Gregory Isaacs
(born Gregory Anthony Isaacs
, 15 July, 1951, Fletchers Land, Kingston, Jamaica) [1] is a Jamaican reggae musician. Milo Miles, writing in the New York Times
, described Isaacs as "the most exquisite vocalist in reggae". [2]
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GREGORY ISAACS TICKETS
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Career
In his teens, Isaacs became a veteran of the talent contests that regularly took place in Jamaica, and in 1968 he made his recording debut with a duet with Winston Sinclair, "Another Heartache", recorded for producer
Byron Lee.
The single sold poorly and Isaacs went on to team up with two other vocalists (Penroe and Bramwell) in the short-lived trio The Concords, recording for
Rupie Edwards and
Prince Buster.
The trio split up in 1970 and Isaacs launched his solo career, initially self-producing recordings and also recording further for Edwards.
In 1973 he teamed up with another young singer,
Errol Dunkley to start the
African Museum record label and shop, and soon had a massive hit with "My Only Lover", credited as the first
lovers rock record ever made.
He recorded for other producers to finance further African Museum recordings, having a string of hits in the three years that followed, ranging from ballads to
roots reggae, including "All I Have Is Love", "Lonely Soldier", "Black a Kill Black", "Extra Classic", and his
cover version of
Dobby Dobson's "Loving Pauper".
In 1974 he began working with producer
Alvin Ranglin, and that year he had his first Jamaican number one single with "Love Is Overdue".
Isaacs recorded for many of Jamaica's top producers during the 1970s, including
Winston "Niney" Holness,
Gussie Clarke ("My Time"),
Lloyd Campbell ("Slavemaster"),
Glen Brown ("One One Cocoa Fill Basket"),
Harry Mudie,
Roy Cousins,
Sidney Crooks, and
Lee "Scratch" Perry ("Mr. Cop").
[3] By the late 1970s, Isaacs was one of the biggest reggae performers in the world, regularly touring the US and the UK, and only challenged by
Dennis Brown and
Bob Marley.
Between 1977 and 1978, Isaacs again teamed up with Alvin Ranglin, recording a string of hits including "Border" and "Number One" for Ranglin's GG's label.
International stardom seemed assured in 1978 when Isaacs signed to the
Virgin Records offshoot Front Line Records, and appeared in the film
Rockers
, in which he performed "Slavemaster".
The
Cool Ruler
and
Soon Forward
albums, however, failed to sell as well as expected,
although they are now considered among his best work.
[5] In 1981, he made his first appearance at the
Reggae Sunsplash festival (returning annually until 1991), and he moved on to the
Charisma Records offshoot Pre, who released his
The Lonely Lover
and
More Gregory
albums along with a string of increasingly successful singles including "Tune In", "Permanent Lover", "Wailing Rudy", and "Tribute to Waddy".
[6] He signed to
Island Records and released the record that finally saw him break through to a wider audience, "Night Nurse", the title track from his first album for the label (
Night Nurse
(1982)).
Although "Night Nurse" was not a chart hit in either the UK or US, it was hugely popular in clubs and received heavy radio play, and the album reached #32 in the UK.
[7] This success for Isaacs coincided with drug problems which saw him serve a six-month prison sentence in Kingston in 1982 for possession of unlicensed firearms.
Isaacs claimed that he had the weapons only for protection, but it emerged that this was his 27th arrest and that Isaacs had become involved in drug dealing and had become addicted to
crack cocaine.
He celebrated his release form prison with his second album for Island,
Out Deh!
(1983).
When his contract with Island ended, Isaacs returned in 1984 with the "Kool Ruler Come Again" single, and began a period of prolific recording, working with producers including
Prince Jammy, Red Man,
Bobby Digital,
Tad Dawkins, and
Steely & Clevie, maintaining a consistent standard despite the volume of work produced.
Isaacs then built a strong relationship with Gussie Clarke of the Music Works label. They began with Isaacs' 1985 album
Private Beach Party
, and had a massive hit with "Rumours" in 1988, which was followed by further popular singles including "Mind Yu Dis", "Rough Neck", "Too Good To Be True", and "Report to Me".
The association with Clarke continued into the early 1990s, teaming up with singers including
Freddie McGregor,
Ninjaman, and
JC Lodge.
He duetted with
Beres Hammond on the 1993
Philip "Fatis" Burrell-produced "One Good Turn", Burrell also producing Isaacs' 1994 album
Midnight Confidential
.
In the 1990s the African Museum label continued to release all of Isaacs' music, and that of artists he produced. In 1997
Simply Red covered "
Night Nurse" and had a hit with it. Isaacs continues to record and perform live in the 2000s. In 2005
Lady Saw produced another version of "Night Nurse" with her
toasting over the original
lyrics.
Isaacs' drug addiction had a major impact on his voice, with most of his teeth falling out as a result.
Isaccs said of his addiction in 2007: "Drugs are a debasing weapon. It was the greatest college ever, but the most expensive school fee ever paid – the Cocaine High School. I learnt everything, and now I've put it on the side."
He also performed at the
ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 Inauguration at Jamaica.
In 2007 he collaborated with the Spanish rap group
Flowklorikos album Donde Duele Inspira.
In 2008, after some 40 years as a recording artist, Isaacs released a new studio album
Brand New Me
. The album received positive reviews from critics, such as this review from Reggae Vibes: "Gregory is back, and how! 'Brand New Me' is a very suitable album title for the cool ruler's new album. He is back in a different style, more or less like we were used to from this great 'lovers & roots' artist"
[9]
His
nicknames include "Cool Ruler"
[10] and "Lonely Lover".
Discography
More than 500 Gregory Isaacs albums have been released during his career, many being compilations. Studio albums of original material are listed below:
- In Person
(1975) Trojan
- All I Have Is Love
(1976) Trojan
- The Best Of Vol. 1
(1977) GG's
- Extra Classic
(1977) African Museum
- Mr Isaacs
(1977) DEB
- Cool Ruler
(1978) Front Line
- Soon Forward
(1979) Front Line
- Slum (Gregory Isaacs in Dub)
(1978) Burning Sounds
- Gregory Isaacs Meets Ronnie Davis
(1979) Plant (with Ronnie Davis)
- Showcase
(1980) Taxi
- Lonely Lover
(1980) Pre
- More Gregory
(1981) Pre
- The Best Of Vol. 2
(1981) GG's
- Night Nurse
(1982) Island/Mango
- Out Deh!
(1983) Island/Mango
- Let's Go Dancing
(1984)
- Judge Not
(1985) Greensleeves (with Dennis Brown)
- Private Beach Party
(1985) RAS
- Easy
(1985) Tad's
- Double Dose
(1986) Blue Trac (with Sugar Minott)
- All I Have is Love Love Love
(1987) Tad's
- Victim
(1987) VP
- Watchman of the City
(1987) Rohit
- Red Rose for Gregory
(1988) RAS
- Warning
- I.O.U.
(1989) RAS
- On The Dance Floor
(1990) Heartbeat
- Call Me Collect
(1990) RAS
- Set Me Free
(1991) Vine Yard
- No Intention
(1991) VP
- Boom Shot
(1991) Shanachie
- State of Shock
(1991) RAS
- Past and Future
(1991) VP
- Pardon Me!
(1992) RAS
- Rudie Boo
(1992) Star Trail
- Unattended
(1993) Pow Wow
- Unlocked
(1993) RAS
- Midnight Confidential
(1994) Greensleeves
- Dreaming
(1995) Heartbeat
- Not a One Man Thing
(1995) RAS
- Private Lesson
(1996) Heartbeat
- Mr. Cool
(1996) VP
- Maximum Respect
(1996) House of Reggae
- Hold Tight
(1997) Heartbeat
- Hardcore Hits
(1997) Ikus
- Kingston 14 Denham Town
(1998) Jamaican Vibes
- New Dance
(1999) Prestige
- Turn Down The Lights
(1999) Artists Only
- So Much Love
(2000) Joe Gibbs Music
- Future Attraction
(2000) VP
- Life's Lonely Road
(2004)
- Give It All Up
(2004) Heartbeat
- Rat Patrol
(2004) African Museum
- Masterclass
(2004) Greensleeves
- Revenge
(2005) P.O.T.
- Substance Free
(2005) Vizion Sounds
- Hold Tight
(2008) Mafia & Fluxy
- Brand New Me
(2008) African Museum
See also
- Land of Look Behind
, a documentary film featuring Isaacs
Notes
- Thompson, p.127
- Miles
- Thompson, p.128
- Larkin, p.136
- Barrow, p.197
- Thompson, p.129
- Gregory Issacs, ChartStats
- Perry, Andrew (2007) "The cool ruler of reggae makes a comeback", ''The Daily Telegraph'', 11 January 2007
- Review of ''Brand New Me'', Reggae Vibes
- Kiviat
References
- Thompson, p.127
- Miles
- Thompson, p.128
- Larkin, p.136
- Barrow, p.197
- Thompson, p.129
- Gregory Issacs, ChartStats
- Perry, Andrew (2007) "The cool ruler of reggae makes a comeback", ''The Daily Telegraph'', 11 January 2007
- Review of ''Brand New Me'', Reggae Vibes
- Kiviat