Johnny Clarke
Encyclopedia
Johnny Clarke Whitfield Town, Kingston
, Jamaica
) is a reggae
musician.
ghetto
of Whitfield Town. In 1971 he won a talent contest in Bull Bay
, his prize a meeting with producer
Clancy Eccles
, with whom he recorded his first song, "God Made the Sea and the Sun", the following year. The single didn't sell well, and disappointed with the lack of promotion from Eccles, he moved on to Rupie Edwards
, who produced Clarke's first hits in 1973, with "Everyday Wondering" and "Julie". In 1974, Clarke moved on again, recording "Jump Back Baby" for Glen Brown
, before beginning a long association with Bunny Lee
and his band The Aggrovators
in 1974. "None Shall Escape the Judgement" was an immediate success and became the title track on Clarke's debut album. Clarke was named Artist of the Year in Jamaica in both 1975 and 1976, and became one of the most popular singers on the island, mixing original songs with covers of popular reggae songs by other artists, and mixing roots and lovers-themed material. A Rastafarian
, many of Clarke's songs concern his faith and the beliefs of the Rastafari movement, such as anti-violence (as heard on "Let Go Violence") and legalization of marijuana ("Legalize It"). He helped define the "Flying Cymbals" period that preceded the "Roots Rockers" sound of the mid to late 1970s. Clarke was one of the first Jamaican artists signed to Virgin Records
' Frontline subsidiary in 1976, releasing the albums Authorized Version and Rockers Time Now on the label. Clarke enjoyed further hits in the early 1980s with producer S Douglas, before working again with Lee. His popularity in Jamaica, however, declined, and he relocated to London
in 1983, recording with Mad Professor
, as well as further recordings for Jamaican producers King Tubby
, Errol Thompson, and Prince Jammy. He has since occasionally reappeared with new material - Rasta Nuh Fear in 1992, and Rock With Me in 1997 - and continues to tour regularly. His song 'None Shall Escape The Judgement' was featured on the Trojan roots compilations.
Clarke is known for his so called "African Roots" or knee length dreadlocks. When performing live, he frequently conceals the entirety of this lengthy mass inside of a large hat. At the climax of his concert, he removes his hat revealing his "African Roots" to the audience.
Kingston, Jamaica
Kingston is the capital and largest city of Jamaica, located on the southeastern coast of the island. It faces a natural harbour protected by the Palisadoes, a long sand spit which connects the town of Port Royal and the Norman Manley International Airport to the rest of the island...
, Jamaica
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...
) is a 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.
Biography
Clarke grew up in the KingstonKingston, Jamaica
Kingston is the capital and largest city of Jamaica, located on the southeastern coast of the island. It faces a natural harbour protected by the Palisadoes, a long sand spit which connects the town of Port Royal and the Norman Manley International Airport to the rest of the island...
ghetto
Ghetto
A ghetto is a section of a city predominantly occupied by a group who live there, especially because of social, economic, or legal issues.The term was originally used in Venice to describe the area where Jews were compelled to live. The term now refers to an overcrowded urban area often associated...
of Whitfield Town. In 1971 he won a talent contest in Bull Bay
Bull Bay
Bull Bay is located on the south east coast of Jamaica 10 miles to the East of Kingston in the parish of St Andrew.-Floods:Bull Bay is located in the flood plain of a number of rivers: Salt Spring River, Chalky River, Bull Park River, Spring Gut River and Cane River, and consequently has been the...
, his prize a meeting with producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
Clancy Eccles
Clancy Eccles
Clancy Eccles was a Jamaican ska and reggae singer, songwriter, arranger, promoter, record producer and talent scout. Known mostly for his early reggae works, he brought a political dimension to this music...
, with whom he recorded his first song, "God Made the Sea and the Sun", the following year. The single didn't sell well, and disappointed with the lack of promotion from Eccles, he moved on to Rupie Edwards
Rupie Edwards
Rupie Edwards is a Jamaican reggae singer and record producer.-Biography:...
, who produced Clarke's first hits in 1973, with "Everyday Wondering" and "Julie". In 1974, Clarke moved on again, recording "Jump Back Baby" for Glen Brown
Glen Brown
Glen Brown , also known as 'God Son' and 'The Rhythm Master', is a Jamaican singer, musician, and record producer, working primarily in the genres of reggae and dub...
, before beginning a long association with Bunny Lee
Bunny Lee
Edward O'Sullivan Lee, better known as Bunny "Striker" Lee is a prominent, prolific and successful record producer best known for his work in the 1960s and 1970s.-Biography:...
and his band The Aggrovators
The Aggrovators
The Aggrovators were a dub/reggae backing band in the 1970s & 1980s, and one of the main session bands of producer, Bunny Lee. The line-up varied, with Lee using the name for whichever set of musicians he was using at any time. The band's name derived from the record shop that Lee had run in the...
in 1974. "None Shall Escape the Judgement" was an immediate success and became the title track on Clarke's debut album. Clarke was named Artist of the Year in Jamaica in both 1975 and 1976, and became one of the most popular singers on the island, mixing original songs with covers of popular reggae songs by other artists, and mixing roots and lovers-themed material. A Rastafarian
Rastafari movement
The Rastafari movement or Rasta is a new religious movement that arose in the 1930s in Jamaica, which at the time was a country with a predominantly Christian culture where 98% of the people were the black descendants of slaves. Its adherents worship Haile Selassie I, Emperor of Ethiopia , as God...
, many of Clarke's songs concern his faith and the beliefs of the Rastafari movement, such as anti-violence (as heard on "Let Go Violence") and legalization of marijuana ("Legalize It"). He helped define the "Flying Cymbals" period that preceded the "Roots Rockers" sound of the mid to late 1970s. Clarke was one of the first Jamaican artists signed to Virgin Records
Virgin Records
Virgin Records is a British record label founded by English entrepreneur Richard Branson, Simon Draper, and Nik Powell in 1972. The company grew to be a worldwide music phenomenon, with platinum performers such as Roy Orbison, Devo, Genesis, Keith Richards, Janet Jackson, Culture Club, Lenny...
' Frontline subsidiary in 1976, releasing the albums Authorized Version and Rockers Time Now on the label. Clarke enjoyed further hits in the early 1980s with producer S Douglas, before working again with Lee. His popularity in Jamaica, however, declined, and he relocated to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in 1983, recording with Mad Professor
Mad Professor
Mad Professor is a dub music producer and engineer known for his original productions and remix work. He is considered one of the leading producers of dub music’s second generation and was instrumental in transitioning dub into the digital age. He is a prolific producer, contributing to or...
, as well as further recordings for Jamaican producers King Tubby
King Tubby
King Tubby was a Jamaican electronics and sound engineer, known primarily for his influence on the development of dub in the 1960s and 1970s...
, Errol Thompson, and Prince Jammy. He has since occasionally reappeared with new material - Rasta Nuh Fear in 1992, and Rock With Me in 1997 - and continues to tour regularly. His song 'None Shall Escape The Judgement' was featured on the Trojan roots compilations.
Clarke is known for his so called "African Roots" or knee length dreadlocks. When performing live, he frequently conceals the entirety of this lengthy mass inside of a large hat. At the climax of his concert, he removes his hat revealing his "African Roots" to the audience.
Studio albums
- None Shall Escape (1974) Total Sounds
- Moving Out (1975) Total Sounds
- I'm Gonna Put It On (1975) Vulcan
- No Woman No Cry (1976) Total Sounds
- Authorised Version (1976) FrontlineVirgin RecordsVirgin Records is a British record label founded by English entrepreneur Richard Branson, Simon Draper, and Nik Powell in 1972. The company grew to be a worldwide music phenomenon, with platinum performers such as Roy Orbison, Devo, Genesis, Keith Richards, Janet Jackson, Culture Club, Lenny...
- Rocker's Time Now (1976) Frontline
- Don't Stay Out Late (1976) Paradise
- Up Park Camp (1977) Justice
- Girl I Love You (1977) Justice
- Sweet Conversation (1978) Third World
- King of the Arena (1978) Third World
- Satisfaction (1979) Third World
- Down In a Babylon (1980) Cha Cha
- I Man Come Again (1982) Black Music
- Yard Style (1983) Ariwa
- Sly & Robbie Present the Best of Johnny Clarke (1985) Vista Sounds
- Give Thanks (1985) Ariwa
- Rasta Nuh Fear (1992) Sonic Sounds
- Rock With Me (1997)
- Reggae Heights (2003) Mafia & Fluxy