Errol Dunkley (born 6 February 1951), sometimes spelled Erroll Dunkley, is 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 ...
musician, born in
Kingston, Jamaica in 1951.
Biography
Dunkley's recording career began in 1965, when he was 14, with "Gypsy" (a duet with
Roy Shirley) for Linden Pottinger's Gaydisc label, "My Queen" (with
Junior English
Junior English (born Lindel Beresford English, 1951) is a Jamaican reggae singer who began his career in the early 1960s before relocating to England.
Biography
English was born in Kingston, Jamaica in 1951.Larkin, Colin (1998) ''The Virgin En ...
) for
Prince Buster
Cecil Bustamente Campbell (24 May 1938 – 8 September 2016), known professionally as Prince Buster, was a Jamaican singer-songwriter and producer. The records he released in the 1960s influenced and shaped the course of Jamaican contemporary ...
, and "Love Me Forever" on the Rio label. From 1967 to 1968, he recorded several singles for
Joe Gibbs
Joe Jackson Gibbs (born November 25, 1940) is an American auto racing team owner and former professional football coach. In football, he was head coach for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League (NFL) from 1981 to 1992, and a ...
, including "Please Stop Your Lying" (1967) and "Love Brother" (1968), before switching to
Coxsone Dodd
Clement Seymour "Coxsone" Dodd (26 January 1932 – 4 May 2004) was a Jamaican record producer who was influential in the development of ska and reggae in the 1950s, 1960s and beyond.
He was nicknamed "Coxsone" at school due to his talent a ...
in 1969.
In the early 1970s, with
Gregory Isaacs
Gregory Anthony Isaacs OD (15 July 1951 – 25 October 2010)Thompson, p. 127. was a Jamaican reggae musician. Milo Miles, writing in ''The New York Times'', described Isaacs as "the most exquisite vocalist in reggae".Miles, Milo (1992),RECORDI ...
, he formed the
African Museum record label. Isaacs soon took sole control of the label, and Dunkley formed Silver Ring, a new label. In 1972, he teamed up with producer Jimmy Radway for two of his most popular singles, "Keep the Pressure Down" and "Black Cinderella". The same year saw the release of Dunkley's debut album, ''Presenting Errol Dunkley'', produced by
Sonia Pottinger
Sonia Eloise Pottinger OD ( Durrant; 21 June 1931 – 3 November 2010)Thompson, Dave (2002) ''Reggae & Caribbean Music'', Backbeat Books, , p. 316[UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart (currently titled Official Singles Chart, with the upper section more commonly known as the Official UK Top 40) is compiled by the Official Charts Company (OCC), on behalf of the British record industry, listing the top-s ...]
hit in 1979 with "
OK Fred
"OK Fred" is a song by Jamaican singer-songwriter John Holt. It was first released as a single in 1971.
Background
Errol Dunkley stated that the song is about an up-town girl who falls for a down-town guy who is a non-conformist in the way he ...
", a cover version of a song written by
John Holt, that reached number 11.
Guinness Book of British Hit Singles
''British Hit Singles & Albums'' (originally known as ''The Guinness Book of British Hit Singles'' and ''The Guinness Book of British Hit Albums'') was a music reference book originally published in the United Kingdom by the publishing arm of t ...
– 16th Edition – His 1980 release "Sit Down And Cry" also reached the charts.
Dunkley re-recorded "OK Fred", his biggest hit, in 1996 with Queen Sister *N*.
Albums
*''Presenting Errol Dunkley'' (Gay Feet, 1972), reissued as ''Darling Ooh'' (
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 ...
, 1981) – (a four star
AMG recommendation)
*''Sit and Cry Over You'' (Third World, 1976)
*''Militant Man'' (Lovella International, 1980)
*''Profile of Errol Dunkley'' aka ''OK Fred'' (Third World, 1980)
*''In a Different, Different Style'' (Easy Street Records, 1984)
*''Special Request'' (Carousel, 1987)
*''Aquarius'' (1989)
*''The Early Years'' (Rhino, 1995)
*''Please Stop Your Lying'' (early Joe Gibbs recordings) (Rocky One, 1996)
*''Continually'' (2000)
*''OK Fred (The Best Of)'' (Trojan 2004)
*''Love Is Amazing'' (Studio One)
*''Moodie Meets Errol Dunkley'' (Moodie Music)
*''OK Fred - Storybook Revisited - Errol Dunkley'' (Burning Sounds ) 2020
See also
*
List of reggae musicians
This is a list of reggae musicians. This includes artists who have either been very important to the genre or have had a considerable amount of exposure (such as in the case of one that has been on a major label). Bands are listed by the first lett ...
*
List of performers on Top of the Pops
__NOTOC__
This list of performers on ''Top of the Pops'' includes popular music recording artists and musical ensembles who have performed on ''Top of the Pops'', a weekly BBC television programme that featured artists from the UK Singles Ch ...
References
External links
*
Reggae and Dancehall Artist Information – mini biography and discographyDiscogs website discography
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dunkley, Errol
Jamaican reggae musicians
1951 births
Living people
Musicians from Kingston, Jamaica