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Derrick Morgan (born 27 March 1940, Mocho, Clarendon Parish
Clarendon Parish, Jamaica

Clarendon is a parish in Jamaica. It is located on the south of the island, roughly half-way between the island's eastern and western ends. Located in the county of Middlesex, it is bordered by Manchester Parish, Jamaica on the west, Saint Catherine Parish, Jamaica in the east, and in the north by Saint Ann Parish, Jamaica....
, Jamaica
Jamaica

Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length and as much as in width situated in the Caribbean Sea. It is about south of Cuba, and west of the island of Hispaniola, on which Haiti and the Dominican Republic are situated....
) is a musical artist
Musician

A musician is a person who plays or writes music. Musicians can be classified by their roles in creating or performing music:* An instrumentalist plays a musical instrument....
 popular in the 1960s and 1970s. He worked with Desmond Dekker
Desmond Dekker

Desmond Dekker was a Jamaican ska and reggae singer and songwriter. Together with his backing group, The Aces , he had one of the first international Jamaican hits with "Israelites "....
, Bob Marley
Bob Marley

Robert "Bob" Nesta Marley Jamaican Order of Merit was a Jamaican singer-songwriter and musician. He was the lead singer, songwriter and guitarist for the ska, rocksteady and reggae bands: The Wailers and Bob Marley & the Wailers ....
, and Jimmy Cliff
Jimmy Cliff

Jimmy Cliff Jamaican Order of Merit is a Jamaican ska and reggae musician. He is best known among mainstream audiences for songs such as "Sittin' in Limbo", "You Can Get It If You Really Want", "Many Rivers to Cross" from the The Harder They Come to The Harder They Come which helped popularize reggae across the world; and for his cover...
 in the ska
Ska

Ska is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1950s, and was the precursor to rocksteady and reggae. Ska combined elements of Caribbean mento and Calypso music with United States jazz and rhythm and blues....
 genre, and he also performed rocksteady
Rocksteady

Rocksteady is a music genre that was most popular in Jamaica, starting around 1966, and its reggae successor was established around 1968.The term rocksteady comes from a dance style that was mentioned in the Alton Ellis song "Rock Steady"....
 and skinhead
Skinhead

A skinhead is a member of a subculture that originated among working class youths in the United Kingdom in the 1960s, and then spread to other parts of the world....
 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 Music of Jamaica, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady....
.

In 1957, Morgan entered the Vere Johns Opportunity Hour, a talent show held at the Palace Theatre in Kingston
Kingston, Jamaica

Kingston is the Capital and largest city of Jamaica and is located on the southeastern coast of the island country. It faces a natural harbor protected by the Palisadoes, a long spit which connects Port Royal and the Norman Manley International Airport to the rest of the island....
. He won with rousing impressions of Little Richard
Little Richard

Rev. Richard Wayne Penniman , better known by the stage name Little Richard, is anAmerican singer, songwriter and pianist. He is considered a key figure in the transition from Rhythm and blues to Rock and roll in the 1950s....
, and shortly after that, was recruited to perform around the island with the popular Jamaican comedy team, Bim and Bam.






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Derrick Morgan (born 27 March 1940, Mocho, Clarendon Parish
Clarendon Parish, Jamaica

Clarendon is a parish in Jamaica. It is located on the south of the island, roughly half-way between the island's eastern and western ends. Located in the county of Middlesex, it is bordered by Manchester Parish, Jamaica on the west, Saint Catherine Parish, Jamaica in the east, and in the north by Saint Ann Parish, Jamaica....
, Jamaica
Jamaica

Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length and as much as in width situated in the Caribbean Sea. It is about south of Cuba, and west of the island of Hispaniola, on which Haiti and the Dominican Republic are situated....
) is a musical artist
Musician

A musician is a person who plays or writes music. Musicians can be classified by their roles in creating or performing music:* An instrumentalist plays a musical instrument....
 popular in the 1960s and 1970s. He worked with Desmond Dekker
Desmond Dekker

Desmond Dekker was a Jamaican ska and reggae singer and songwriter. Together with his backing group, The Aces , he had one of the first international Jamaican hits with "Israelites "....
, Bob Marley
Bob Marley

Robert "Bob" Nesta Marley Jamaican Order of Merit was a Jamaican singer-songwriter and musician. He was the lead singer, songwriter and guitarist for the ska, rocksteady and reggae bands: The Wailers and Bob Marley & the Wailers ....
, and Jimmy Cliff
Jimmy Cliff

Jimmy Cliff Jamaican Order of Merit is a Jamaican ska and reggae musician. He is best known among mainstream audiences for songs such as "Sittin' in Limbo", "You Can Get It If You Really Want", "Many Rivers to Cross" from the The Harder They Come to The Harder They Come which helped popularize reggae across the world; and for his cover...
 in the ska
Ska

Ska is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1950s, and was the precursor to rocksteady and reggae. Ska combined elements of Caribbean mento and Calypso music with United States jazz and rhythm and blues....
 genre, and he also performed rocksteady
Rocksteady

Rocksteady is a music genre that was most popular in Jamaica, starting around 1966, and its reggae successor was established around 1968.The term rocksteady comes from a dance style that was mentioned in the Alton Ellis song "Rock Steady"....
 and skinhead
Skinhead

A skinhead is a member of a subculture that originated among working class youths in the United Kingdom in the 1960s, and then spread to other parts of the world....
 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 Music of Jamaica, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady....
.

In 1957, Morgan entered the Vere Johns Opportunity Hour, a talent show held at the Palace Theatre in Kingston
Kingston, Jamaica

Kingston is the Capital and largest city of Jamaica and is located on the southeastern coast of the island country. It faces a natural harbor protected by the Palisadoes, a long spit which connects Port Royal and the Norman Manley International Airport to the rest of the island....
. He won with rousing impressions of Little Richard
Little Richard

Rev. Richard Wayne Penniman , better known by the stage name Little Richard, is anAmerican singer, songwriter and pianist. He is considered a key figure in the transition from Rhythm and blues to Rock and roll in the 1950s....
, and shortly after that, was recruited to perform around the island with the popular Jamaican comedy team, Bim and Bam. In 1959, Morgan entered the recording studio
Recording studio

A recording studio is a facility for Sound recording and reproduction. Ideally, the space is specially designed by an acoustics to achieve the desired acoustic properties ....
 for the first time. Duke Reid
Duke Reid

Arthur "Duke" Reid, CD was a Jamaican record producer, DJ and record label owner.He ran one of the most popular Reggae sound system of the 1950s called Duke Reid's the Trojan after the British-made trucks used to transport the equipment....
, the acclaimed sound system
Sound system

Sound system may refer to:*sound reinforcement system, a system for amplifying audio for an audience.*sound system , a group of DJs contributing and working together as one....
 boss, was looking for talent to record for his Treasure Isle record label
Record label

In the music industry, a record label can be a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of recorded sound and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the Record producer, manufacturing, distribution , marketing and promotion, and enforcement of copyright protec...
. Morgan cut two popular shuffle-boogie
Boogie

Boogie is a repetitive, swung note or shuffle rhythm , groove or pattern used in blues which was originally played on the piano in boogie-woogie ....
 sides "Lover Boy", aka "S-Corner Rock", and "Oh My". Soon after, Morgan cut the bolero
Bolero

Bolero is a name given to certain slow, romantic latin music and its associated dance and song. There are Spanish people and Cuban forms, which are both significant, and which have separate origins....
 tinged boogie, "Fat Man", which also became a hit. He also found time to record
Sound recording and reproduction

Sound recording and reproduction is the electrical or mechanics inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects....
 for Coxsone Dodd
Coxsone Dodd

Clement Seymour "Sir Coxsone" Dodd, CD was a Jamaican record producer who was influential in the development of ska and reggae in the 1950s, 1960s and beyond....
.

In 1960, Morgan became the first artist to fill the places from one to number seven on national pop
Pop music

Pop music is a music genre that features a noticeable rhythmic element, melodies and hook , a mainstream style and a conventional structure.The term "pop music" was first used in 1926 in the sense of "having popular appeal" , but since the 1950s it has been used in the sense of a musical genre, originally characterized as a lighter alternat...
 chart
Record chart

Record chart are a method of ranking music according to popularity during a given period of time. Examples of music charts are the Hit parade, Hot 100 or Top 40....
 simultaneously, a feat that to this day has never been matched. Among those hits were "Don't Call Me Daddy", "In My Heart", "Be Still" and "Meekly Wait and Murmur Not". But it would be the following year that Morgan would release the biggest hit of his career, the Leslie Kong
Leslie Kong

Leslie Kong was a Chinese Jamaican, reggae record producer....
 production
Record producer

In the music industry, a record producer has many roles, among them controlling the recording sessions, coaching and guiding the musicians, organizing and scheduling production budget and resources, and supervising the recording, Audio mixing and audio mastering processes....
 of "You Don't Know", later re-titled, "Housewives’ Choice" by a local DJ
Disc jockey

A disc jockey is a person who selects and plays sound recording for an audience. Originally, disk referred to phonograph records, while disc refers to the Compact Disc, and has become the more common spelling....
. The song
Song

A song is a musical musical composition which contains vocal parts that are performed, 'sung,' and feature words , commonly accompanied by musical instruments ....
 featured a bouncing ska riddim
Riddim

A riddim is an instrumental version of a song, which applies to Music of Jamaica or other forms of List of Caribbean music genres. Riddims usually consist of a drum pattern and a prominent bassline....
, along with a duet
Duet (music)

A duet is a musical composition or musical piece for two performers. In classical music the term is most often used for a composition for two singers or pianists; with other instruments, the word Wiktionary:duo is also often used....
 sung by Morgan and Millicent "Patsy" Todd.

"Housewives’ Choice" began the legendary rivalry between Morgan and Prince Buster
Prince Buster

Cecil Bustamente Campbell, Order of Distinction , better known as Prince Buster and less known by his muslim name Muhammed Yusef Ali, is a musician from Kingston, Jamaica, Jamaica and regarded as one of the most important figures in the history of ska and rocksteady music....
, who accused Morgan of stealing his ideas. Buster quickly released, "Blackhead Chiney Man", chiding Morgan with that sarcastic putdown of, "I did not know your parents were from Hong Kong
Hong Kong

Hong Kong , officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, is a territory located in Southern China in East Asia, bordering the province of Guangdong to the north and facing the South China Sea to the east, west and south....
", a clear swipe at Kong. Morgan returned with the classic, "Blazing Fire", in which he warns Buster to "Live and let others live, and your days will be much longer. You said it. Now it’s the Blazing Fire". Buster shot back with, "Watch It Blackhead" which Morgan countered with, "No Raise No Praise" and "Still Insist". Followers of both artists often clashed, and eventually the government
Government

Government is the body within any organization that has the authority to make and the power to enforce laws, regulations, or rules. Typically, the government refers to a civil government -- local, provincial, or national -- but commercial, academic, religious, or other formal organizations are also administered by governing bodies....
 had to step in with a staged photo shoot depicting the rivals as 'friends'.

In the mid 1960s, when ska evolved into the cooler, more soulful rocksteady
Rocksteady

Rocksteady is a music genre that was most popular in Jamaica, starting around 1966, and its reggae successor was established around 1968.The term rocksteady comes from a dance style that was mentioned in the Alton Ellis song "Rock Steady"....
 period, Morgan continued to release top quality material, including the seminal rude boy
Rude boy

Rude boy, rudeboy, rudie, rudi or rudy were common terms for juvenile delinquents and criminals in 1960s Jamaica, and have since been used in other contexts....
 classic, "Tougher Than Tough", "Do the Beng Beng", "Conquering Ruler", and a cover
Cover version

In popular music, a cover version, or simply cover, is a new rendition of a previously recorded, commercially released song.In its current use, it can sometimes have a pejorative meaning — implying that the original recording should be regarded as the definitive version, usually in the sense of an "authentic" rendition, and all...
 of Ben E. King
Ben E. King

Ben E. King is an United States soul music singer. He is perhaps best known as the singer and songwriter of "Stand by Me ," a United States Top 40 hit record in both 1961 and 1987 and a chart-topper in the United Kingdom in 1987, and as one of the principal lead singers of the R&B vocal group, The Drifters....
’s soul
Soul music

Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the African American culture through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of funky, Secularity testifying." The genre occasion...
 hit, "Seven Letters". Produced by Bunny Lee
Bunny Lee

Edward O'Sullivan Lee, better known as Bunny "Striker" Lee was a prominent, prolific and successful Jamaican record producer in the 1960s and 1970s....
, the latter is often cited as the first true reggae single. In 1969, Morgan cut the famous skinhead anthem, "Moon Hop" (on Crab Records
Crab Records

Crab Records was a reggae label that issued releases from 1968 to 1971. Crab was a subsidiary of Pama Records, who along with Trojan Records, was one the major labels for reggae music in the UK....
). However, failing eyesight then forced him from the stage
Stage (theatre)

In theatre, the stage is a designated space for the performance of theatrical productions. The stage serves as a space for actors or performers and a focal point for the members of the audience....
, but Morgan still performs occasionally at ska revival shows across the world
World

World is a common name for the planet Earth seen from a human worldview, as a place inhabited by human beings. It is often used to signify the sum of human experience and history, or the 'human condition' in general....
. Often backed by the guitarist
Guitarist

A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may perform solo pieces or play with ensembles and bands of a wide variety of genres....
, Lynn Taitt
Lynn Taitt

Lynn Taitt is a reggae guitarist born in Trinidad and Tobago, closely associated with Jamaican rocksteady music.Nerlynn Taitt was born in Trinidad where, before taking up the guitar, he got his start as a musician playing in local steel drum bands....
, Morgan remained popular in Jamaica and the UK
United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom , the UK or Britain,is a sovereign state located off the northwestern coast of continental Europe....
 into the early 1970s. He has lived primaily in either the UK or the U.S.
United States

The United States of America is a Federal government constitutional republic comprising U.S. state and a federal district. The country is situated mostly in central North America, where its Contiguous United States and Washington, D.C., the Capital districts and territories, lie between the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Oceans, Borders of the U...
 since the late 1960s.

In July 2002 in Toronto
Toronto

Toronto is the List of the 100 largest municipalities in Canada by population in Canada and the Provinces and territories of Canada Provincial and territorial capitals of Canada of Ontario....
, Canada
Canada

Canada is a country occupying most of northern North America, extending from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west and northward into the Arctic Ocean....
, a two night 'Legends of Ska' concert was held. Reuniting were The Skatalites
The Skatalites

The Skatalites are a ska band from Jamaica. They played initially between 1963 and 1965, and recorded many of their best known songs in the period, including "Guns of Navarone"....
, Lloyd Knibbs, Rico Rodriguez
Rico Rodriguez

This article is about the musician. For the martial artist Ricco Rodriguez see Ricco Rodriguez. For the fictional character named Rico Rodriguez see the Just Cause video game....
, Lloyd Brevett
Lloyd Brevett

Lloyd Brevett is a Jamaican double bassist, former member of The Skatalites. He is a rastafarian and a brother of The Melodians member Tony Brevett....
, Lester Sterling
Lester Sterling

Lester Sterling is a Jamaica trumpet and saxophone player. A founding member of The Skatalites, he is commonly overshadowed by well-known band members such as Tommy McCook, Jackie Mittoo or Don Drummond....
, Johnny Moore
Johnny Moore

Johnny Moore may refer to:*Johnny Moore , basketball player*Johnny Moore , American baseball player*Johnny Moore , soul singer and songwriter, played with The Drifters...
 and Lynn Taitt
Lynn Taitt

Lynn Taitt is a reggae guitarist born in Trinidad and Tobago, closely associated with Jamaican rocksteady music.Nerlynn Taitt was born in Trinidad where, before taking up the guitar, he got his start as a musician playing in local steel drum bands....
; along with Prince Buster
Prince Buster

Cecil Bustamente Campbell, Order of Distinction , better known as Prince Buster and less known by his muslim name Muhammed Yusef Ali, is a musician from Kingston, Jamaica, Jamaica and regarded as one of the most important figures in the history of ska and rocksteady music....
, Alton Ellis
Alton Ellis

Alton Nehemiah Ellis, Order of Distinction, was a Jamaican musician best known as one of the innovators of rocksteady music, and was often referred to as the "Godfather of Rocksteady"....
, Owen Gray
Owen Gray

Owen Gray also known as Owen Grey is one of Jamaica's 'Foundation' singers whose work spans the R&B, ska, rocksteady, and reggae eras of Jamaican music, and he has been credited as Jamaica's first home-grown singing star....
, Lord Creator
Lord Creator

Lord Creator is a Calypso music and ska musician. Alongside Cuban born Rolando Alphonso, Barbados Jackie Opel and fellow Trinidadians Lynn Taitt and Lord Bryner, Lord Creator was an important and positive 'outside' influence during the early development of the Jamaican music scene....
, Justin Hinds
Justin Hinds

Justin Hinds is best known as a Jamaican ska singer, with his backing singers the Dominoes.He is best known for his work with Duke Reid Treasure Isle Records, where his most notable song, "Carry Go Bring Come" sound recording and reproduction in late 1963, went to chart-topper in Jamaica....
, Derrick Harriott
Derrick Harriott

Derrick Harriott is a singer and record producer. He has produced recordings by Big Youth, Chariot Riders, The Chosen Few , Dennis Brown, The Ethiopians, Keith & Tex, The Kingstonians, Rudy Mills, Scotty , Sly Dunbar & Revolutionaries, and Winston McAnuff....
, Winston Samuels, Roy Wilson
Roy Wilson

Roy Edward Wilson was a relief pitcher in Major League Baseball.He played briefly for the Chicago White Sox during the 1928 in baseball season....
, Patsy Todd, Doreen Shaffer, Stranger Cole, Lord Tanamo
Lord Tanamo

Lord Tanamo is best known as a mento and ska musician and songwriter. He helped create the sound we now know as ska, by combining elements of calypso gleaned from Lord Kitchener, with the lilting mento rhythms of his childhood....
 and Derrick Morgan. In 2007, Morgan appeared on the bill at the annual Augustibuller festival
Music festival

A music festival is a festival oriented towards music that is sometimes presented with a theme such as musical genre, nationality or locality of musicians, or holiday....
. His song "Tougher Than Tough" was featured in the video game, Scarface: The World is Yours
Scarface: The World is Yours

Scarface: The World Is Yours is a video game developed by Radical Entertainment and published by Vivendi Universal Games. The game is based on and is a quasi-sequel to the 1983 motion picture Scarface with Andr? Sogliuzzo hand picked by Al Pacino to provide Tony Montana's voice....
.

Discography


Albums

  • Seven Letters (1969)
  • Derrick Morgan in London (1969)
  • Moon Hop (1970)
  • Feel So Good (1975) (featuring Hortense Ellis
    Hortense Ellis

    Hortense Ellis was a reggae musician, and the younger sibling of fellow artist, Alton Ellis.Ellis' career began with performances on the Vere Johns' Opportunity Hour Talent Show, where she was a regular finalist....
    )
  • People's Decision (1977)
  • Still in Love (1977) (also featuring Hortense Ellis)
  • Sunset at Moonlight City
  • Love City
  • The Legend of Derrick Morgan (1980)
  • I Am the Ruler (1992) - Trojan Records
    Trojan Records

    Trojan Records is a United Kingdom record label specialising in ska, rocksteady, reggae and dub music. The label operates under the Sanctuary Records Group....
  • Tougher Than Tough (Rudie in Court) (1992)
  • Ska Man Classics (1995)
  • Ska Man Classics (1997)
  • 21 Hits Salute (1997)
  • Meets the High Notes Live (2003)
  • Moon Hop: Best of the Early Years 1960-69 (2003)
  • Derrick:Top the Top (2003)
  • Derrick Meets the High Notes (2004)


Singles

  • "The Hop" / "Tell It To Me", 7": Island WI 006, UK, 1962
  • "Forward March" / "Please Don't Talk About Me", 7": Island WI 011, UK, 1962
  • "See The Blind" / "Cherry Home", 7": Island WI 013, UK, 1962
  • "Moon Hop" - 1970 - UK
    UK Singles Chart

    The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official UK Charts Company on behalf of the British record industry. The chart week runs from Sunday to Saturday, with the chart being printed in Music Week magazine , ChartsPlus , and published online on various sites ....
     No. 49
Singles on Crab Records
Crab Records

Crab Records was a reggae label that issued releases from 1968 to 1971. Crab was a subsidiary of Pama Records, who along with Trojan Records, was one the major labels for reggae music in the UK....


  • River To The Bank / Reggae Limbo 7" (B side - Peter King)
  • Seven Letters / Lonely Heartaches 7" (B side - The Tartons)
  • The First Taste Of Love / Dance All Night 7"
  • Don't Play That Song / How Can I Forget You 7"
  • Mek It Tan Deh / Gimme Back 7"
  • Send Me Some Loving / Come What May 7"
  • Hard Time / Death Rides A Horse 7" (B Side - Roy Richards)
  • Man Pon Moon / What A Thing 7"
  • Moon Hop / Harris Wheel 7" (B Side - Reggaeites)
  • A Night At The Hop / Telephone 7"
  • Oh Baby / The Rat 7" (B Side - The Thunderbirds)
  • Need To Belong / Let's Have Some Fun 7" (With Jennifer Jones)
  • I Wish I Was An Apple / The Story 7"
  • Take A Letter Maria / Just A Little Loving 7" (With Owen Gray)
  • Rocking Good Way / Wipe These Tears 7" (With Jennifer Jones)
  • My Dickie / Brixton Hop 7"
  • I Can't Stand It No Longer / Beyond The Wall 7"
  • Endlessly / Who's Making Love 7"
  • Hurt Me / Julia 7"
  • Searching So Long / Drums Of Passion 7"


See also

  • Crab Records
    Crab Records

    Crab Records was a reggae label that issued releases from 1968 to 1971. Crab was a subsidiary of Pama Records, who along with Trojan Records, was one the major labels for reggae music in the UK....
  • Reggae genres
  • List of ska musicians
    List of ska musicians

    This is a list of notable bands and soloists who mainly performed ska or ska-influenced music at some point in their careers.__FORCETOC__...
  • List of reggae musicians
    List of reggae musicians

    This is a list of reggae. This includes artists who have either been very important to the genre, or have had a considerable amount of exposure ....


Footnotes


External links

  • at Allmusic website
    Website

    A Web site is a collection of related Web pages, images, videos or other digital assets that are hosted on one Web server, usually accessible via the Internet....