Gary Himelfarb (born 1954), aka Doctor Dread,Nelson, Havelock (1993)
Ice Records caribbean exposure Grows
, '' Billboard'', March 13, 1993, retrieved 2010-11-06 is an American

reggae Reggae () is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1960s. The term also denotes the modern popular music of Jamaica and its diaspora. A 1968 single by Toots and the Maytals, " Do the Reggay" was the first popular song to use ...

producer who founded

RAS Records RAS Records, also known as Real Authentic Sound, is a reggae record label. History RAS Records was founded in 1979 by Doctor Dread. In his travels to Jamaica he created a network within the reggae artist community there. By the early to mid-198 ...

. He is notable for his respectful dedication to roots reggae artists; and in turn for helping spread their works and words throughout the world.

Biography

Himelfarb was born in

Washington, D.C. ) , image_skyline = , image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, ...

in 1954, and first visited Jamaica in 1977.Campbell, Howard (2014)
The Whole Story
, '' Jamaica Observer'', October 5, 2014. Retrieved October 5, 2014Gary Himelfarb interview
, ''Reggae Runnins'', Vol. 4, No. 4, 1998, retrieved 2010-11-06 In 1979 he began working as a disc jockey at WHFS, broadcasting under the name Dr. Dread. In 1981 he started RAS Records, initially as a distribution company. An example of the work of Doctor Dread is the

Israel Vibration Israel Vibration are a reggae harmony group, originating from Kingston, Jamaica. Lascelle "Wiss" Bulgin, Albert "Apple Gabriel" Craig, and Cecil "Skelly" Spence all suffered from childhood polio, and went on to be a Jamaican roots reggae grou ...

three-disk set ''Power of the Trinity''. Here Doctor Dread mixes I-Vibe songs with his interviews of members Lascelle "Wiss" Bulgin, Albert "Apple" Craig, and Cecil "Skelly" Spence. The result is a work of profound importance, not least in that it documents the

polio Poliomyelitis, commonly shortened to polio, is an infectious disease caused by the poliovirus. Approximately 70% of cases are asymptomatic; mild symptoms which can occur include sore throat and fever; in a proportion of cases more severe s ...

outbreak in

Jamaica Jamaica (; ) is an island country situated in the Caribbean Sea. Spanning in area, it is the third-largest island of the Greater Antilles and the Caribbean (after Cuba and Hispaniola). Jamaica lies about south of Cuba, and west of His ...

in the 1950s, through the memories of some of its youngest sufferers. He has worked with many artists including Bob Marley, Black Uhuru, Jimmy Cliff, Inner Circle, Gregory Isaacs, Luciano, Mad Cobra, Freddy Mcgregor, Sly and Robbie, Steel Pulse, The Wailers, and Bunny Wailer. Himelfarb is also a board member of the Association for Independent Music.Bickers, James (2002) "Copy protected CDs: Piracy defense or rip-off? ; Encrypted discs may hurt systems if copying tried", ''

USA Today ''USA Today'' (stylized in all uppercase) is an American daily middle-market newspaper and news broadcasting company. Founded by Al Neuharth on September 15, 1982, the newspaper operates from Gannett's corporate headquarters in Tysons, Virgi ...

'', June 25, 2002 A book documenting his experiences running RAS Records, ''The Half That's Never Been Told'', was published in March 2015.Campbell, Howard (2015)
Nothing But the Truth: Doctor Dread Tells His Story
, '' Jamaica Observer'', March 8, 2015. Retrieved March 8, 2015 He has now left the music business and has a new venture — Doctor Dread's Famous Jerk — a range of sauces and snacks, as well as an antique shop in northern California.

References

1954 births Living people Record producers from Maryland Musicians from Maryland People from Bethesda, Maryland {{US-record-producer-stub