Early B
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Early B | |
---|---|
Birth name | Earlando Arrington Neil |
Also known as | The Doctor |
Born | 1956 |
Origin | Kingston, Jamaica |
Died | November 9, 1994 |
Genre(s) | Dancehall, reggae |
Associated acts | Super Cat Brigadier Jerry |
[edit] Biography
Earlando Arrington Neil, better known by his stage name Early B, was an early dancehall and reggae deejay whose lyrics had a cultural bent, noted mainly in his hits "Visit of King Selassie", "History of Jamaica" and "Wheely Wheely", the latter an ode to bicycle-riding in Jamaica. Earlando earned his stage name as a result of his reputation for arriving to shows early, thus gaining the name Early Bird, then finally Early B.[1] Early B's lyrics reflected the Jamaican cultural condition expressed through everyday livity on the island.
During the early 1980s, Early B's deejay career brought him to to the African Star sound system in Toronto, Canada[1][2]; Soul Imperial Hi-fi[1][3]; and Crystal Blue Flames Sound in New York City, New York[1][3]. Early also deejayed on the King Majesty sound system, while on vacation in Jamaica with Stuart Brown (owner of African Star Sound) for a short period of time.[2] Early B returned to Jamaica to work on the Killamanjaro sound system along with his protege, Cat-a-rock (a.k.a. Super Cat).[1][2] Early B recorded several albums during the mid-80s, which remain well-circulated in the digital age today.
Early performed throughout the US & England, as well as Jamaica, until 1994, when he was tragically killed while onstage by a stray bullet inside the Windsor Cricket Club in Massachusetts.[1] The dance was put on by Rasta deejay and close friend Brigadier Jerry, featuring Jah Love Muzik, the Twelve Tribes of Israel sound system from Jamaica. While rumors have circulated as to the reasoning behind the murder, his killers have never been found.
[edit] Discography
"Four Wheel No Real" (album #DSR 5092)
- Released: 1984
- Format: LP
- Label: Midnight Rock
- Producer: Jah Thomas
- Tracks: Eight
- Singles: "Cane Man A Fe Bathe"
"Sunday Dish" (album)
- Released: 1985
- Format: LP
- Label: Sunset
- Producer: Jah Thomas
- Tracks: Nine
- Singles: "History of Jamaica"
"Wheely Wheely" (album)