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Biography
Other people|LucianoInfobox musical artist|image= Luciano (Reggae Awards, 2007).jpg|caption = Luciano performing in 2007|name = Luciano|background = solo_singer|birth_name = Jepther McClymont|alias = The Messenger, Jah Messenger|birth_date =Birth date and age|1964|10|20|death_date =|origin = Manchester, Jamaica|Manchester , Jamaica |instrument = Guitar |genre = Reggae |occupation = Singer - songwriter , author , poet , artist |years_active = 1993–present|label = RAS Records , Xterminator , VP Records |associated_acts = Dean Fraser , Firehouse Crew |website = http://www.lucianoreggae.com/ www.lucianoreggae.com|current_members =|past_members = Luciano (real name Jepther McClymont Order of Distinction|OD , born October 20, 1964 in Jamaica ) is a Jamaica n second-generation roots reggae artist and poet.
He began recording in 1992, with his first single "Ebony & Ivory" on the Aquarius Record label, followed by his debut album Moving Up for RAS records in 1993. Luciano is the seventh of nine children and was born to extremely spiritual and musical parents while growing up in Daveyton, a small district in the central parish of Manchester, Jamaica .
Career
After voicing several covers for the producer Sky High, Luciano released "Give My Love A Try," which was produced at Castro Brown's New Name Studio and was a hit in Jamaica. http://jamaica-star.com/thestar/20041011/ent/ent2.html Luciano gets started. Jamaica Star . October 11, 2004. Retrieved 2011-4-7. It was there that Luciano met international reggae superstar Freddie McGregor . Joining McGregor's Big Ship production company, Luciano began creating cultural, conscious reggae that reflected his religious and social concerns. Again in 1993, Luciano scored a #1 UK reggae hit with the song "Shake It Up Tonight" but Luciano says, "I didn't see myself going in that pattern, singing love songs, dressed in a felt hat, looking smooth. It looked very splashy."Citation needed|date=April 2011 Luciano rose to prominence in the mid-1990s, at the height of the "Rasta Renaissance" in dancehall music, beginning with the album One Way Ticket in 1994.Campbell, Howard. http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20080318/ent/ent1.html Luciano charts New territory. Jamaica Gleaner . March 18, 2008. Retrieved 2011-4-6. The renewal of Rastafarian influence into dancehall music in the early 1990s had begun with artists such as Tony Rebel and Garnett Silk . After Silk's death in late 1994, many looked to Luciano to continue consciousness in reggae music. Of Garnett Silk, he stated "Garnett was more like a brother, a father, a tutor, a forerunner. When he moved on I knew the work for me became harder still."O'Brien Chang, Kevin; Chen, Wayne. Reggae Routes . Philadelphia:Temple University, 1998. pp.207 ISBN 1-56639-629-8.
He had by then joined producer Phillip "Fattis" Burrell and his Xterminator label, after New Name and Big Ship failed to release albums of his material. The following year brought the smash hit album Where There Is Life for Chris Blackwell|Chris Blackwell's major label Island Jamaica. It contained such hits as "It's Me Again Jah", "Who Could It Be", as well the title track. He recorded a second album for Island Jamaica in 1997 entitled Messenger , whose title track earned him his enduring nickname. http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20011119/star/star2.html Luciano to speak at International Men's Day function. Jamaica Gleaner . November 19, 2001. Retrieved 2011-4-6.
The majority of his recording in the mid-to-late 1990s was for Burrell and the Xterminator label, which by that time included such artists as Sizzla , Mikey General and Firehouse Crew , as well as recordings from Capleton and Cocoa Tea . Along with the work on the two albums for Island Jamaica, the majority of Luciano hits produced by Burrell were featured on 1999's Sweep Over My Soul . Burrell and Luciano parted ways in 1999.Van Pelt, Carter. http://incolor.inetnebr.com/cvanpelt/lucianoint.html Luciano Interview. inetnebr.com. 1999. Retrieved 2011-3-26.
By 2001, Luciano had released two live albums as well as two compilation albums alongside Sizzla and Anthony B after the split with Xterminator. That year saw the release of two new albums of material, Great Controversy on Jet Star and A New Day on VP Records . The latter received a nomination for Best Reggae Album at the 2002 Grammy Awards , and was executive produced by longtime saxophonist and touring partner Dean Fraser . The album received additional production from Sly & Robbie and was backed by Fraser and the Firehouse Crew.Moody, Shelah. http://www.reggaereview.com/archives/81feature.htm Spotlight On Luciano. Reggae Review . 2001. Retrieved 2011-4-7.
Fraser continued to produce many of Luciano's albums throughout the decade, including 2008's Jah Is My Navigator . In 2010, he released United States of Africa . While the previous album had focused mostly on God, Africa dealt with global events. Of this, Luciano stated, "We're not just singing about Zion and all those glorious dreams. We're also dealing with issues that affect the people, their very minds.Taylor, Angus. http://unitedreggae.com/articles/n453/090710/interview-luciano Interview: Luciano. UnitedReggae.com. Sept 7 2010. Retrieved 2011-4-7.
He was awarded the Order of Distinction in the rank of Officer on October 15, 2007, in recognition of his contribution to reggae music. http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/lifestyle/html/20071015T230000-0500_128382_OBS_ARTISTES_PRESENTED_WITH_NATIONAL_AWARDS.asp Artistes presented with national awards - JAMAICAOBSERVER.COM
In July 2009, Luciano paid his respects to fellow musician Michael Jackson by releasing a reggae tribute (on Lioni Records ) of Jackson's iconic USA for Africa charity song, " We are the World ".
Beliefs
Luciano is a devout Rastafarian , whose lyrics promote consciousness and eschew slackness , or vulgarity, which is often prominent in reggae and dancehall music. He has criticized other Rastafarian reggae artists who record slackness material, describing them as having lost focus.Williams, Leighton. http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20030406/ent/ent3.html Luciano defends ganja, serves Jah. Jamaica Gleaner . April 6, 2003. The singer himself has sometimes been criticized for the reading of Biblical verses prior to performances, which has been described as inappropriate.
The singer is also an activist in the promotion of ganja, or marijuana, stating: "I'm not fighting for the decriminalisation of ganja, because it was never a criminal. My fight is to enlighten the people of the cannabis and let them know of the herbal properties and the benefits we can achieve from it."
Personal life
In 2009, Luciano was charged by Jamaican police for harboring a fugitive who reportedly shot three officers before hiding at the singer's residence. After a stand-off on the property, the gunman was killed by police. http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2009-03-30-luciano_N.htm Jamaica's Luciano charged with harboring fugitive. USAToday via AP. March 31, 2009. Retrieved 2011-4-5. He was denied entry to the United States later that year after his US visa was cancelled, but his management team denied any relation of the cancelled visa to the charges in Jamaica.Henry, Krista. http://jamaica-star.com/thestar/20091007/ent/ent1.html Luciano denied entry in US . Jamaica Star . October 7, 2009. Retrieved 2011-4-5. On March 11, 2011, all charges related to the incident were dropped against Luciano by prosecutors of the case. http://rjrnewsonline.com/entertainment/case-again-luciano-withdrawn Case again Luciano withdrawn. RJR News. March 11, 2011. Retrieved 2011-4-5.
In 2010, Luciano was reportedly given land a tract of land for residence in the Gambia at the bequest of President Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh . http://www.dancehallreggaeworld.com/luciano-gets-house-and-land-in-gambia.html Luciano gets house and land in Gambia. Dancehallreggaeworld.com. Retrieved 2011-4-5. The singer first performed in the country in 2001, and has stated his preference for eventually residing in Africa.
Albums
Solo
Rub-A-Dub Market , (2011)
Write My Name , (2010)
United States of Africa , (2010)
Jah Is My Navigator , (2008)
God Is Greater than Man , (2007)
Child of a King , (2006)
Jah Words , (2005)
Serious Times (Luciano)|Serious Times , (2004)
Visions (Luciano)|Visions , (2003)
Serve Jah (Luciano)|Serve Jah , (2003)
Great Controversy (Luciano)|Great Controversy , (2001)
A New Day (Luciano)|A New Day , (2001)
Live (Luciano)|Live , (2000)
Sweep Over My Soul (Luciano)|Sweep Over My Soul , (1999)
Messenger (Luciano)|Messenger , (1997)
Where There Is Life (Luciano)|Where There Is Life , (1995)
http://royalconcertproductions.com/artists/index.php? artist=luciano& title=Luciano Luciano Bio
http://www.lucianoreggae.com/ Official Luciano Site
Persondata | NAME =Luciano | ALTERNATIVE NAMES = | SHORT DESCRIPTION = | DATE OF BIRTH =October 20, 1964 | PLACE OF BIRTH = | DATE OF DEATH = | PLACE OF DEATH = DEFAULTSORT:Luciano Category:1964 births Category:Living people Category:Jamaican male singers Category:Jamaican reggae singers Category:Jamaican Rastafarians Category:People from Manchester Parish
