Mikey Chung

Mikey Chung
Background information
Birth name Michael Chung
Also known as Mao
Born 1954
Origin Kingston, Jamaica
Genres Reggae
Instruments Keyboard, guitar
Associated acts Inner Circle, Black Uhuru, Word, Sound and Power, Compass Point All Stars

Born Michael Chung in 1954,[1] Mikey "Mao" Chung is a keyboard, guitar and percussion player, arranger and record producer of Jamaican music.

Biography

Chung, of Chinese Jamaican descent, grew up on Tewari Crescent in Jamaica, later moving with his family to the Vineyard Town area of the city, attending St. George's College.[2] He began his career in music as the guitarist for the Mighty Mystics, The Virtues (1967–69), Generation Gap, and the Federal Studios house band the Now Generation Band,[3] before playing with artists such as Jacob Miller and Inner Circle in the 1970s.[1] As a member of Word, Sound and Power from 1978, along with Sly & Robbie, he backed Peter Tosh on Mystic Man, Wanted Dread and Alive, and Bush Doctor, playing guitar and synthesizer.[1][4] He played for Lee Perry's band The Upsetters (?-1975?-?), and the Compass Point All Stars (Island Records).[2] He often accompanied Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare on their recordings and played guitar for Black Uhuru on their albums Red and Chill Out.[1]

He has worked with many Jamaican and international artists since, including Maxi Priest, Grace Jones, Serge Gainsbourg, Bette Midler, Big Mountain, Art Ensemble of Chicago, James Brown, Garnett Silk, Joe Cocker and Sinéad O'Connor.[2][5]

He is Geoffrey Chung's brother.[1] He has one daughter.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Moskowitz, David V. (2006) Caribbean Popular Music: an Encyclopedia of Reggae, Mento, Ska, Rock Steady, and Dancehall, Greenwood Press, ISBN 0-313-33158-8, p. 59-60
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Campbell, Howard (2014) "The Chung connection", Jamaica Observer, 6 July 2014. Retrieved 6 July 2014
  3. ↑ "In tune: classic Jamaican bands", Jamaica Gleaner, 29 July 2008, retrieved 2010-05-04
  4. ↑ Larkin, Colin (1998) The Virgin Encyclopedia of Reggae, Virgin Books, ISBN 0-7535-0242-9, p. 58-9
  5. ↑ "Sinead O'Connor touched by reggae, Rasta faith", Herald-Tribune, 11 August 2005, retrieved 2010-05-04

External links