Sister Nancy
Encyclopedia
Sister Nancy, aka Muma Nancy, real name Ophlin Russell-Myers, (born Ophlin Russell, 2 January 1962, Kingston
, Jamaica
) is a dancehall
DJ and singer. She is known to the world as the first female dancehall DJ and was described as being a "dominating female voice for over two decades" on the dancehall
scene. One of her most famous songs is "Bam Bam", labeled as a "well-known reggae anthem" by BBC
and a "classic" by The Observer
.
, and by her mid-teens, she would occasionally perform on the Jahlove Music sound system that he worked with, and worked for three years on the Stereophonic sound system with General Echo
. In 1980, producer Winston Riley
was the first to take her into the studio, resulting in her first single, "Papa Dean" for his Techniques label. Russell-Myers went on to perform at Reggae Sunsplash
, making her the first female deejay ever to perform there, and she is also the first female Jamaican deejay to tour internationally. She had further success with singles such as "One Two", "Money Can't Buy Me Love", "Transport Connection" and "Bam Bam". Her debut album, One Two was released in 1982. She went on to work with producer Henry "Junjo" Lawes, recording "A No Any Man Can Test Sister Nancy", "Bang Belly", and a collaboration with Yellowman
, "Jah Mek Us Fe A Purpose". She continued to appear live, sometimes on Jahlove Music with her brother. The sound system toured internationally, with both Sister Nancy and Brigadier Jerry making their debut UK performances at the Brixton Town Hall, London
in 1982.
In 1996, she relocated to New Jersey
. In an interview with The Jamaica Observer in 2002, Russell-Myers said that although she was working in the banking sector, that "music is [her] first love" and said she still performs "every now and then". She explained that her absence from the recording scene was due to her wanting to "give other female artists a chance", though she said she was still "as ready as the first day [she] came into the business". The Observer
cited Russell-Myers a role model for a successive generation of female acts, including Lady Saw, Sister Carol, Mack Diamond, Lady G, Shelly Thunder, Carla Marshall, Lorna G, Lady English, and Lady P. In 2007, Russell-Myers released the second of her two albums, Sister Nancy Meets Fireproof, produced by djMush1, formerly of the Slackers (NYC Ska) on Special Potato Records. The album was distributed by Jammyland Records in New York, NY. The album features four original compositions, as well as four instrument versions of the aforementioned songs.
and Kid 606 on the "Little More Oil" single, and in 2006, she collaborated with Thievery Corporation
on their 2006 compilation Versions, on the track "Originality".
In 2006, Canadian producer RCola brought Sister Nancy into Liondub's studio to re-sing her classic "Bam Bam", eventually releasing his Drum and Bass dancefloor remix on 12" vinyl with Division One remix on the AA side. In 2007, Sister Nancy voiced a dubplate of her "Bam Bam" with new lyrics for Atlanta
ragga
/drum and bass
dj Tester.
Compton
rapper
Guerilla Black
sampled "Bam Bam" in his "Compton" song. "Bam Bam" was also featured in Electronic Arts
video game Skate and in the soundtrack for the movie Belly
.
"Bam Bam" was also sampled by Too Short on his 1993 single "Blowjob Betty".
1992 and 1993
Best Female DJ of the year both years.
JAMAICA FEDERATION OF MUSIC AWARD.
1992 and 1993
Best Female DJ of the Year both Years
ROCKERS MAGAZINE AWARD
1982 and 1992
Best Female DJ of the year both years.
ROCKERS MAGAZINE AWARD
1993
Best Female DJ of the year and Most Cultural Female DJ.
WOMAN POWER AWARD
2008
First Female DJ Artiste of Reggae.
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 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,...
DJ and singer. She is known to the world as the first female dancehall DJ and was described as being a "dominating female voice for over two decades" on the 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,...
scene. One of her most famous songs is "Bam Bam", labeled as a "well-known reggae anthem" by BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
and a "classic" by The Observer
The Observer
The Observer is a British newspaper, published on Sundays. In the same place on the political spectrum as its daily sister paper The Guardian, which acquired it in 1993, it takes a liberal or social democratic line on most issues. It is the world's oldest Sunday newspaper.-Origins:The first issue,...
.
Career
Russell-Myers was one of 15 siblings. Her elder brother, Robert, is better known as Brigadier JerryBrigadier Jerry
Brigadier Jerry is a Jamaican dancehall reggae deejay known for his "cultural" lyrics.-Biography:...
, and by her mid-teens, she would occasionally perform on the Jahlove Music sound system that he worked with, and worked for three years on the Stereophonic sound system with General Echo
General Echo
General Echo aka Ranking Slackness, was one of the first reggae deejays to move away from 'cultural' lyrics towards 'slackness' ....
. In 1980, producer 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:...
was the first to take her into the studio, resulting in her first single, "Papa Dean" for his Techniques label. Russell-Myers went on to perform at Reggae Sunsplash
Reggae Sunsplash
Reggae Sunsplash is a reggae music festival first staged in 1978 in the northern part of Jamaica. In 1985 it expanded with the addition of an international touring festival...
, making her the first female deejay ever to perform there, and she is also the first female Jamaican deejay to tour internationally. She had further success with singles such as "One Two", "Money Can't Buy Me Love", "Transport Connection" and "Bam Bam". Her debut album, One Two was released in 1982. She went on to work with producer Henry "Junjo" Lawes, recording "A No Any Man Can Test Sister Nancy", "Bang Belly", and a collaboration with Yellowman
Yellowman
Yellowman is a Jamaican reggae and dancehall deejay, widely known as King Yellowman...
, "Jah Mek Us Fe A Purpose". She continued to appear live, sometimes on Jahlove Music with her brother. The sound system toured internationally, with both Sister Nancy and Brigadier Jerry making their debut UK performances at the Brixton Town Hall, 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 1982.
In 1996, she relocated to New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
. In an interview with The Jamaica Observer in 2002, Russell-Myers said that although she was working in the banking sector, that "music is [her] first love" and said she still performs "every now and then". She explained that her absence from the recording scene was due to her wanting to "give other female artists a chance", though she said she was still "as ready as the first day [she] came into the business". The Observer
The Observer
The Observer is a British newspaper, published on Sundays. In the same place on the political spectrum as its daily sister paper The Guardian, which acquired it in 1993, it takes a liberal or social democratic line on most issues. It is the world's oldest Sunday newspaper.-Origins:The first issue,...
cited Russell-Myers a role model for a successive generation of female acts, including Lady Saw, Sister Carol, Mack Diamond, Lady G, Shelly Thunder, Carla Marshall, Lorna G, Lady English, and Lady P. In 2007, Russell-Myers released the second of her two albums, Sister Nancy Meets Fireproof, produced by djMush1, formerly of the Slackers (NYC Ska) on Special Potato Records. The album was distributed by Jammyland Records in New York, NY. The album features four original compositions, as well as four instrument versions of the aforementioned songs.
Collaborations
In 2001, Canadian/American producer Krinjah re-mixed "Bam Bam", creating one of the most-sought after 12" vinyls and arguably kicking off the ragga-jungle revival in North America. In 2004, she collaborated with DJ /ruptureDJ /rupture
DJ /rupture is the pseudonym of Jace Clayton, a New York-based American DJ and producer. He used to play in the drum and bass collective Toneburst, and DJ'ed in Boston during the late 1990s...
and Kid 606 on the "Little More Oil" single, and in 2006, she collaborated with Thievery Corporation
Thievery Corporation
Thievery Corporation is a Washington, D.C. based recording artist and DJ duo consisting of Rob Garza, Eric Hilton, and their supporting artists, including current drummer Jeff Franca...
on their 2006 compilation Versions, on the track "Originality".
In 2006, Canadian producer RCola brought Sister Nancy into Liondub's studio to re-sing her classic "Bam Bam", eventually releasing his Drum and Bass dancefloor remix on 12" vinyl with Division One remix on the AA side. In 2007, Sister Nancy voiced a dubplate of her "Bam Bam" with new lyrics for Atlanta
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
ragga
Ragga
-Origins:Ragga originated in Jamaica during the 1980s, at the same time that electronic dance music's popularity was increasing globally. One of the reasons for ragga's swift propagation is that it is generally easier and less expensive to produce than reggae performed on traditional musical...
/drum and bass
Drum and bass
Drum and bass is a type of electronic music which emerged in the late 1980s. The genre is characterized by fast breakbeats , with heavy bass and sub-bass lines...
dj Tester.
Compton
Compton, California
Compton is a city in southern Los Angeles County, California, United States, southeast of downtown Los Angeles. The city of Compton is one of the oldest cities in the county and on May 11, 1888, was the eighth city to incorporate. The city is considered part of the South side by residents of Los...
rapper
Rapping
Rapping refers to "spoken or chanted rhyming lyrics". The art form can be broken down into different components, as in the book How to Rap where it is separated into “content”, “flow” , and “delivery”...
Guerilla Black
Guerilla Black
Charles Williamson Guerilla Black is a better known by his stage name Guerilla Black aka Sheereen is a rapper from Compton, California. He was born in Chicago, Illinois . He came to fame after releasing his debut album Guerilla City which featured the singles "Compton" Featuring Beanie Man and...
sampled "Bam Bam" in his "Compton" song. "Bam Bam" was also featured in Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts, Inc. is a major American developer, marketer, publisher and distributor of video games. Founded and incorporated on May 28, 1982 by Trip Hawkins, the company was a pioneer of the early home computer games industry and was notable for promoting the designers and programmers...
video game Skate and in the soundtrack for the movie Belly
Belly (film)
Belly is a 1998 film, the film directorial debut of music video director Hype Williams. Filmed in New York City as an urban drama, the film stars rappers DMX and Nas, alongside with Taral Hicks, Method Man dancehall artist Louie Rankin, R&B singer T-Boz...
.
"Bam Bam" was also sampled by Too Short on his 1993 single "Blowjob Betty".
Personal life
Russell-Myers is married to her longtime sweetheart of over twenty years. They reside with the rest of her family in New Jersey, where she works as an accountant at a bank. Sister Nancy has one daughter from a previous relationship who is now 20 years old.Albums
- One, TwoOne, Two- Track listing :#"One Two"#"I Am A Geddion"#"Aint No Stopping Nancy"#"Gwan A School"#"Coward Of The Country"#"Bam Bam"#"Transport Connection"#"Pegion Rock"#"Roof Over Mi Head"#"Only Woman DJ With Degree"...
(1982) Techniques - The Yellow, The Purple & The NancyThe Yellow, The Purple & The NancyThe Yellow, The Purple & The Nancy is a 1982 album by Sister Nancy.- Track listing :#Purpleman - Feeling Irie#Yellowman & Fathead - Mr Wong#Sister Nancy - No Any Man Can Test Sister Nancy#Purpleman - Get Ready#Yellowman & Fathead - Baby Father...
(1982) 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....
(with YellowmanYellowmanYellowman is a Jamaican reggae and dancehall deejay, widely known as King Yellowman...
, FatheadFatheadFathead may refer to:* Any of several kinds of fish:** Fathead minnow** Fathead carp** Fathead sculpin** Cubiceps** Trochocopus pulcher of the family Labridae** Psychrolutes microporos of the family Psychrolutidae...
, and PurplemanPurplemanPurpleman, aka Peter Yellow was a Jamaican Dancehall dj. being one of three albino djs in the 80s , he often called himself Yellowman, and even released an album as him.-Biography:Purpleman deejayed with King Jammy's sound system, including performing at 'clashes' with other systems...
) - Sister Nancy Meets Fireproof (2007) Special Potato Records (with djMush1)
Singles
- "One Two" Techniques
- "Bam Bam" Techniques
- "Transport Connection" Techniques
- "Proud a We" (1982) Techniques
- "King and Queen" (1982) AMCO (Yellowman & Sister Nancy)
- "No Dun And Put Dun" Digital B
- "Deh Yah Long Time" Digital B
- "Little More Oil" (2004) Soul Jazz (with DJ /rupture and Kid 606)
- "Papa Dean" Techniques
- "Solid Has a Rock" Techniques
- "Dance Pon Your Corner" Volcano
- "Originality" (2006) Thievery Corporation
- "Love Jah" King Jammy's
- "Fool Say In His Heart" Easy Star Records
- "Ting Mi Dis a Come" African Stars
- "Muma is Coming" Shocking Vibes
- "Ram Dance Daughta" Shocking Vibes
- "Chalice" Volcano
Compilation appearances
- A Dee-Jay Explosion (Inna Dance Hall Style) HeartbeatHeartbeat RecordsHeartbeat Records is an independent record label based in Burlington , Massachusetts. The label specializes in Jamaican music. Founded by reggae music enthusiasts Bill Nowlin and Duncan Brown, the label's first release was a vinyl LP reissue of Linton Kwesi Johnson's Dread Beat an' Blood...
- live album recorded in 1982 includes "One Two" (Sister Nancy & Lee Van Cliff)
Awards
JUGENAUGHT FAMILY GRAMMY AWARD1992 and 1993
Best Female DJ of the year both years.
JAMAICA FEDERATION OF MUSIC AWARD.
1992 and 1993
Best Female DJ of the Year both Years
ROCKERS MAGAZINE AWARD
1982 and 1992
Best Female DJ of the year both years.
ROCKERS MAGAZINE AWARD
1993
Best Female DJ of the year and Most Cultural Female DJ.
WOMAN POWER AWARD
2008
First Female DJ Artiste of Reggae.