Owen Gray
Gray, born in Kingston, Jamaica in 1939, was a child prodigy and one of the top-ranked singers in Reggae's early days. In 1959, Coxsone Dodd produced Gray's hit "On the Beach", one of the first songs lauding the sound system. Hit after hit followed like "Please Don't Let Me Go", "Runnin Round", "Jezebel", "Patricia", and Mash It".
Gray, born in Kingston, Jamaica in 1939, was a child prodigy and one of the top-ranked singers in Reggae's early days. In 1959, Coxsone Dodd produced Gray's hit "On the Beach", one of the first songs lauding the sound system. Hit after hit followed like "Please Don't Let Me Go", "Runnin Round", "Jezebel", "Patricia", and Mash It".
In 1960, Chris Blackwell (Island Records) began his new label by signing Owen Gray. Gray was indeed one of the leading artist lights throughout this exhilarating decade in Reggae's history. Like Don Drummond, Tommy McCook, Lester Sterling and others, Gray was a multi-instrumental (drums, guitar, piano) graduate of the famous Alpha School music program. He was the pianist on The Folkes Brothers' original recording of "Oh Carolina" produced by Prince Buster and was a featured musician on several other significant pre-Ska recordings. But it's Gray's rare vocal quality that raised the standard for future generations of Reggae singers like Desmond Dekker, Bob Marley and Jimmy Cliff.
Influences from American R&B, Soul, and Gospel can be heard in Gray's eloquent vocal delivery. Recording with the Skatalites or the Caribs, Gray demonstrated his mastery of a wide range of singing styles whether teaming up with Ska icon Little Millie (of "My Boy Lollipop" fame) or delivering the profoundly moving "Sinners Gonna Weep". Gray moved to the UK in 1962, continuing to record in Jamaica through each new phase of the development of Reggae. In the 1970s he became known for his Lover's Rock and Roots Reggae sound, the creative vision behind the 'stick by me' riddim and went into the studio with inspired Dub producers Sly and Robbie resulting in the classic "Sly and Robbie present Owen Gray on Top" album. In the 1980's he recorded with several labels including Trojan and recently Trojan/Sanctuary released "Shook, Shimmy and Shake", a 2 CD compilation featuring Gray's greatest recorded gems.
Reportedly the last singer still performing from Jamaica's pre-Ska period, Gray continually brings the house down at festivals, concerts and club engagements in North America and UK/Europe.
Influences from American R&B, Soul, and Gospel can be heard in Gray's eloquent vocal delivery. Recording with the Skatalites or the Caribs, Gray demonstrated his mastery of a wide range of singing styles whether teaming up with Ska icon Little Millie (of "My Boy Lollipop" fame) or delivering the profoundly moving "Sinners Gonna Weep". Gray moved to the UK in 1962, continuing to record in Jamaica through each new phase of the development of Reggae. In the 1970s he became known for his Lover's Rock and Roots Reggae sound, the creative vision behind the 'stick by me' riddim and went into the studio with inspired Dub producers Sly and Robbie resulting in the classic "Sly and Robbie present Owen Gray on Top" album. In the 1980's he recorded with several labels including Trojan and recently Trojan/Sanctuary released "Shook, Shimmy and Shake", a 2 CD compilation featuring Gray's greatest recorded gems.
Reportedly the last singer still performing from Jamaica's pre-Ska period, Gray continually brings the house down at festivals, concerts and club engagements in North America and UK/Europe.
