Bogle (dancer)

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Please improve this article if you can. (October 2006)

Bogle, also known as Bogle Dancer, Mr. Bogle, Father Bogle, and Mr. Wacky (b. Gerald Levy 22 August 1964 d. 20 January 2005) was a Jamaican dancehall star. His stage name was a reference to Jamaican National Hero Paul Bogle.

Bogle was called the "Dancehall Master" He was best known for his dancing. He had the ability to create dances without effort and his dances would become extremely popular. Creator of the Willie Bounce (Named after Bogle's friend and Black Roses Crew member Willie Haggart), Wacky Dip, Urkle Dance, Sesame Street, Bogle Dance, Pelper, LOY, Jerry Springer, Zip It Up, Hotti Hotti Bogle, World Dance, Pop Yuh Collar, Row di Boat, Out and Bad, Sweeper, Stuckie, and many other popular dances. He was also in Belly (film).

In the Nineties, Levy created the Bogle Dance, the scene's first crossover dance move. He was also a major influence on breakout artists such as Elephant Man and Beenie Man, who gave shout-outs to Levy in songs like "Row Like a Boat": "Seh Mr. Bogle have di brand new style/Come get di style, come get di style."

[edit] Death

On January 20, 2005, Levy and four others were in his car at a shopping-district gas station when two men on motorbike sped past, shooting into the vehicle. The passengers were rushed to Kingston Public Hospital, where the forty-year-old Levy was pronounced dead. The home of John Hype, Levy's creative rival over the last year, was burned to the ground just hours later.

In the wake of Bogle's murder, Beenie Man offered a $1 million reward for the capture of the killers. [1]

[edit] Legacy

Bogle lives on through out the dance hall community as Jamaica's greatest dancer of all time. Many dance hall artist and dancers respect "Father Bogle" and give him shout outs in songs. Popular DJ Bounty Killer credits Bogle for making him want to dance. In 2005 the trio Voicemail had the hit single "Wacky Dip" on the Jonkunoo riddim. Elephant Man who previously recorded songs for Bogle's dances had the hit single "Willie Bounce" which is by far one of Bogle's most popular dances. Buju Banton also recorded a song called "Bogle Dance", which was inspired by Bogle.