Jack Ruby (record producer)
Encyclopedia
Lawrence Lindo better known as Jack Ruby, was a Jamaica
n record producer
and sound system operator, best known for his 1970s productions of artists such as Burning Spear
.
Ruby was based in Ocho Rios
and ran the Jack Ruby Hi Fi sound system, and is considered one of the best roots reggae
producers of the 1970s, and is noted for his use of horn arrangements. Ruby produced Burning Spear's Marcus Garvey
and Man in the Hills
albums, both of which were licenced to Island Records
, establishing Spear as an international success. Other artists that he produced include Justin Hinds
(Just in Time/Jezebel), The Gaylads
, The Heptones
, and Big Youth
.
Ruby appeared as himself in the film Rockers, which also features Kiddus I
recording "Graduation in Zion" in Ruby's studio.
In the 1980s he suffered from ill-health and his productions were less regular, although he produced the debut album by Groundation
in 1988. He died in 1989.
His son, who works under the name Jack Ruby Jr. is a deejay
who has worked with The Toasters
, and his grandson is the singer Sean Kingston
.
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 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...
and sound system operator, best known for his 1970s productions of artists such as Burning Spear
Burning Spear
Winston Rodney, OD , also known as Burning Spear, is a Jamaican roots reggae singer and musician. Burning Spear is known for his Rastafari movement messages.-History:...
.
Ruby was based in Ocho Rios
Ocho Rios
Ocho Ríos is a town in the parish of Saint Ann on the north coast of Jamaica. Although he landed in many spots along the Jamaican coast, many believe that Christopher Columbus first set foot on land in Ocho Rios...
and ran the Jack Ruby Hi Fi sound system, and is considered one of the best roots reggae
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...
producers of the 1970s, and is noted for his use of horn arrangements. Ruby produced Burning Spear's Marcus Garvey
Marcus Garvey (album)
Marcus Garvey is the third album by the reggae singer Burning Spear, released in 1975 on Island Records, ILPS 9377. The album is named after the Jamaican National Hero Marcus Garvey...
and Man in the Hills
Man in the Hills
Man in the Hills is a reggae album by Jamaican musician Burning Spear , released in 1976 on Island Records. Man in the Hills was follow-up to the seminal Marcus Garvey; Man in the Hills is usually considered a worthy follow-up, though less innovative and incendiary...
albums, both of which were licenced to Island Records
Island Records
Island Records is a record label that was founded by Chris Blackwell in Jamaica. It was based in the United Kingdom for many years and is now owned by Universal Music Group...
, establishing Spear as an international success. Other artists that he produced include Justin Hinds
Justin Hinds
Justin Hinds was a Jamaican ska vocalist, with his backing singers the Dominoes.He is best known for his work with Duke Reid's Treasure Isle Records, where his most notable song, "Carry Go Bring Come" recorded in late 1963, went to number one in Jamaica...
(Just in Time/Jezebel), The Gaylads
The Gaylads
The Gaylads were one of the top Rocksteady vocal groups active in Jamaica between 1963 and 1973. The group, formed in Kingston, originally consisted of singers Harris "B.B." Seaton, Winston Delano Stewart and Maurice Roberts; Seaton and Stewart had previously been successful as the duo Winston &...
, 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 Big Youth
Big Youth
Manley Augustus Buchanan , better known as Big Youth , is a Jamaican deejay, mostly known for his work during the 1970s....
.
Ruby appeared as himself in the film Rockers, which also features Kiddus I
Kiddus I
Kiddus I is a reggae singer and musician, best known for his appearance in the film Rockers.-Biography:...
recording "Graduation in Zion" in Ruby's studio.
In the 1980s he suffered from ill-health and his productions were less regular, although he produced the debut album by Groundation
Groundation
Groundation is an American roots reggae band with jazz and dub influences from Sonoma County in Northern California.-History:Formed in the fall of 1998 by Harrison Stafford, Marcus Urani, and Ryan Newman, Groundation began on the campus of Sonoma State University's Jazz Program...
in 1988. He died in 1989.
His son, who works under the name Jack Ruby Jr. is 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...
who has worked with The Toasters
The Toasters
The Toasters was one of the first American bands in the third wave of ska, and is one of the longest active third wave ska bands.They have released nine studio albums, most of them on Moon Ska Records. The Toasters experienced a small degree of commercial success in the late 1990s due to the...
, and his grandson is the singer Sean Kingston
Sean Kingston
Sean Kingston is a Jamaican-American singer. He pursued a music career and debuted in 2007 with the album Sean Kingston.-Early life:...
.
Productions
- Burning Spear - Marcus GarveyMarcus Garvey (album)Marcus Garvey is the third album by the reggae singer Burning Spear, released in 1975 on Island Records, ILPS 9377. The album is named after the Jamaican National Hero Marcus Garvey...
(1976) - Burning Spear - Garvey's Ghost (1976)
- Burning Spear - Harder Than The Best (compilation of recordings from 1975–1977)
- Burning Spear - Man in the Hills (1976)
- Justin Hinds & the Dominoes - Jezebel (1976)
- Justin Hinds - Just in Time (1978)
- Kiddus I - Graduation in Zion (compilation 1978–1980) - produced some tracks
- Ken BootheKen BootheKen Boothe OD is a Jamaican recording artist.-Biography:Ken Boothe was born in the Denham Town area of Kingston in 1948, the youngest of seven children, and began singing in school...
& Tyrone Taylor - Two of a Kind (1987) - Various Artists - Black Slavery Days (The Sound of St. Ann's) (recorded 1975, released 1981)
- Various Artists - Jack Ruby Hi Fi (1981)
- Various Artists - Jack Ruby Presents the Black Foundation (compilation of 1970s recordings)
- King TubbyKing TubbyKing Tubby was a Jamaican electronics and sound engineer, known primarily for his influence on the development of dub in the 1960s and 1970s...
& Errol Thompson - The Black Foundation in Dub (dubs of the above album) - Donovan World Power (1987)
- Donovan Banzai (1988)
- Foundation -Flames (1987)
- Foundation -Heart Feel It (1988)
- Earth Messengers -Ivory Towers (1988)
- Link and Chain - New Day (1988)
- Revealers - hard times 70's