Fred Locks
Encyclopedia
Fred Locks is a roots reggae
singer best known for his mid-1970s single "Black Star Liners" and the album of the same name.
home in the Franklin Town area of Kingston, along with eleven brothers and sisters, moving to Eastern Kingston when he was ten. His father and older brother played the guitar; with his older brother accompanying Elliot's early singing efforts. Like many of the Jamaican solo singers of the 1970s, Elliott began his career in the 1960s as part of a vocal harmony group, in his case a group he formed in secondary school, The Flames
, and in 1966 The Lyrics, who recorded for Coxsone Dodd
in the late 1960s, with tracks such as "A Get It", "Girls Like Dirt", and "Hear What The Old Man Say". They later moved on to Vincent Chin
's Randy's setup, recording "Give Thanks", "East to the Right", and a cover of Simon & Garfunkel's "Bridge Over Troubled Water", also working with Lee "Scratch" Perry, and released the self-financed "Sing A Long" in 1971 on their own Lyric label. Disillusioned by the financial side of the Jamaican music industry, Elliot immersed himself in the Rastafarian faith, living on the beach at Harbour View. Elliot allowed his locks to grow to a great length, giving rise to his nickname of 'Fred Locks'. During his time living on the beach, he continued to write songs, one of which, "Black Star Liners", referring to Marcus Garvey
's shipping line (Black Star Line
) intended to transport black Americans to Africa
as part of the Back-to-Africa movement
, came to the attention of producer and Twelve Tribes member Hugh Boothe. Boothe persuaded Locks to record the song, and it was released in 1975 on the Jahmikmusic label in Jamaica, and on Grounation in the United Kingdom
, propelling Locks to cult status. This was followed up by "The Last Days", which had a lesser impact. Grounation offshoot Vulcan issued the debut album Black Star Liner/True Rastaman in 1976, an album that has remained popular with roots reggae audiences ever since, with the title track regarded as a roots anthem.
In the late 1970s, Elliot was also a member of the vocal trio Creation Steppers, along with Eric Griffiths and Willy Stepper, releasing records in Jamaica on their own Star of The East label, and having a hit in Jamaica with "Stormy Night". In 1980, the trio travelled to the UK for a small tour, and began an association with London
-based sound system operator and producer
Lloyd Coxsone
, who released a number of singles by the group, and also some Fred Locks solo records. These were collected on the album Love and only Love in 1982.
In 1982, Locks married an American woman and moved to the United States
, recording only sporadically until the mid-1990s, when he recorded an album, Culturally, for Phillip Smart. followed by albums on Philip "Fatis" Burrell's Xterminator label and on VP
.
Roots reggae
Roots reggae is a subgenre of reggae that deals with the everyday lives and aspirations of the artists concerned, including the spiritual side of Rastafari and with the honoring of God, called Jah by rastafarians. It also is identified with the life of the ghetto sufferer, and the rural poor...
singer best known for his mid-1970s single "Black Star Liners" and the album of the same name.
Biography
Elliot grew up in a strict CatholicCatholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
home in the Franklin Town area of Kingston, along with eleven brothers and sisters, moving to Eastern Kingston when he was ten. His father and older brother played the guitar; with his older brother accompanying Elliot's early singing efforts. Like many of the Jamaican solo singers of the 1970s, Elliott began his career in the 1960s as part of a vocal harmony group, in his case a group he formed in secondary school, The Flames
The Flames
The Flames was a musical group from Durban in South Africa. The band was originally formed in 1963 by guitarist Steve Fataar, bassist Brother Fataar , drummer George Faber and guitarist Eugene Champion. However this line-up would only be together to record a couple of songs...
, and in 1966 The Lyrics, who recorded for 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 the late 1960s, with tracks such as "A Get It", "Girls Like Dirt", and "Hear What The Old Man Say". They later moved on to Vincent Chin
Vincent "Randy" Chin
Vincent "Randy" Chin was a Jamaican record producer and label owner who ran the Randy's shop, recording studio, and record label, later moving to New York City and setting up the VP Records empire, now the world's largest independent label and distributor of Caribbean music in the...
's Randy's setup, recording "Give Thanks", "East to the Right", and a cover of Simon & Garfunkel's "Bridge Over Troubled Water", also working with Lee "Scratch" Perry, and released the self-financed "Sing A Long" in 1971 on their own Lyric label. Disillusioned by the financial side of the Jamaican music industry, Elliot immersed himself in the Rastafarian faith, living on the beach at Harbour View. Elliot allowed his locks to grow to a great length, giving rise to his nickname of 'Fred Locks'. During his time living on the beach, he continued to write songs, one of which, "Black Star Liners", referring to Marcus Garvey
Marcus Garvey
Marcus Mosiah Garvey, Jr., ONH was a Jamaican publisher, journalist, entrepreneur, and orator who was a staunch proponent of the Black Nationalism and Pan-Africanism movements, to which end he founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association and African Communities League...
's shipping line (Black Star Line
Black Star Line
The Black Star Line was a shipping line incorporated by Marcus Garvey, organizer of the Universal Negro Improvement Association . The shipping line was supposed to facilitate the transportation of goods and eventually African Americans throughout the African global economy...
) intended to transport black Americans to Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
as part of the Back-to-Africa movement
Back-to-Africa movement
The Back-to-Africa movement, was also known as the Colonization movement, originated in the United States in the 19th century, and encouraged those of African descent to return to the African homelands of their ancestors. This movement would eventually inspire other movements ranging from the...
, came to the attention of producer and Twelve Tribes member Hugh Boothe. Boothe persuaded Locks to record the song, and it was released in 1975 on the Jahmikmusic label in Jamaica, and on Grounation 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...
, propelling Locks to cult status. This was followed up by "The Last Days", which had a lesser impact. Grounation offshoot Vulcan issued the debut album Black Star Liner/True Rastaman in 1976, an album that has remained popular with roots reggae audiences ever since, with the title track regarded as a roots anthem.
In the late 1970s, Elliot was also a member of the vocal trio Creation Steppers, along with Eric Griffiths and Willy Stepper, releasing records in Jamaica on their own Star of The East label, and having a hit in Jamaica with "Stormy Night". In 1980, the trio travelled to the UK for a small tour, and began an association with London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
-based sound system operator and producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
Lloyd Coxsone
Lloyd Coxsone
Lloyd Coxsone is a Jamaican-born sound system operator and record producer, who has been resident in the United Kingdom since 1962.-Biography:...
, who released a number of singles by the group, and also some Fred Locks solo records. These were collected on the album Love and only Love in 1982.
In 1982, Locks married an American woman and moved to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, recording only sporadically until the mid-1990s, when he recorded an album, Culturally, for Phillip Smart. followed by albums on Philip "Fatis" Burrell's Xterminator label and on VP
VP Records
VP Records is an independent reggae record label, located in Queens, New York. It is best known for producing Caribbean singers.-The foundation:...
.
Album discography
- Black Star Liners/True Rastaman (1976) Vulcan
- Nebuchadnezzar, King Of Babylon (1980) Revelations (also issued as Love and Harmony (1980) on Form, with different track order) (Fred Locks & The Steppers)
- Love and Only Love (1982) Tribesman/Regal (Fred Locks & The Creation Steppers)
- Culturally (1995) Starlight/Tan Yah
- Never Give Up (1998) Xterminator
- Missing Link (2000) VPVP RecordsVP Records is an independent reggae record label, located in Queens, New York. It is best known for producing Caribbean singers.-The foundation:...
- Glorify The Lord (2008) Cousins