Derrick Morgan

This article is about the musician Derrick Morgan . For the football player of the same name, see Derrick Morgan (football player) .

Derrick Morgan (born March 27, 1940 , Stewarton, Jamaica ) is a Jamaican ska and reggae musician. He is one of the earliest pioneers of ska and has with his song Tougher Than Tough to Rocksteady initiated. In 1961 he managed to occupy the first seven places in the Jamaican charts .

Life

His talent first became apparent when he won the " Vere Johns ' Opportunity Show" at the age of 17 . Derrick sings the song Long Tall Sally by Little Richard (also known in the cover version of the Beatles ). He then toured with the comedian duo "Bim & Bam" for two years. In 1960 he recorded his first songs, Lover Boy and Oh My , produced by Duke Reid . His first No. 1 hit in Jamaica is Fat Man , which is also one of the first Jamaican songs to be released in England. Morgan switched to producer Leslie Kong at Jimmy Cliff's instigation . Housewifes' Choice , the duet with singer Patsy Todd , recorded in 1962 , is said to be perhaps his greatest success, the song also attracts attention in England.

Also in 1962 was Forward March , a piece about the independence from British colonization that has just been achieved . The song triggers a musical dispute based on hit singles with singer and producer Prince Buster . This alleged Morgan had the saxophone - Solo from Busters They Got To Come stolen, and attacks Morgan with the piece Blackhead Chiney Man at. Morgan responds with the songs Blazing Fire and No Raise, No Praise . The mutual insults go so far that there is unrest among the population and, in 1963, the government finally intervenes. The two fighters make a statement in the Daily Gleaner , in which they declare the argument to be a mere sales gag and portray themselves as best friends. Musical battles like this had already existed in Calypso before , but were new in Ska until then. A tradition was started here which is still very popular in Jamaica to this day, cf. like the argument between Beenie Man and Bounty Killer .

In 1966, Morgan created Tougher Than Tough, the first example of the musical style that was supposed to replace ska. The Rocksteady is now set to storm the Jamaican charts. Background singing on this song is Desmond and George Dekker (the latter later on The Pioneers ). Morgan's 1969 song Moon Hop is a hit on the skinhead scene in England, which at the time was part of the so-called skinhead reggae .

In 1976 Morgan, who suffered from night blindness all his life, was diagnosed with retinopathia pigmentosa . Morgan is blind today but still tours Europe and the States occasionally. He runs his own label, where he produces reggae and raggamuffin musicians.

Discography (selection)

• Forward March (1963)
• Derrick Morgan & Friends (1968)
• The Best Of Derrick Morgan (1969)
• Derrick Morgan In London (1969)
• Seven Letters (1969)
• Moon Hop (1970)
• In The Mood (1974)
• Development (1975)
• Feel So Good (featuring Hortense Ellis , 1975)
• People's Decision (1977)
• The Conquerer (1985)
• Blazing Fire Vol. 1 & 2 (1988)
• Ride the Rhythm (1990)
• Two Knights of Ska (with Laurel Aitken , 1990)
• I Am the Ruler (1992)

Web links

• Derrick Morgan at Allmusic (English)