Errol Dunkley
Encyclopedia
Errol Dunkley is a Jamaica
n reggae
musician
, born in Kingston
, Jamaica
in 1951.
career began in 1965, when he was fourteen, with "Gypsy" (a duet
with Roy Shirley
) for Linden Pottinger's Gaydisc label, "My Queen" (with Junior English
) for Prince Buster
, and "Love Me Forever" on the Rio label. Between 1967 and 1968 he recorded
several singles
for Joe Gibbs
including "Please Stop Your Lying" (1967) and "Love Brother" (1968), before switching to Coxsone Dodd
in 1969.
In the early 1970s, together with Gregory Isaacs
he formed the African Museum record label
, although Isaacs soon took sole control of the label, while Dunkley formed a new label, Silver Ring. In 1972 he teamed up with producer Jimmy Radway for two of his most popular singles, "Keep The Pressure On" and "Black Cinderella". The same year saw the release of Dunkley's Sonia Pottinger
produced debut album
, Presenting Errol Dunkley, which included the track "A Little Way Different".
Dunkley continued to record throughout the 1970s and towards the end of the decade his popularity in the UK
grew, resulting in a breakthrough UK Singles Chart
hit in 1979 with "OK Fred", a cover version
of a John Holt
-penned
song, that reached number 11. He also avoided the one-hit wonder
tag, by securing a minor chart placing with the 1980 follow-up release "Sit Down And Cry".
Dunkley's biggest hit, "OK Fred", was re-recorded in 1996 with Queen Sister *N*.
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...
musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
, born in Kingston
Kingston, 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...
, Jamaica
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...
in 1951.
Biography
Dunkley's recordingSound recording and reproduction
Sound recording and reproduction is an electrical or mechanical inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording technology are analog recording and digital recording...
career began in 1965, when he was fourteen, with "Gypsy" (a duet
Duet (music)
A duet is a musical composition for two performers. In classical music, the term is most often used for a composition for two singers or pianists; with other instruments, the word duo is also often used. A piece performed by two pianists performing together on the same piano is referred to as...
with Roy Shirley
Roy Shirley
Roy Shirley also known as King Roy Shirley and The High Priest was a Jamaican singer whose career spanned the ska, rocksteady and reggae eras, and whose "Hold Them" is regarded by some as the first ever rocksteady song...
) for Linden Pottinger's Gaydisc label, "My Queen" (with Junior English
Junior English
Junior English is a Jamaican-born reggae singer who began his career in the early 1960s before relocating to England.-Biography:English was born in Kingston, Jamaica in 1951...
) for Prince Buster
Prince Buster
Cecil Bustamente Campbell, O.D. , better known as Prince Buster, and also known by his Muslim name Muhammed Yusef Ali, is a musician from Kingston, Jamaica. He is regarded as one of the most important figures in the history of ska and rocksteady music...
, and "Love Me Forever" on the Rio label. Between 1967 and 1968 he recorded
Sound recording and reproduction
Sound recording and reproduction is an electrical or mechanical inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording technology are analog recording and digital recording...
several singles
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
for Joe Gibbs
Joe Gibbs (record producer)
Joe Gibbs born Joel A. Gibson was a Jamaican reggae producer.-Biography:Joe Gibbs worked as an electronics engineer in the United States before his career in music started. Gibbs eventually returned to Kingston, Jamaica and opened an electrical repair shop with television repairs and sales as its...
including "Please Stop Your Lying" (1967) and "Love Brother" (1968), before switching to 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...
in 1969.
In the early 1970s, together with Gregory Isaacs
Gregory Isaacs
Gregory Anthony Isaacs was a Jamaican reggae musician. Milo Miles, writing in the New York Times, described Isaacs as "the most exquisite vocalist in reggae". His nicknames include Cool Ruler and Lonely Lover....
he formed the African Museum record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
, although Isaacs soon took sole control of the label, while Dunkley formed a new label, Silver Ring. In 1972 he teamed up with producer Jimmy Radway for two of his most popular singles, "Keep The Pressure On" and "Black Cinderella". The same year saw the release of Dunkley's Sonia Pottinger
Sonia Pottinger
Sonia Eloise Pottinger OD was a Jamaican reggae record producer.The most important Jamaican woman involved in music business, Sonia Pottinger was the first female Jamaican record producer and produced artists from the mid 1960s until the mid 1980s.Married to music producer Lyndon Pottinger, she...
produced debut album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
, Presenting Errol Dunkley, which included the track "A Little Way Different".
Dunkley continued to record throughout the 1970s and towards the end of the decade his popularity in the UK
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...
grew, resulting in a breakthrough UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
hit in 1979 with "OK Fred", a cover version
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
of a 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...
-penned
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
song, that reached number 11. He also avoided the one-hit wonder
One-hit wonder
A one-hit wonder is a person or act known mainly for only a single success. The term is most often used to describe music performers with only one hit single.-Characteristics:...
tag, by securing a minor chart placing with the 1980 follow-up release "Sit Down And Cry".
Dunkley's biggest hit, "OK Fred", was re-recorded in 1996 with Queen Sister *N*.
Albums
- Presenting Errol Dunkley (Gay Feet, 1972), reissued as Darling Ooh (Trojan RecordsTrojan 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...
, 1981) - (a four star AMG recommendation) - Sit and Cry Over You (Third World, 1976)
- Militant Man (Lovella International, 1980)
- Profile of Errol Dunkley a.k.a. OK Fred (Third World, 1980)
- In A Different, Different Style (Easy Street Records, 1984)
- Special Request (Carousel, 1987)
- Aquarius (1989)
- The Early Years (Rhino, 1995)
- Please Stop Your Lying (early Joe Gibbs recordings) (Rocky One, 1996)
- Continually (2000)
- OK Fred (The Best Of) (Trojan, 2004)
- Love Is Amazing (Studio One)
- Moodie Meets Errol Dunkley (Moodie Music)