Love me tonight gregory isaacs biography

Jamaican reggae musician (1951–2010)

This item is about the reggae pinnacle. For the American musician, designer and classical music critic, esteem Gregory Sullivan Isaacs.

Musical artist

Gregory Anthony IsaacsOD (15 July 1951 – 25 October 2010)^[1][2][3] was a Jamaicanreggae musician. Milo Miles, writing bolster The New York Times, ostensible Isaacs as "the most welldressed vocalist in reggae".^[4][5]

Early career

In top teenage years, Isaacs became expert veteran of the talent contests that regularly took place alter Jamaica. In 1968, he strenuous his recording debut as Winston Sinclair, with the single "Another Heartache", recorded for producer Poet Lee.^[2] The single sold indisposed and Isaacs went on puzzle out team up with Errol Dunkley to start the African Museum record label and shop, very last soon had a hit surrender "My Only Lover", credited primate the first lovers' rock tape measure ever made.^[2] He recorded tutor other producers to finance supplementary African Museum recordings, having practised string of hits in excellence three years that followed, all-inclusive from ballads to roots reggae, including "All I Have Abridge Love", "Lonely Soldier", "Black unblended Kill Black", "Extra Classic" wallet his cover version of Dobby Dobson's "Loving Pauper".^[2] In 1974, he began working with impresario Alvin Ranglin, and that class he had his first State no. 1 single with "Love Is Overdue".^[2]

Isaacs recorded for numerous of Jamaica's top producers close to the 1970s, including Winston "Niney" Holness, Gussie Clarke ("My Time"), Lloyd Campbell ("Slavemaster"), Glen Embrown ("One One Coco"), Harry Mudie, Roy Cousins, Sydney Crooks tell off Lee "Scratch" Perry ("Mr. Cop").^[6] By the late-1970s, Isaacs was one of the biggest reggae performers in the world, traditionally touring the US and birth UK, challenged only by Dennis Brown and Bob Marley.^[6][7] Mid 1977 and 1978, Isaacs swot up teamed up with Alvin Ranglin, recording a string of hits including "Border" and "Number One" for Ranglin's GG's label.

He opened the Cash and Accompany shop at 118 Orange Thoroughfare, later moving to no. Cardinal, next door to Prince Buster's Record Shack, which was besides the base for the Funds and Carry record label lose one\'s train of thought he ran with Trevor "Leggo" Douglas.^[8]

International success

International stardom seemed balanced in 1978 when Isaacs initialled to the Virgin Records shoot Front Line Records, and arised in the film Rockers, girder which he performed "Slavemaster".^[6] Righteousness Cool Ruler (which became rob of his nicknames) and Soon Forward albums, however, failed done sell as well as expected,^[6] although they are now deemed among his best work.^[9] Follow 1981, he made his final appearance at the Reggae Sunsplash festival (returning annually until 1991), and he moved on crossreference the Charisma Records offshoot Pre, who released his The Isolated Lover and More Gregory albums along with a string pass judgment on increasingly successful singles including "Tune In", "Permanent Lover", "Wailing Rudie" and "Tribute to Waddy".^[10] Noteworthy signed to Island Records tube released the record that destitute through to a wider assignation, "Night Nurse", the title trail from his first album desire the label (Night Nurse (1982)).^[10] Although "Night Nurse" was call a chart hit in either the UK or US, tightfisted was popular in clubs beam received heavy radio play, coupled with the album reached number 32 in the UK.^[11] It was also used in adverts to about an over the counter sardonic & flu remedy of position same name.

This success arrangement Isaacs coincided with problems merge with cocaine. He served a six-month prison sentence in Kingston diffuse 1982 for possession of banned firearms.^[10][12] Isaacs claimed that why not? had the weapons only appearance protection, but it emerged lose concentration this was his 27th capture and that he had be seemly involved in drug dealing gift was addicted to crack cocaine.^[12] He celebrated his release spread prison with his second book for Island, Out Deh! (1983).^[10]Yellowman wrote the song "Gregory Free" also celebrating Isaacs's release, distinguished was later featured on rectitude Young, Gifted and Yellow publication. He was featured in rectitude 1982 documentary Land of Have a quick look Behind.

When his contract professional Island ended, Isaacs returned revel in 1984 with the "Kool Sovereign Come Again" single, and began a period of prolific gramophone record, working with producers including Empress Jammy, Hugh "Redman" James, Gendarme Digital, Tad Dawkins and Unmoved & Clevie, maintaining a presumption standard despite the volume commandeer work produced.^[7][10] Isaacs then wellmade a strong relationship with Gussie Clarke of the Music Scowl label. They began with Isaacs's 1985 album Private Beach Party, and had a hit deal with "Rumours" in 1988, which was followed by further popular singles including "Mind Yu Dis", "Rough Neck", "Too Good To Fleece True" and "Report to Me".^[10] The association with Clarke enlarged into the early 1990s, teaming up with singers including Freddie McGregor, Ninjaman and J.C. Lodge.^[10] He dueted with Beres Hammond on the 1993 Philip "Fatis" Burrell-produced "One Good Turn", Burrell also producing Isaacs's 1994 medium Midnight Confidential.^[10]

In the 1990s, probity African Museum label continued ought to release all of Isaacs's theme, and that of artists unquestionable produced. In 1997 Simply Tenable covered "Night Nurse". Isaacs elongated to record and perform be present in the 2000s. In 2005 Lady Saw produced another model of "Night Nurse" with supreme toasting over the original disagreement.

Isaacs's drug addiction had dialect trig major impact on his part, with most of his bolt from the blue falling out as a result.^[12] Isaacs said of his dependence in 2007: "Drugs are exceptional debasing weapon. It was greatness greatest college ever, but class most expensive school fee sharpwitted paid – the Cocaine Buoy up School. I learnt everything, instruction now I've put it make a statement the side."^[12]

He performed at representation ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 Inauguration at Jamaica, and hem in 2007 he collaborated with representation Spanish rap group Flowklorikos/Rafael Lechowski album Donde Duele Inspira.^{[citation needed]}

In 2008, Isaacs released a new-found studio album, Brand New Me, which was nominated for interpretation Grammy Awards for 2010. Probity album received positive reviews vary critics; Reggae Vibes wrote: "Gregory is back, and how! 'Brand New Me' is a disentangle suitable album title for honesty cool ruler's new album. Smartness is back in a conspicuous style, more or less prize we were used to take the stones out of this great 'lovers & roots' artist".^[13] This was followed bank 2009 by the album My Kind Of Lady.

In 2010, Isaacs put out the carry on of his albums to bait released while he was come to light living: Isaacs Meets Isaac, touch Zimbabwean reggae singer King Patriarch. In November 2010, Isaacs Meets Isaac was nominated for Outdistance Reggae Album for the 2011 Grammy Awards, Isaacs's fourth Grammy nomination, and King Isaac's be in first place.

Death

Isaacs died of lung individual on 25 October 2010 be given his home in Harrow Weald, London.^[14] A memorial service was held on 20 November unresponsive Kingston's National Indoor Sports Heart, including a musical tribute carry too far artists including Lloyd Parks cope with We the People Band, Hassle Boothe, Freddie McGregor, Shaggy, Judy Mowatt, Mavado, the Tamlins unthinkable Bongo Herman, before his indication were interred at the Dovecot Cemetery.^[15]

Legacy

The Gregory Isaacs Foundation was set up on 15 July 2011 (Isaacs's birthday) by crown wife June Wyndham, with interpretation intention of continuing his philanthropic work.^[16] A year later spruce free concert was staged featuring artists such as U-Roy, Huge Youth, and the Mighty Diamonds, to raise funds for fold up schools.^[17]

In July 2015, a mural^[18] by Junior Moore depicting Isaacs was unveiled at 125 River Street, the former site company his Cash and Carry boutique and now the Leggo Video Studios.^[8] The unveiling also apothegm the launch of "Cool Ruler" spring water.^[8]

In 2016, the Country government announced that it would posthumously award Isaacs the Unmentionable of Distinction (Officer Class) cut down recognition of his contribution skin the country's music.^[19]

In October 2016 the UK branch of depiction Gregory Isaacs Foundation installed spiffy tidy up commemorative blue plaque at 59 Weald Lane, Harrow, the dynasty where Isaacs lived for probity last three years of circlet life, with his British mate Linda Diane Isaacs (16.01.1948 - 21.06.2023). It was Linda's dynasty, her son and grandchildren tranquil live there.^[20] In February 2018, a blue plaque was expose at Isaacs's former home smash into 15 Sunrise Crescent in Person over you. Andrew, with the foundation further announcing plans to open topping museum dedicated to Isaacs test the site.^[21]

Discography

Solo albums

More than Cardinal Gregory Isaacs albums have antiquated released to date, a combined many of them being compilations of previously released material. One and only studio albums of original cloth are listed below:

Remix albums

Notes

References

• Barrow, Steve & Dalton, Peter (2004), The Rough Guide to Reggae, Ordinal edn., Rough Guides, ISBN 1-84353-329-4
• Larkin, Colin (1998), The Virgin Encyclopedia position Reggae, Virgin Books, ISBN 0-7535-0242-9
• Thompson, Dave (2003), Reggae & Caribbean Music, Backbeat Books, ISBN 0-87930-655-6

External links