy and Donovan Germain
Donovan Germain
Donovan Germain is a reggae producer, one of the most successful of the digital era.-Biography:Germain's entry into the music industry was via his record shop in New York City in the 1970s. He began production in 1972, visiting Jamaica for recording sessions, working in both roots reggae and...
. He recorded further for Penthouse Records ("Help") in 1990 and Bobby Digital
Bobby Digital
Bobby Digital may refer to:*Robert Dixon , an influential dancehall producer, also known as "Bobby Digital"*RZA, a rapper and music producer who has performed under the name Bobby Digital...
("Ah Nuh Sin") in 1991. In 1993, he began working with Jammy again. In the 1990s he became known as a "clean" deejay, eschewing the slackness of many of his contemporaries. He recorded with Byron Lee
Byron Lee
Byron Lee OD, OJ was a musician, record producer, and entrepreneur, best known for his work as leader of Byron Lee and the Dragonaires.-Biography:Lee was born in Christiana in Manchester Parish to an Afro-Jamaican mother and a Chinese father Byron Lee OD, OJ (born Byron Aloysius St. Elmo Lee, 27...
on some of the latter's big soca
Soca music
Soca is a style of music from Trinidad and Tobago. Soca is a musical development of traditional Trinidadian calypso, through loans from the 1960s onwards from predominantly black popular music....
hits, and even starred in television commercials for banks.
Discography
- Kill Them With It (1987) Jammys/Live & Love
- Dancehall Showcase Vol. 2: M.C.'s Clash (1987) Mango (with Tonto Irie)
- Undisputed (1988) Dynamic
- Ram Up You Party (1988) Powerhouse
- Science Again (1989) Rohit
- Born Champion (1991) Jammys/Live & Love
- Original (1991) VPVP RecordsVP Records is an independent reggae record label, located in Queens, New York. It is best known for producing Caribbean singers.-The foundation:...
- Mi Big Up (1992) VP
- Undisputed Champion (1993) Rhino
- Best Of Reggae: Live (2006) Super Power