Red Dragon (musician)
| Red Dragon | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Leroy May |
| Also known as | Redman |
| Born |
c.1960 Kingston, Jamaica |
| Genres | Reggae, dancehall |
| Years active | Early 1980s–present |
| Labels | Techniques, Dragon, VP |
Leroy May (born c.1960), better known as Red Dragon and initially as Redman, is a Jamaican deejay active since the early 1980s.
Biography
Born in Kingston, Jamaica, May deejayed with several sound systems in the early 1980s, including Barrington Hi Fi, Stone Love, People's Choice, and his own Rambo Mango, initially working under the name Redman.[1] His "Laughing Dragon" dubplate became popular, prompting a change of stage name to Red Dragon.[1] Early recordings included "Computer" for producer Charlie Chaplin, "Nah Get Nutten" for Harry J, and his first big hit "Hold a Fresh" for Winston Riley.[1][2] He went on to record for King Tubby and King Jammy, and in 1989 his debut album was released, a split LP with his brother, the deejay Flourgon.[1] He also started his own Dragon label, and moved into production, and helped to nurture the early careers of artists such as Buju Banton and Terry Ganzie.[1] In the early 1990s, he returned to recording, enjoying hits with a variety of producers including Riley, Bobby Digital, and Sly & Robbie, and had a major hit single along with Brian & Tony Gold with "Compliments on Your Kiss" in 1994, the single reaching number two in the UK Singles Chart.[1][3]
Discography
- Red Dragon vs. Flourgon (1989), Techniques
- Pum Pum Shorts (1992), Dragon
- Good Old College (1992), VP
- Bun Them (1994), VP
- Rusty Magnum (1998), Slammin
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Larkin, Colin (1998) The Virgin Encyclopedia of Reggae, Virgin Books, ISBN 0-7535-0242-9, p. 243-4
- ↑ 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. 253
- ↑ "Red Dragon With Brian And Tony Gold", Chart Stats, retrieved 2011-03-15