Chaka Demus
Encyclopedia
John Taylor better known as Chaka Demus, is a jamaica
n reggae
musician and DJ
.
, the Jammy-produced "Increase Your Knowledge" in 1985, he was virtually unknown and none of his early records
saw chart success, but would later become huge hits. Other musicians quickly recognised him as having great potential, most notably Yellowman
who joined him for such songs as "Everybody Loves Chaka", "Scotty", and "Bring It To Me" and Admiral Bailey
, who collaborated with him on "One Scotch, One Bourbon, One Beer", giving him his first hit. After minor success, he moved to the Penthouse Records label
where he recorded the single "Chaka on the Move" but switched back to Jammy's the following year where he paired up with Shabba Ranks
for the Rough & Rugged album. The same year saw the release of "Everybody Loves Chaka", for the Scorpio label, which was then followed up by the 1989 album, The Original Chaka' 'Watch me Ride'.
He first met Pliers (Everton Bonner) in 1991 and suggested that they team up. They enjoyed an internationally successful partnership including a string of hit singles and a number one album in the UK between 1993 and 1997.
In 2007, Chaka Demus & Pliers reunited to record a track called "Need Your Lovin" which was released on vinyl, on Explorer Records. On November 18, 2007, Chaka Demus & Pliers performed "Murder She Wrote" alongside Alicia Keys
at the 2007 American Music Awards
. The new album, "So Proud", of Chaka Demus & Pliers will be released in Europe and the Middle east in October 2008. A new solo album, called DJ Spirit was released in 2008.
Chaka Demus now runs his own record label, Bright Star, on which he has released records by his son, known by his stage name of Marvellous.
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 reggae
Reggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
musician and DJ
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...
.
Biography
Taylor was a regular attendee at Kingston dances and was given a chance by Prince Jammy to deejay on his sound system. Upon releasing his debut singleSingle (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
, the Jammy-produced "Increase Your Knowledge" in 1985, he was virtually unknown and none of his early records
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
saw chart success, but would later become huge hits. Other musicians quickly recognised him as having great potential, most notably Yellowman
Yellowman
Yellowman is a Jamaican reggae and dancehall deejay, widely known as King Yellowman...
who joined him for such songs as "Everybody Loves Chaka", "Scotty", and "Bring It To Me" and Admiral Bailey
Admiral Bailey
Admiral Bailey is a Jamaican dancehall deejay who enjoyed his greatest success between the mid-1980s and the early 1990s. He has been described as "the hottest dancehall star of the late 1980s".-Career:...
, who collaborated with him on "One Scotch, One Bourbon, One Beer", giving him his first hit. After minor success, he moved to the Penthouse Records label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
where he recorded the single "Chaka on the Move" but switched back to Jammy's the following year where he paired up with Shabba Ranks
Shabba Ranks
Shabba Ranks is a Jamaican dancehall musician.He was one of the most popular dancehall artists of his generation. He was also one of the first Jamaican deejays to gain worldwide acceptance, and recognition for his 'slack' lyrical expressions and content, when "ridin' di riddim"...
for the Rough & Rugged album. The same year saw the release of "Everybody Loves Chaka", for the Scorpio label, which was then followed up by the 1989 album, The Original Chaka' 'Watch me Ride'.
He first met Pliers (Everton Bonner) in 1991 and suggested that they team up. They enjoyed an internationally successful partnership including a string of hit singles and a number one album in the UK between 1993 and 1997.
In 2007, Chaka Demus & Pliers reunited to record a track called "Need Your Lovin" which was released on vinyl, on Explorer Records. On November 18, 2007, Chaka Demus & Pliers performed "Murder She Wrote" alongside Alicia Keys
Alicia Keys
Alicia Augello Cook , better known by her stage name Alicia Keys, is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and occasional actress. She was raised by a single mother in the Hell's Kitchen area of Manhattan in New York City. At age seven, Keys began playing the piano...
at the 2007 American Music Awards
American Music Awards of 2007
The 35th American Music Awards took place on November 18, 2007 at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles, California. The ceremony was hosted by Jimmy Kimmel.-Pop/Rock:Favorite Male Artist:*Akon*Timbaland*Justin Timberlake...
. The new album, "So Proud", of Chaka Demus & Pliers will be released in Europe and the Middle east in October 2008. A new solo album, called DJ Spirit was released in 2008.
Chaka Demus now runs his own record label, Bright Star, on which he has released records by his son, known by his stage name of Marvellous.