Geoffrey Chung
Encyclopedia
Geoffrey Chung was a Jamaica
n musician
, recording engineer, and record producer
.
. He worked as a session keyboard
player and guitarist
in the 1960s, as a member of The Mighty Mystics and the Now Generation Band
, both of which also included his brother, guitarist Mikey Chung
, and Lee "Scratch" Perry's band The Upsetters
, among others. He began working as a producer in the 1970s, initially with Sharon Forrester
on her debut album, and set up his Edge productions company in 1974. His productions included work by The Abyssinians
, The Heptones
, and Marcia Griffiths
. He also worked with Ras Michael
's Sons of Negus band, on the 1975 album Rastafari Dub, playing synthesizer, organ and piano, and worked regularly with singer Pablo Moses
, both as keyboard player and producer, including his first and best-known recording "I Man a Grasshopper". Chung also produced the recordings that would be released as the first two albums from Ijahman Levi
. In the early 1980s he became resident engineer at the Dynamic studios, where he mixed several albums by Peter Tosh
, and he co-produced early recordings by Frankie Paul
. In the late 1980s he relocated to Miami, where he established his own recording studio. In 1991 he produced and engineered Maxi Priest
's Best of Me album. Geoffrey died in November 1995 of liver failure. Geoffrey's work continues to be released since his death such as the 2003 release of Everton Blender
's King Man album where he played clavinet
and acted as engineer.
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 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....
, recording engineer, and record 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...
.
Biography
Chung was born in 1950 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...
. He worked as a session keyboard
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
player and guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
in the 1960s, as a member of The Mighty Mystics and the Now Generation Band
Now Generation Band
The Now Generation Band was a Jamaican reggae band during the late 1960s into the 1970s. Beginning as a dance band on the road, they gradually undertook more recording dates and, in 1972, quit road work to concentrate on studio work....
, both of which also included his brother, guitarist Mikey Chung
Mikey Chung
Born Michael Chung in 1954, Mikey "Mao" Chung is a keyboard, guitar and percussion player, arranger and record producer of Jamaican music.-Biography:...
, and Lee "Scratch" Perry's band The Upsetters
The Upsetters
The Upsetters was the name given to the house band for Jamaican reggae producer Lee "Scratch" Perry. The name of the band comes from Perry's nickname of Upsetter, after his song "I Am The Upsetter", a musical dismissal of his former boss Coxsone Dodd....
, among others. He began working as a producer in the 1970s, initially with Sharon Forrester
Sharon Forrester
Sharon Forrester is a Jamaican reggae singer who had success in the 1970s and 1990s.-Biography:Born in Kingston, Jamaica in 1956, Forrester was born into a musical family and began singing at an early age, singing in church choirs from the age of six...
on her debut album, and set up his Edge productions company in 1974. His productions included work by The Abyssinians
The Abyssinians
The Abyssinians are a Jamaican roots reggae group, famous for their close harmonies and promotion of the Rastafari movement in their lyrics.-History:...
, The Heptones
The Heptones
The Heptones are a Jamaican rocksteady and reggae vocal trio most active in the 1960s and early 1970s. They were one of the more significant trios of that era, and played a major role in the gradual transition between ska and rocksteady with their three-part harmonies.-History:Leroy Sibbles, Earl...
, and Marcia Griffiths
Marcia Griffiths
Marcia Llyneth Griffiths is a successful female singer, also called the "Queen of Reggae". One reviewer described her noting "she is known primarily for her strong, smooth-as-mousse love songs and captivating live performances".Griffiths started her career in 1964...
. He also worked with Ras Michael
Ras Michael
Ras Michael is a Jamaican reggae singer and Nyabinghi specialist. He also performs under the name of Dadawah.-Biography:...
's Sons of Negus band, on the 1975 album Rastafari Dub, playing synthesizer, organ and piano, and worked regularly with singer Pablo Moses
Pablo Moses
-Biography:Pablo Moses has released a number of records over several decades, but he is best known for his debut, 1975's Revolutionary Dream, produced by Geoffrey Chung, which included "I Man A Grasshopper", engineered at The Black Ark by Lee "Scratch" Perry. His 1980 follow up, A Song, was well...
, both as keyboard player and producer, including his first and best-known recording "I Man a Grasshopper". Chung also produced the recordings that would be released as the first two albums from Ijahman Levi
Ijahman Levi
Ijahman Levi on June 21, 1946 is a reggae musician. His first album, Haile I Hymn, was released on Island Records in 1978. He became Ijahman Levi after a religious conversion to the Rastafari movement when he was in prison between 1972 and 1974...
. In the early 1980s he became resident engineer at the Dynamic studios, where he mixed several albums by Peter Tosh
Peter Tosh
Peter Tosh, born Winston Hubert McIntosh , was a Jamaican reggae musician who was a core member of the band The Wailers , and who afterward had a successful solo career as well as being a promoter of Rastafari.Peter Tosh was born in Grange Hill, Jamaica, an illegitimate child to a mother too young...
, and he co-produced early recordings by Frankie Paul
Frankie Paul
Paul Blake , better known as Frankie Paul, is one of Jamaica's best-loved and popular dancehall reggae artists. Born blind, he has been dubbed by some 'The Jamaican Stevie Wonder'.-Biography:...
. In the late 1980s he relocated to Miami, where he established his own recording studio. In 1991 he produced and engineered Maxi Priest
Maxi Priest
Max Alfred "Maxi" Priest is a British reggae vocalist of Jamaican descent. He is best known for singing reggae music with a R&B influence, otherwise known as reggae fusion, and became one of the first international successes who regularly dabbled in the genre as well as being one of the most...
's Best of Me album. Geoffrey died in November 1995 of liver failure. Geoffrey's work continues to be released since his death such as the 2003 release of Everton Blender
Everton Blender
Everton Blender Everton Dennis Williams, in Clarendon, Jamaica) is an award-winning reggae singer and producer, known for his smooth, crooning, tenor vocals, up-tempo arrangements, and spiritually uplifting themes, successfully bridging the gap between roots reggae and...
's King Man album where he played clavinet
Clavinet
A Clavinet is an electrically amplified keyboard instrument manufactured by the Hohner company. It is essentially an electronically amplified clavichord, analogous to an electric guitar. Its distinctive bright staccato sound has appeared particularly in funk, disco, rock, and reggae songs.Various...
and acted as engineer.
External links
- Geoffrey Chung at Roots Archives
- Geoffrey Chung at AllMusic.com