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Biography
Refimprove|date=October 2010Infobox musical artist|name = Gregory Isaacs|image = Gregory Isaacs SNWMF 2010 1 - on stage-2.jpg|caption = Performing at the Sierra Nevada World Music Festival in 2010|background = solo_singer|birth_name = Gregory Anthony Isaacs|alias = Cool Ruler Lonely Lover|birth_date = birth date|1951|7|15|df=yes|birth_place = Kingston, Jamaica|Kingston , Jamaica |origin =|death_date = Death date and age|df=yes|2010|10|25|1951|7|15|death_place = London , England , United Kingdom|UK |instrument =|genre = Reggae |occupation = Singer - songwriter |years_active = 1968–2010|label =|associated_acts =|website = Gregory Anthony Isaacs (15 July 1951 – 25 October 2010)Thompson, p.127 was a Jamaican reggae musician. Milo Miles, writing in the New York Times , described Isaacs as "the most wikt:exquisite|exquisite vocalist in reggae".Miles His nickname s include Cool Ruler Kiviat and Lonely Lover .
Biography
In his teens, Isaacs became a veteran of the talent contests that regularly took place in Jamaica. In 1968, he made his recording debut with a duet with Winston Sinclair, "Another Heartache", recorded for producer Byron Lee . The single sold poorly and Isaacs went on to team up with two other vocalists (Penroe and Bramwell) in the short-lived trio The Concords, recording for Rupie Edwards and Prince Buster . The trio split up in 1970 and Isaacs launched his solo career, initially self-producing recordings and also recording further for Edwards. In 1973 he teamed up with another young singer, Errol Dunkley to start the African Museum record label and shop, and soon had a massive hit with "My Only Lover", credited as the first lovers rock record ever made. He recorded for other producers to finance further African Museum recordings, having a string of hits in the three years that followed, ranging from ballads to roots reggae , including "All I Have Is Love", "Lonely Soldier", "Black a Kill Black", "Extra Classic" and his cover version of Dobby Dobson 's "Loving Pauper". In 1974 he began working with producer Alvin Ranglin , and that year he had his first Jamaican number one single with "Love Is Overdue".Isaacs recorded for many of Jamaica's top producers during the 1970s, including Niney the Observer|Winston "Niney" Holness , Gussie Clarke ("My Time"), Lloyd Campbell ("Slavemaster"), Glen Brown ("One One Cocoa Fill Basket"), Harry Mudie , Roy Cousins , Sidney Crooks and Lee "Scratch" Perry ("Mr. Cop").Thompson, p.128 By the late 1970s, Isaacs was one of the biggest reggae performers in the world, regularly touring the US and the UK, and only challenged by Dennis Brown and Bob Marley .Larkin, p.136 Between 1977 and 1978, Isaacs again teamed up with Alvin Ranglin, recording a string of hits including "Border" and "Number One" for Ranglin's GG's label.
International stardom seemed assured in 1978 when Isaacs signed to the Virgin Records offshoot Front Line Records, and appeared in the film Rockers (1978 film)|Rockers , in which he performed "Slavemaster". The Cool Ruler (which became one of his nicknames) and Soon Forward albums, however, failed to sell as well as expected, although they are now considered among his best work.Barrow, p.197 In 1981, he made his first appearance at the Reggae Sunsplash festival (returning annually until 1991), and he moved on to the Charisma Records offshoot Pre, who released his The Lonely Lover (another nickname that stuck) and More Gregory albums along with a string of increasingly successful singles including "Tune In", "Permanent Lover", "Wailing Rudy" and "Tribute to Waddy".Thompson, p.129 He signed to Island Records and released the record that finally saw him break through to a wider audience, "Night Nurse", the title track from his first album for the label ( Night Nurse (album)|Night Nurse (1982)). Although "Night Nurse" was not a chart hit in either the UK or US, it was hugely popular in clubs and received heavy radio play, and the album reached #32 in the UK. http://www.chartstats.com/artistinfo.php? id=5183 Gregory Isaacs, ChartStats This success for Isaacs coincided with drug problems with cocaine which saw him serve a six-month prison sentence in Kingston in 1982 for possession of unlicensed firearms.PerryIsaacs claimed that he had the weapons only for protection, but it emerged that this was his 27th arrest and that Isaacs had become involved in drug dealing and had become addicted to crack cocaine . He celebrated his release from prison with his second album for Island, Out Deh! (1983).Isaacs was featured in the 1982 documentary Land of Look Behind .
When his contract with Island ended, Isaacs returned in 1984 with the "Kool Ruler Come Again" single, and began a period of prolific recording, working with producers including Prince Jammy , Hugh "Redman" James, Robert Dixon (musician)|Bobby Digital , Tad Dawkins and Steely & Clevie , maintaining a consistent standard despite the volume of work produced.Isaacs then built a strong relationship with Gussie Clarke of the Music Works label. They began with Isaacs' 1985 album Private Beach Party , and had a massive hit with "Rumours" in 1988, which was followed by further popular singles including "Mind Yu Dis", "Rough Neck", "Too Good To Be True" and "Report to Me". The association with Clarke continued into the early 1990s, teaming up with singers including Freddie McGregor , Ninjaman and JC Lodge . He dueted with Beres Hammond on the 1993 Philip "Fatis" Burrell -produced "One Good Turn", Burrell also producing Isaacs' 1994 album MidnightConfidential .
In the 1990s the African Museum label continued to release all of Isaacs' music, and that of artists he produced. In 1997 Simply Red covered " Night Nurse dn|date=May 2012" and had a hit with it. Isaacs continued to record and perform live in the 2000s. In 2005 Lady Saw produced another version of "Night Nurse" with her Deejay (Jamaican)|toasting over the original lyrics .
Isaacs' drug addiction had a major impact on his voice, with most of his teeth falling out as a result.Isaacs said of his addiction in 2007: "Drugs are a debasing weapon. It was the greatest college ever, but the most expensive school fee ever paid – the Cocaine High School. I learnt everything, and now I've put it on the side."
He also performed at the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 Inauguration at Jamaica.
In 2007 he collaborated with the Spanish rap group Flowklorikos / Rafael Lechowski album Donde Duele Inspira.
In 2008, after some 40 years as a recording artist, Isaacs released a new studio album Brand New Me, which was nominated for the Grammy Awards for 2010. The album received positive reviews from critics, such as this review from Reggae Vibes: "Gregory is back, and how& #33; 'Brand New Me' is a very suitable album title for the cool ruler's new album. He is back in a different style, more or less like we were used to from this great 'lovers & roots' artist" http://www.reggae-vibes.com/rev_sin/brandnew.php Review of Brand New Me , Reggae Vibes This was followed in 2009 by the album My Kind Of Lady .
In 2010, Gregory Isaacs put out the last of his albums to be released while he was still living; Isaacs Meets Isaac, with Zimbabwean reggae singer, King Isaac. In November 2010, Isaacs Meets Isaac was nominated for Best Reggae Album for the 2011 Grammy Awards, giving Gregory Isaacs his fourth Grammy Nomination, and Zimbabwe's King Isaac, his first.
Death
After a long battle with lung cancer, Isaacs died on 25 October 2010 at his home in south London." http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-11618670 Night Nurse singer Gregory Isaacs dies aged 59", BBC , 25 October 2010, retrieved 27 October 2010 A memorial service was held on 20 November at Kingston's National Indoor Sports Centre, including a musical tribute from artists including Lloyd Parks and We the People Band, Ken Boothe , Freddie McGregor , Shaggy (musician)|Shaggy , Judy Mowatt, Mavado (singer)|Mavado , The Tamlins and Bongo Herman , before his remains were interred at the Dovecot Cemetery." http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Bring-a-red-rose-For-Gregory Bring a red rose For Gregory", Jamaica Observer , 6 November 2010, retrieved 6 November 2010
Discography
More than 500 Gregory Isaacs albums have been released during his career, many being compilations. Studio albums of original material are listed below:
In Person (Gregory Isaacs album)|In Person (1975) Trojan Records|Trojan
Isaacs Meets Isaac with King Isaac (2010) King Isaac Music
Notes
Reflist
References
Barrow, Steve & Dalton, Peter (2004) The Rough Guide to Reggae, 3rd edn. , Rough Guides, ISBN 1-84353-329-4
Kiviat, Steve (1996) " http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/display.php? id=11669 Gregory Isaacs", Washington City Paper , December 6 – 12, 1996 (Vol. 16, #49)
Larkin, Colin (1998) The Virgin Encyclopedia of Reggae , Virgin Books, ISBN 0-7535-0242-9
Miles, Milo (1992) " http://www.nytimes.com/1992/02/02/arts/recordings-view-gregory-isaacs-the-ruler-of-reggae.html RECORDINGS VIEW; Gregory Isaacs, the Ruler of Reggae", New York Times , 2 February 1992
Perry, Andrew (2007) " http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/rockandjazzmusic/3662457/The-cool-ruler-of-reggae-makes-a-comeback.html The cool ruler of reggae makes a comeback", The Daily Telegraph , 11 January 2007
Thomspon, Dave (2003) Reggae & Caribbean Music , Backbeat Books, ISBN 0-87930-655-6
http://www.greensleeves.net/bio/bioggregory.html Biography: Greensleeves Records
http://www.rasrecords.com/gregoryisaacs/ RAS Records discography
http://www.strictly-vibes.com/artists/Gregory_Isaacs.htm Gregory Isaacs Vinyl Page Some of Isaacs' vinyl releases
http://www.jahsmoke.com/ Free Downloads @ JahSmoke.com Isaacs' albums and vinyls
Persondata| NAME =Isaacs, Gregory | ALTERNATIVE NAMES = | SHORT DESCRIPTION = | DATE OF BIRTH =15 July 1950 | PLACE OF BIRTH = Kingston, Jamaica|Kingston , Jamaica | DATE OF DEATH = 25 October 2010 | PLACE OF DEATH = London , England , United Kingdom|UK DEFAULTSORT:Isaacs, Gregory Category:2010 deaths Category:Lovers rock musicians Category:Jamaican reggae musicians Category:People from Kingston, Jamaica Category:Deaths from lung cancer Category:Cancer deaths in England Category:Trojan Records artists Category:1951 births
