David Isaacs (9 June 1946 – c. 21 December 2009) was a Jamaican

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 ...

singer who worked with

Lee "Scratch" Perry Lee "Scratch" Perry (born Rainford Hugh Perry; 20 March 1936 – 29 August 2021) was a Jamaican record producer, composer and singer noted for his innovative studio techniques and production style. Perry was a pioneer in the 1970s development o ...

in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and went on to release several albums between the mid-1970s and early 1980s.

Biography

Isaacs was born in Denham Town in 1946,''Just Like a Sea'' sleeve notes, which state 9 June 1946 and was the first of 16 children for his mother.Campbell, Howard (2009)
David Isaacs dead at 63
", ''

Jamaica Gleaner ''The Gleaner'' is an English-language, morning daily newspaper founded by two brothers, Jacob and Joshua de Cordova on 13 September 1834 in Kingston, Jamaica. Originally called the ''Daily Gleaner'', the name was changed on 7 December 1992 to ' ...

'', 28 December 2009, retrieved 28 December 2009 Isaacs recorded a version of

Stevie Wonder Stevland Hardaway Morris ( Judkins; May 13, 1950), known professionally as Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, who is credited as a pioneer and influence by musicians across a range of genres that include rhythm and blues, Pop musi ...

's "A Place in the Sun" in 1968 for producer Lee Perry, and this was one of the records that established

Trojan Records Trojan Records is a British record label founded in 1968. It specialises in ska, rocksteady, reggae and dub music. The label currently operates under the Sanctuary Records Group. The name ''Trojan'' comes from the Croydon-built Trojan truck t ...

as a major force in reggae. The song was later re-recorded and included in Isaacs' album ''Place in the Sun'', issued in the 1980s. In 1979, Isaacs recorded "Just Like a Sea", in combination with

deejay A disc jockey, more commonly abbreviated as DJ, is a person who plays recorded music for an audience. Types of DJs include radio DJs (who host programs on music radio stations), club DJs (who work at a nightclub or music festival), mobile D ...

Jah Thomas Nkrumah "Jah" Thomas (b. 1955, Kingston, Jamaica) is a reggae deejay and record producer who first came to prominence in the 1970s, later setting up his own ''Midnight Rock'' and ''Nura'' labels. Biography Named Nkrumah after Ghanaian national ...

, and released his debut album of the same name (also issued as ''More Love''), produced by Witty Reid. In 1982, he teamed up with Winston "Niney" Holness for the album ''Happy Ending'', released on Dynamic Sounds, which had been preceded by the ''Love & Devotion'' set. Isaacs also toured extensively with The Itals, as Lloyd Ricketts was unable to tour. In 1987, upon the nomination of the Itals for the American Grammy Awards, David toured extensively with the Itals line up of Keith Porter and Ronnie Davis. This line-up would continue for over two decades, and the last tour was in 2009, with a cross-country tour that ended in the fall. Because Lloyd Ricketts was unable to get a visa for all of these years, David supported the three-part harmony, and added his own special qualities. The "Itals" also toured without Ronnie Davis often, as Keith Porter, living in the United States did try various line-ups, including his family to perform under the "Itals" name. However, over the course of time, the importance of having David Isaacs and Ronnie Davis tour with the band became known by audience response. David Isaacs toured more over the years than Ronnie Davis or, of course, Lloyd Ricketts because he did work with Keith Porter when Keith Porter was promoting the Itals as his particular line-up which consisted of his daughter and usually included David Isaacs. Articles in the Gleaner and other places are reporting that David Isaacs along with his great personal achievements did a "brief stint" with the Itals, however that brief stint was over two decades, and his contributions to the Itals touring group cannot be described as brief. Isaacs died in December 2009. His sister Beverley found him dead at their Denham Town home on the morning of 21 December.

Discography

Singles

*"I'd Rather Be Lonely" (1966), BMN/

Island An island (or isle) is an isolated piece of habitat that is surrounded by a dramatically different habitat, such as water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, skerries, cays or keys. An island ...

*"See That Man" (1966), BMN/Island *"Place in the Sun" (1968), Upsetter/

Trojan Trojan or Trojans may refer to: * Of or from the ancient city of Troy * Trojan language, the language of the historical Trojans Arts and entertainment Music * ''Les Troyens'' ('The Trojans'), an opera by Berlioz, premiered part 1863, part 189 ...

*"Give Me Your Love" (1968), Supersonics –

Alton Ellis Alton Nehemiah Ellis (1 September 1938 – 10 October 2008)Godfather ...

& David Isaacs *"Good Father" (1968), Upsetter *"Can't Take It Anymore" (1969), Upsetter *"Give Love a Try" (1969), Upsetter *"He'll Have To Go" (1969), Upsetter *"I'm Leaving (on a Jet Plane)" (1969), Upsetter *"I've Got Memories" (1969), Upsetter *"Since You are Gone" (1969), Jackpot/Upsetter *"Knock Three Times" (1971), Punch *"Dark Moon" *"Good Father" *"Love Has Joined Us Together" (1971), Jackpot *"Who To Tell" *"You'll Be Sorry" (1971), Upsetter/Punch *"Just Enough" (1973), Upset/Bread *"We Are Neighbors" (1973), Upset/Bread *"Stranger on the Shore" (1973), Justice League/Upsetter *"Breaking Up" (1975), Hulk *"You'll Be Sorry" (1975), Sunshot *"Hard Road to Travel" (1977), Roots From The Yard *"Seems I'm Losing You" (1977), VP *"Think That You're Smart", Roots Rock International *"I Went to Your Wedding" (1978), Ossie Sounds *"Linger Awhile" (1978), Hulk *"Just Like a Sea" (1978). Moodisc *"Just Like A Sea" (1978), Cartridge/Errol T/Steppers (with

) *"Place in the Sun" (1978), Rattie Soul/Jama *"More Love" (1979), Errol T/Cartridge *"More Love", Steppers *"We've Got to Make It", Steppers *"Hush Not a Word to Mary" (1979), Music Cave *"She Loves Me Now" 12" (19??), Striker Lee *"Love Me With All Your Heart" (1979), Bushays – with

Trinity The Christian doctrine of the Trinity (, from 'threefold') is the central dogma concerning the nature of God in most Christian churches, which defines one God existing in three coequal, coeternal, consubstantial divine persons: God the F ...

*"Sometimes When We Touch", Top Rankin' Muzik *"Jah Love I" (1979), Wild Flower *"What You Gonna Do" (1979), Gorgon *"Brand New Style" (19??), New Star *"Bye My Love" (1981), Express *"Just Like a Sea" (1981), Deep Groove *"Margaret" (1981), Deep Groove *"I'm Gonna Get You", Errol T *"Just Like a Sea" (19??), Rattie Soul *"Sitting and Watching", Carl's *"Words", Carl's *"Someone New Dancing With You", Jackpot *"You Got To Come Home Back", Lucky Star

Albums

*''Just Like a Sea'' (1979), Steppers – also issued as ''More Love'' (1979), J&M *''Love & Devotion'' (1981), Imperial *''Happy Ending'' (1982),

Dynamic Sounds West Indies Records Limited (WIRL) was a recording studio in Kingston, Jamaica established by future Prime Minister Edward Seaga in 1958. Seaga recruited and recorded many artists such as Higgs and Wilson, and Byron Lee and the Dragonaires. As Sea ...

*''Place in the Sun'' (1984),

Culture Press Culture Press is an independent record label from UK specialized in Jamaican music. LP Discography *VSLP5000 - Bob Marley - Interviews *VSLP5001 - Clint Eastwood - The Best Of Clint Eastwood - 1984 *VSLP5002 - Dillinger - Blackboard Jungle - ...

, also released as ''Til I Can't Take It'' on Hulk *''To Sir With Love'', Jamaica Authentic

References

External links

David Isaacs Official SiteDavid Isaacs at Roots ArchivesDavid Isaacs at algoriddim
{{DEFAULTSORT:Isaacs, David 1946 births 2009 deaths Musicians from Kingston, Jamaica Jamaican reggae musicians Trojan Records artists