David Jahson
Encyclopedia
Everald Pickersgill better known as David Jahson, is a Jamaica
n reggae
singer, active since the early 1970s.
in 1954, Pickersgill first recorded in 1970 for Clement "Coxsone" Dodd's Studio One, but the results were only released on sound system dub plates. In 1972 he recorded "Far I" for Byron Lee
's Dynamic studio, which was released on the Jaguar label, miscredited to 'David Janson' and mis-titled "For I", reaching number seven on the JBC
singles chart. Feeling that Dynamic had mishandled the single, his next release was the self-produced "Child of a King", released on the Ital Lion label through Pete Weston's Micron label. In 1975 he recorded his most well-known song, "Natty Chase the Barber", using a new version of John Holt
's "Ali Baba" rhythm recorded by a band including his friend Sly Dunbar
at Channel One Studios
and mixed at King Tubby
's. The single was released by Tommy Cowan
on his Arab label, miscredited this time to 'David & Jahson'. The song inspired several similarly themed singles by other artists, including Dr Alimantado
's "I Killed The Barber", also using the "Ali Baba" rhythm, and Jah Stitch
's "Bury The Barber". At the time, he was also working as a deejay
with the 'Jah Love Muzik' sound system, and several of Jahson's singles also featured his own deejay versions on the B-side.
Jahson was also a member of the vocal group Well Pleased & Satisfied along with Jerry Baxter. He also played percussion and sang backing vocals with Inner Circle on their tour to support the Everything Is Great album, and members of the band backed him on his Natty Chase the Barber album in 1978, released on the Lewis brothers' Top Ranking label. The album also featured Sly & Robbie and was mixed by Prince Jammy.
In the 1980s he settled in the United Kingdom, continuing to record, and also releasing his old material on his own 'Pick A Skill' label. His Natty Chase the Barber album was pirated in the 1980s but Jahson reissued it later on Pick A Skill.
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
n reggae
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...
singer, active since the early 1970s.
Biography
Born in Kingston, JamaicaKingston, Jamaica
Kingston is the capital and largest city of Jamaica, located on the southeastern coast of the island. It faces a natural harbour protected by the Palisadoes, a long sand spit which connects the town of Port Royal and the Norman Manley International Airport to the rest of the island...
in 1954, Pickersgill first recorded in 1970 for Clement "Coxsone" Dodd's Studio One, but the results were only released on sound system dub plates. In 1972 he recorded "Far I" for 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...
's Dynamic studio, which was released on the Jaguar label, miscredited to 'David Janson' and mis-titled "For I", reaching number seven on the JBC
JBC
- Organizations :*Editora JBC , a Brazilian publisher*Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation, a public broadcasting company*JoongAng Broadcasting Corporation, the broadcast media arm of the JoongAng Media Network...
singles chart. Feeling that Dynamic had mishandled the single, his next release was the self-produced "Child of a King", released on the Ital Lion label through Pete Weston's Micron label. In 1975 he recorded his most well-known song, "Natty Chase the Barber", using a new version of John Holt
John Holt (singer)
John Holt is a reggae singer and songwriter.-Biography:Holt was born in Kingston in 1947. By the age of 12, he was a regular entrant in talent contests run at Jamaican theatres by Vere Johns...
's "Ali Baba" rhythm recorded by a band including his friend 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...
at Channel One Studios
Channel One Studios
Channel One is a recording studio in Maxfield Avenue, West Kingston, Jamaica. The studio was built by the Hoo Kim brothers in 1972, and has had a profound influence on the development of reggae music....
and mixed at King Tubby
King Tubby
King Tubby was a Jamaican electronics and sound engineer, known primarily for his influence on the development of dub in the 1960s and 1970s...
's. The single was released by Tommy Cowan
Tommy Cowan
Tommy Cowan is a producer and singer, initially working in reggae but later concentrating on gospel, who has been involved in the music business since the 1960s...
on his Arab label, miscredited this time to 'David & Jahson'. The song inspired several similarly themed singles by other artists, including Dr Alimantado
Dr Alimantado
Dr Alimantado, born Winston James Thompson, also known as The Ital Surgeon is a Jamaican reggae singer, DJ, and producer.-Biography:Thompson was born in Kingston in 1952, where he adopted the Rastafarian faith at an early age...
's "I Killed The Barber", also using the "Ali Baba" rhythm, and Jah Stitch
Jah Stitch
Jah Stitch is a reggae deejay best known for his recordings in the 1970s.-Biography:...
's "Bury The Barber". At the time, he was also working as a 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...
with the 'Jah Love Muzik' sound system, and several of Jahson's singles also featured his own deejay versions on the B-side.
Jahson was also a member of the vocal group Well Pleased & Satisfied along with Jerry Baxter. He also played percussion and sang backing vocals with Inner Circle on their tour to support the Everything Is Great album, and members of the band backed him on his Natty Chase the Barber album in 1978, released on the Lewis brothers' Top Ranking label. The album also featured Sly & Robbie and was mixed by Prince Jammy.
In the 1980s he settled in the United Kingdom, continuing to record, and also releasing his old material on his own 'Pick A Skill' label. His Natty Chase the Barber album was pirated in the 1980s but Jahson reissued it later on Pick A Skill.
Discography
- Natty Chase the Barber (1978), Top Ranking
- Past and Present (1982), Spy
- Come Again (1985), Top Ranking
- Roots of David (1997), Pick A Skill
- Child of the King (2000), Pick A Skill
- In Charge (2007), Pick A Skill