A
namesake of his father, Kingston, Jamaica- born singer Delroy
"Junior" Reid is part of a group of singers
whose cutting edge style challenges musical boundaries and springs from
the politically- turbulent era of the 1970's. From the early age of 14,
with his first single "Know Myself" which he recorded for fellow artist
Hugh Mundell's label, Junior proved his gift in the marketplace. A native
of the Waterhouse section of Kingston, he formed his first band called Voice
of Progress who had a hit in Jamaica with the song "Minibus Driver"
and released an album by the same name.
What followed was a prolific
recording period that produced a number of singles for King Jammy's, including
the hit "Boom Shacka Lacka." "Foreign Mind" was recorded with Sugar
Minott's Youth Promotion as well as his own JR Production label- two artist owned
companies which are a vital part of the massive 45 singles market that
exists in Jamaica to the present day. When he was 18 years old he was
asked to replace the spot filled by Michael Rose in Black Uhuru. This period
resulted in a wellspring of great compositions including "Fit We
Haffi Fit", and the classic collaboration with the 'Riddim Twins'- Sly Dunbar
and Robbie Shakespeare- "Great Train Robbery."
Junior Reid has a gift for
collaboration and the ability to present his talents in a manner that reaches an
audience beyond that of the grassroots reggae aficionado. In 1987 he
teamed up with Coldcut, an early Acid Jazz group on "Stop This Crazy
Thing", a theme taken from the animated series The Jetsons, yielding a Top 20 hit on
the European pop charts. One year later in Jamaica, Junior recorded the
song "One Blood" his first solo project
since the break-up of Black Uhuru.
The song was a massive hit from the dance halls of Jamaica to New York
and the United Kingdom where remixer Paul 'Trouble' Anderson hailed, the two
of them creating a mix, released on Big Life/Mercury that became the first
"crossover" hit to incorporate the rhythms of modern day dance hall
with a message of unification and strength.
ONE
BLOOD was released world wide in 1990, and the follow-up album LONG ROAD was released in 1991. Both albums
were nominated for the Caribbean Music Awards with ONE BLOOD winning the
Jamaica Music Industry Award for Best Album, Best Single, Best Song and
Most Conscious Lyrics. The All-Music Guide rates Junior Reid's 1991
release LONG ROAD 4 ½ stars (out of a possible 5 stars.) This record
includes the classic single "Banana Boat Man" that chronicles the hurdles that
the artist has overcome to reach the heights of success.
Collaborations with Hip-Hop artists
have ensued over the years including those with Busta Rhymes and Bounty
Killer on "Change Just Like the Weather" and "Dreadful Day" with
the Poor Righteous Teachers. The artist has also worked with the likes of Guru, the
Wu-Tang Clan and Bobby Digital.
The Soup Dragons cover of the
Rolling Stones' song "I'm Free" that featured Junior Reid's toasting became the
band's groundbreaking hit. Countless collaborations with
reggae artists from the brilliant spectrum of styles have included a full-length
album with Don Carlos entitled FIRE HOUSE CLASH.
In
1992 Junior Reid recorded the album, VISA that contained some key singles
from the era including "All
Fruits Ripe" and "Friend Enemy", and a team-up
with the late Dennis Brown and
Gregory Isaacs entitled "It's Not A One Man
Thing".
Junior Reid has been toured
extensively throughout his career to countries
including Japan, throughout the
Caribbean, Europe, Africa and the United
States. Festival appearances in
2002 have included Rebel Salute in St.
Elizabeth, Jamaica, Raggamuffins'
Bob Marley Days in Los Angeles, France's
Montreux Jazz Festival, SummerJam,
2002 in Hanover, Germany and Reggae in
the Park in San Francisco.
As a producer, his JR Production
company and label has worked with a multitude of artists including the
Mighty Diamonds, Elephant Man, Luciano, Anthony B and his two sons: Andrew
and Wadada Blood.
In the year 2000, Junior Reid
released EMMANUEL CALLING with an exalted, agile-toned chorus as its title
track, the record contains a mélange of elements including Dancehall, Hip
Hop and R&B. The artist incorporates the
sound of the Nyabinghi drum, an
integral part of Rasta spirituality on several compositions. The musicians
including bassie Chris Meredith and drummie Style Scott, and Deadley
Headley Bennett on sax flavor 15 tracks of
pro musicianship. "Sky Is the
Limit" features a duet with German deejay/rapper Absolute Beginner.
The fall of 2002 is the time for
RASTA GOVERNMENT to make its debut worldwide. In collaboration with
his new LA-based promotion team One Nation Family, JR Productions and Nazrite
in the UK, the new album is finding its
way to the massive around the
world. New songs include "Propoganda", "Taliban", and the title
track that bring forth the Bobo Ashanti agenda.
New mixes of "One Blood"
one with Terry Ganzie and a Spanish version with Argentine deejay Fidel make this 19
song release ram jammed with content. For over 20 years, Junior Reid's
vibrant stage presence and flawless
falsetto have made fans throughout
the world. His conscious, insightful lyrics have allowed him to maintain
a powerful and significant role as a roots reggae artist and have given
him entrée to the Hip Hop and Pop music
scenes.
