Michael Prophet
Encyclopedia
Michael Prophet is a roots reggae
singer known for his "crying" tenor vocal style, whose recording career began in 1977.
Yabby You
in 1977, debuting with the single "Praise You Jah Jah", which had actually been written five years earlier. He cites Bob Andy
as his main influence as a singer. He had his first Jamaican hit with a version of The Heptones
' "Fight It To The Top". His 1980 album Serious Reasoning was released by Island Records
in the United Kingdom
, establishing his reputation internationally. After working with Yabby You, he also recorded for Henry "Junjo" Lawes, adapting to the prevailing dancehall
sound and having his biggest hit with "Gunman". During the first half of the 1980s he recorded for producers such as Don Mais, Al Campbell
, Sugar Minott
, Winston "Niney" Holness
, and Winston Riley
, cementing his status as one of Jamaica's most popular singers. After living in Miami for a time, he moved to England
, where he recorded "Your Love" which reached number one in the UK reggae chart in 1990. It was followed in 1991 by the album Get Ready, which also sold well.
Compilations:
Roots reggae
Roots reggae is a subgenre of reggae that deals with the everyday lives and aspirations of the artists concerned, including the spiritual side of Rastafari and with the honoring of God, called Jah by rastafarians. It also is identified with the life of the ghetto sufferer, and the rural poor...
singer known for his "crying" tenor vocal style, whose recording career began in 1977.
Biography
Prophet's first recordings were for producerRecord 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...
Yabby You
Yabby You
Vivian Jackson , better known as Yabby You , was a reggae vocalist and producer, who came to prominence in the early 1970s through his uncompromising, self-produced work.-Biography:...
in 1977, debuting with the single "Praise You Jah Jah", which had actually been written five years earlier. He cites Bob Andy
Bob Andy
Bob Andy is a Jamaican reggae vocalist and songwriter. He is widely regarded as one of reggae's most influential songwriters.-Career:...
as his main influence as a singer. He had his first Jamaican hit with a version of The Heptones
The Heptones
The Heptones are a Jamaican rocksteady and reggae vocal trio most active in the 1960s and early 1970s. They were one of the more significant trios of that era, and played a major role in the gradual transition between ska and rocksteady with their three-part harmonies.-History:Leroy Sibbles, Earl...
' "Fight It To The Top". His 1980 album Serious Reasoning was released by Island Records
Island Records
Island Records is a record label that was founded by Chris Blackwell in Jamaica. It was based in the United Kingdom for many years and is now owned by Universal Music Group...
in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, establishing his reputation internationally. After working with Yabby You, he also recorded for Henry "Junjo" Lawes, adapting to the prevailing dancehall
Dancehall
Dancehall is a genre of Jamaican popular music that originated in the late 1970s. Initially dancehall was a more sparse version of reggae than the roots style, which had dominated much of the 1970s. In the mid-1980s, digital instrumentation became more prevalent, changing the sound considerably,...
sound and having his biggest hit with "Gunman". During the first half of the 1980s he recorded for producers such as Don Mais, Al Campbell
Al Campbell
Al Campbell is a Jamaican reggae singer active since the late 1960s.-Biography:Born in Kingston, Jamaica, Campbell's singing career began in church, where his father was a preacher, and Al would sing to raise funds...
, Sugar Minott
Sugar Minott
Lincoln Barrington "Sugar" Minott was a Jamaican reggae singer, producer and sound-system operator.-Biography:...
, Winston "Niney" Holness
Niney the Observer
Winston Holness, better known as Niney the Observer , is a Jamaican record producer and singer who was a key figure in the creation of many classic reggae recordings dating from the 1970s and early 1980s....
, and Winston Riley
Winston Riley
Winston Riley worked as a songwriter and record producer of Jamaican music. According to the Jamaica Gleaner, Riley has a claim to being the most successful reggae producer of all-time.-Biography:...
, cementing his status as one of Jamaica's most popular singers. After living in Miami for a time, he moved to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, where he recorded "Your Love" which reached number one in the UK reggae chart in 1990. It was followed in 1991 by the album Get Ready, which also sold well.
Albums
- Vocal & Dub (1979) Yabby You (Yabby You & Michael Prophet)
- Serious Reasoning (1980) Island
- Righteous Are The Conqueror (1980) GreensleevesGreensleeves RecordsGreensleeves Records & Publishing is a record label specialising in dancehall and reggae music. The company was founded by Chris Cracknell and Chris Sedgwick and started as a small record store in West Ealing, London, in November 1975 and is based in Britain....
/Thompson Sound - Yabby You & Michael Prophet Meets Scientist at The Dub Station (1981) Yabby You
- Know The Right (1981) Prophet
- Prophecy (1981) Yabby U (with Yabby YouYabby YouVivian Jackson , better known as Yabby You , was a reggae vocalist and producer, who came to prominence in the early 1970s through his uncompromising, self-produced work.-Biography:...
and Wayne WadeWayne WadeWayne Wade is a roots reggae singer best known for his work with producer Yabby You in the 1970s.-Biography:Wade's career began in the mid-1970s, working with Yabby You, 1976's "Black Is Our Colour" immediately achieving success in Jamaica...
) - Michael Prophet (1981) Jah Guidance/Thompson Sound
- Stars In Disco Showcase (1982) Yabby You
- Michael Prophet Versions (1983) Yabby You
- Jah Love (1983) Live & Learn
- Love Is An Earthly Thing (1983) CSA, reissued as Reggae Music All Right (2000) and Michael Prophet (2001) both on Dressed To Kill
- Blood Stain (1984) Satta Blue/Ashantites
- Cease Fire (1985) Move
- Joint Favourites (1985) Greensleeves (with Half Pint)
- Settle Fu Ye Settle (1986) Live & Love
- Loving You (1987) Tuff Gong
- Certify (1988) Burning Sounds/CSA
- Gunman (1991) Greensleeves (compilation of Righteous are the Conqueror and Michael Prophet)
- Get Ready (1991) Passion/Greensleeves
- Bull Talk (1992) Greensleeves
- Magnet to Steel (1994) Jet StarJet StarJet Star was a United Kingdom record distribution company that grew out of Pama Records in 1978. It was one of the largest distributors of reggae music, the company themselves claiming the title "the world's largest reggae distributors".-History:Jet Star was formed in 1978 by the Palmer Brothers,...
- Flimmy and The Prophet (1995) Acid Jazz (with Dread Flimstone)
- Rootsman (1999) Ariwa
- Michael Prophet & Friends (1999) Ariwa
- Consciousness (2000) Yabby You/Musidisc
- Al Campbell Meets Michael Prophet (2000) Reggae Superstars
- Protection (2009) Sip A Cup
Compilations:
- Cease & Settle (1994) Live & Learn - combines Cease Fire and Settle Fu Ye Settle