Lee Perry
b. Rainford Hugh Perry, 28 March 1936, Hanover, Jamaica, West Indies, aka Scratch and the Upsetter. Small in stature, but a giant of reggae, Lee Perry began his musical career working for seminal producer Coxsone Dodd during the late 50s and early 60s, acting as a record scout, organizing recording sessions, and later supervising auditions at Dodd's record shop in Orange Street, Kingston. By 1963, as well as handling production and songwriting for Delroy Wilson ("Joe Liges", "Spit In The Sky") and the Maytals, Perry had released the first of his own vocal records through Dodd. Featuring a bluesy, declamatory vocal style over superb backing from the legendary Skatalites, these tracks set a pattern from which Perry, throughout his career, rarely deviated. Social and personal justice, bawdy, sometimes lewd, sexual commentary, and, like the material he wrote for Delroy Wilson, stinging attacks on musical rivals - mainly former Coxsone employee Prince Buster - are all prefigured on these early tracks such as "Prince In The Pack", "Trial And Crosses", "Help The Weak", "Give Me Justice", "Chicken Scratch" (from which he acquired his nickname), "Doctor Dick" with Rita Marley and the Soulettes on backing vocals, and "Madhead", recorded between 1963 and 1966. Incidentally, there was evidently no acrimony between Buster and Perry, as the latter often appeared on Buster's records, including "Ghost Dance" and "Judge Dread". Also during his sojourn with Dodd, he began an association with the Wailers that had repercussions later in the decade.
Listen to Lee Perry
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Albums
- (2008) Jamaican E.T.
- (2008) Dub-Triptych
Top Tracks
- Don't Blame The Baldhead
- Sugar Bag
- Chicken Scratch
- City Too Hot
- Clint Eastwood
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