General Echo

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General Echo , actually Earl Anthony Robinson (* December 8, 1955 in Kingston , Jamaica , † 1980 ibid.), Also known under the name Ranking Slackness , was a Jamaican deejay of roots reggae . He is one of the first artists to introduce so-called slackness lyrics into reggae. His single Arleen he on the Stalag Riddim by Winston Riley , was published a number-one hit in Jamaica. General Echo was also the founder and deejay of the sound system Echo Tone Hi Fi, which is very well known in Jamaica .

biography

Robinson was born in December 1955 in Fletcher's Land , Kingston , where he grew up. His father passed away when he was a small child. His mother Elma Robinson worked as a tailor. He graduated from Kingston Senior School and went to work at Peart Electrical , in downtown Kingston.

The first time it was heard on phonogram was General Echo in the song Ordinary Version in 1972 , along with the Jamaican deejays Bingy Bunny and Errol Thompson . In 1975 he founded the sound system Echo Tone Hi Fi which over time has become one of the most popular sound systems in Jamaica. Echo himself soon switched to the Ray Symbolic sound system and then to Stereophonic in 1977. That same year, his first solo single was named Track Shoes on the Jamaican label Black & White Two years later, in 1979, appeared on the Jamaican label Manzie with Rocking And Swing then the first album. In the late 1970s, General Echo made a name for itself with sound systems such as Gemini , Stereophonic and Ray Symbolic .

In the late 1970s, Echo worked with producer Winston Riley . On his Stalag Riddim , the single Arleen appeared in 1980, which was released by the Jamaican label Techniques . The song reached number one in the Jamaican charts and stayed there for several weeks. After that, his level of fame rose sharply internationally and he also released songs on larger labels such as Greensleeves or Island Records . Shortly before his death, his second album was released 12 "Of Pleasure on Greensleeves , which by the renowned producer Henry" Junjo "Lawes was produced. In 2000, the reggae duo released Clint Eastwood & General Saint album Tribute to General Echo.

death

On November 22nd, 1980, shortly after the release of his second album 12 Inches Of Pleasure, General Echo was shot dead by the police along with the member of his sound system Selector Flux and the owner of the Stereo Phonic label Leon 'Big John' Johns after they had the car stopped in which they were driving. The incident was never properly resolved.

Discography

Albums

  • 1979 Rocking And Swing Manzie
  • 1980 - 12 "Of Pleasure - Greensleeves Records
  • 2000 - Tribute To General Echo - Mandingo Hot Steppers

Singles, dubplates

  • 1977 - Track Shoes - Black & White
  • 1977 International Year Of The Child hit
  • 1978 - A Little Dis A Little Dat - Manzie
  • 1978 - Occupation - J&M
  • 1979 - Foxy Mama - Manzie
  • 1979 Sex Educational Class - Mandingo
  • 1979 - The General Techniques
  • 1979 - Boom Boom - Manzie
  • 1980 - Bathroom Sex - Greensleeves Records
  • 1980 - Rappin 'Dub - Eglinton & Oakwood
  • 1980 - Drunken Master - Island Records
  • 1980 Arleen Techniques
  • 1980 Rapping Dub Style Techniques
  • 1980 - Hot Reggae Music - Manzie
  • 1980 - Suzzane - Bunny Rabbit
  • 1980 Titanic Manzie
  • 1981 - Bun Bun - Mandingo
  • 1982 - Afrikan National Heroes - Mandingo

Collaboration with other artists

  • 1972 Ordinary Version (feat.Bingy Bunny, Errol Thompson) - Giant
  • 1979 - Foxy Trixter (feat. The Revolutionaries) - Manzie
  • 1980 - Coming From Town (feat. Madoo) - Cha Cha Music
  • 1980 - Hotel Fee (feat. Madoo) - Greensleeves Records
  • 1980 - People Are You Ready (feat. The Mercenaries) - Mummy
  • 1980 - Roses Are Red (feat.Badoo) - Live And Love

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ A b The Virgin Encyclopedia of Reggae , Colin Larkin (1998), Virgin Books, ISBN 1-85828-247-0
  2. ^ A b c Reggae: The Rough Guide , Steve Barrow, Peter Dalton (1997), Rough Guides, ISBN 1-85828-247-0
  3. ↑ a b c d e biography at reggaeholland
  4. ↑ a b Report at the Jamaican Observer
personal data
SURNAME General Echo
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Robinson, Earl Anthony (real name); Ranking slackness
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Jamaican deejay des roots reggae
DATE OF BIRTH December 8, 1955
PLACE OF BIRTH Kingston , Jamaica
DATE OF DEATH 1980
Place of death Kingston , Jamaica