Dave Barker
Encyclopedia
Dave Barker is a reggae
and rocksteady
singer who has made a string of solo albums along with recordings as a member of The Techniques
and as half of the duo Dave and Ansell Collins
.
in 1952 (his father emigrated to the United States
before he was born). He developed a stammer after beatings from his uncles and teachers, but began singing as a teenager, inspired by James Brown
and Otis Redding
, whom he heard on American radio stations.
His first group was the Two Tones, formed with friends Brenton Matthews and Fathead, who recorded unsuccessfully for Duke Reid
. Barker had a brief stint in Winston Riley
's Techniques, singing alongside Riley and Bruce Ruffin
, and formed a duo with Glen Brown
in the duo Glen and Dave, recording for both Harry J and Coxsone Dodd
, while also working in the pressing plant at Studio One. Brown introduced Crooks to Lee "Scratch" Perry, suggesting that Perry get Crooks to voice a track at a recording session. The resulting track was "Prisoner of Love", and led to Crooks becoming a regular vocalist for Perry, who decided Crooks should record as Dave Barker, and encouraged American-style deejay
vocals in addition to Barker's usual high tenor singing. Barker had hit singles with "Shocks of a Mighty" and "Spinning Wheel" (with Melanie Jonas), followed in 1970 by his debut album Prisoner of Love. Working with Perry at the same time as The Wailers, Barker toasted over the latter's "Small Axe" for 1971's "Shocks 71". March 1971 brought international fame as part of a duo with Ansell Collins
. "Double Barrel
" was a number 1 hit in the United Kingdom
, and was also the first recording on which drummer Sly Dunbar
played. "Double Barrel" was followed in June of the same year with a number 7 UK hit in the form of "Monkey Spanner". The duo failed to sustain success in the UK, and Collins returned to Jamaica, with Barker settling in England and embarking once again on a solo career, releasing 1976's In The Ghetto, which while credited to Dave and Ansell Collins, was a solo effort. He then joined vocal group Chain Reaction along with Bruce Ruffin and Bobby Davis, targeting the soul
market, but without great success. Barker has continued to record, including a live album featuring Barker playing with The Selecter
.
In 2005 Dave Barker performed a couple of tracks with UK ska
/ reggae band The Riffs at Club Ska in London. A version of Double Barrel (recorded with The Riffs) was released on The Riffs - Live at Club Ska album the following year on Moon Ska Records.
Reggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
and rocksteady
Rocksteady
Rocksteady is a music genre that originated in Jamaica around 1966. A successor to ska and a precursor to reggae, rocksteady was performed by Jamaican vocal harmony groups such as The Gaylads, The Maytals and The Paragons. The term rocksteady comes from a dance style that was mentioned in the Alton...
singer who has made a string of solo albums along with recordings as a member of The Techniques
The Techniques
The Techniques were a Jamaican rocksteady vocal group mainly active in the 1960s.-History:The group was formed by Winston Riley in 1962 while still at school, with the initial line-up also featuring Slim Smith, Franklyn White, and Frederick Waite...
and as half of the duo Dave and Ansell Collins
Dave and Ansell Collins
Dave and Ansell Collins were a Jamaican vocal/instrumental duo .-History:...
.
Biography
Crooks was born in 1948 and raised by his grandmother and three uncles from the age of 4 after his mother emigrated to EnglandEngland
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in 1952 (his father emigrated to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
before he was born). He developed a stammer after beatings from his uncles and teachers, but began singing as a teenager, inspired by James Brown
James Brown
James Joseph Brown was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and recording artist. He is the originator of Funk and is recognized as a major figure in the 20th century popular music for both his vocals and dancing. He has been referred to as "The Godfather of Soul," "Mr...
and Otis Redding
Otis Redding
Otis Ray Redding, Jr. was an American soul singer-songwriter, record producer, arranger and talent scout. He is considered one of the major figures in soul and R&B...
, whom he heard on American radio stations.
His first group was the Two Tones, formed with friends Brenton Matthews and Fathead, who recorded unsuccessfully for Duke Reid
Duke Reid
Treasure Isle re-directs here. For the game, see Treasure Isle .Arthur "Duke" Reid, CD was a Jamaican record producer, DJ and label owner....
. Barker had a brief stint in Winston Riley
Winston Riley
Winston Riley worked as a songwriter and record producer of Jamaican music. According to the Jamaica Gleaner, Riley has a claim to being the most successful reggae producer of all-time.-Biography:...
's Techniques, singing alongside Riley and Bruce Ruffin
Bruce Ruffin
Bruce Ruffin is a rocksteady and reggae artist.-Biography:...
, and formed a duo with Glen Brown
Glen Brown
Glen Brown , also known as 'God Son' and 'The Rhythm Master', is a Jamaican singer, musician, and record producer, working primarily in the genres of reggae and dub...
in the duo Glen and Dave, recording for both Harry J and Coxsone Dodd
Coxsone Dodd
Clement Seymour "Sir Coxsone" Dodd, CD was a Jamaican record producer who was influential in the development of ska and reggae in the 1950s, 1960s and beyond...
, while also working in the pressing plant at Studio One. Brown introduced Crooks to Lee "Scratch" Perry, suggesting that Perry get Crooks to voice a track at a recording session. The resulting track was "Prisoner of Love", and led to Crooks becoming a regular vocalist for Perry, who decided Crooks should record as Dave Barker, and encouraged American-style 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...
vocals in addition to Barker's usual high tenor singing. Barker had hit singles with "Shocks of a Mighty" and "Spinning Wheel" (with Melanie Jonas), followed in 1970 by his debut album Prisoner of Love. Working with Perry at the same time as The Wailers, Barker toasted over the latter's "Small Axe" for 1971's "Shocks 71". March 1971 brought international fame as part of a duo with Ansell Collins
Ansell Collins
Ansell Collins is a Jamaican keyboard player, producer, and occasional singer. Born 1949 in Kingston, Jamaica.-Biography:...
. "Double Barrel
Double Barrel
Double Barrel is a popular reggae single by Dave and Ansell Collins.Written and produced by Ansell Collins, and featuring the vocals of Dave Barker, who had been recording in Jamaica for around five years, principally for Clement "Coxsone" Dodd and Lee Perry, it was released in 1971 by executive...
" was a number 1 hit in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, and was also the first recording on which drummer Sly Dunbar
Sly Dunbar
Lowell "Sly" Fillmore Dunbar is a drummer.-Biography:Dunbar, whose nickname was reportedly given for his passion for Sly & the Family Stone, launched his musical career while still in his adolescence, playing with a local group, The Yardbrooms, at the age of fifteen...
played. "Double Barrel" was followed in June of the same year with a number 7 UK hit in the form of "Monkey Spanner". The duo failed to sustain success in the UK, and Collins returned to Jamaica, with Barker settling in England and embarking once again on a solo career, releasing 1976's In The Ghetto, which while credited to Dave and Ansell Collins, was a solo effort. He then joined vocal group Chain Reaction along with Bruce Ruffin and Bobby Davis, targeting the soul
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
market, but without great success. Barker has continued to record, including a live album featuring Barker playing with The Selecter
The Selecter
The Selecter are a 2 Tone ska revival band from Coventry, England, formed in mid 1979.Like many other bands in the ska revival movement, The Selecter featured a racially diverse line-up. Their lyrics featured themes connected to politics and marijuana, set to strong melodies and a danceable beat...
.
In 2005 Dave Barker performed a couple of tracks with UK ska
Ska
Ska |Jamaican]] ) is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1950s, and was the precursor to rocksteady and reggae. Ska combined elements of Caribbean mento and calypso with American jazz and rhythm and blues...
/ reggae band The Riffs at Club Ska in London. A version of Double Barrel (recorded with The Riffs) was released on The Riffs - Live at Club Ska album the following year on Moon Ska Records.
Albums
- Prisoner Of Love (1970) TrojanTrojan RecordsTrojan Records is a British record label founded in 1968. It specialises in ska, rocksteady, reggae and dub music. The label currently operates under the Sanctuary Records Group. The name Trojan comes from the Croydon-built Trojan truck that was used as Duke Reid's sound system in Jamaica...
(Dave Barker meets The Upsetters) - Double Barrel (1971) Big Tree/Techniques (Dave & Ansell Collins) also issued on RASRAS RecordsRAS Records, also known as Real Authentic Sound, is a reggae record label.-History:RAS Records was founded in 1979 by Doctor Dread. In his travels to Jamaica he created a network within the reggae artist community there. By the early to mid 1980s RAS had signed artists such as Black Uhuru, Inner...
with different track listing - In The Ghetto (1976) Trojan
- Roadblock (1979) Bushranger
- Never Lose Never Win (1976) Gull (Chain Reaction)
- Change of Action (1983) Vista
- Chase a Miracle (1983) Vista
- Classics (1991) Techniques (The Techniques)
- Monkey Spanner (1997) Trojan
- Dave And Ansel Collins (2001) Armoury (Dave & Ansell Collins)
- Kingston Affair (200?) Moon Ska (Dave Barker & The Selecter)