Clancy Eccles
This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (January 2018) |
Clancy Eccles | |
---|---|
Born | 9 December 1940 |
Origin | Dean Pen, St. Mary, Jamaica |
Died | 30 June 2005 | (aged 64)
Genres | Reggae Ska |
Occupation(s) | Record producer |
Years active | Mid-1950s–2005 |
Labels | Clandisc, Newbeat |
Clancy Eccles (9 December
Biography
Son of a tailor and builder, Eccles spent his childhood in the countryside of the parish of
Eccles had a Jamaican hit in 1961 with the early
In 1962, he started promoting concerts and set up his Christmas Morning talent show; first with Dodd, then on his own.
Starting in 1963, he recorded with producers such as Charlie Moo (Leslie Kong's business partner) and the husband of Sonia Pottinger, Lyndon.[5] He couldn't make a living from his music, so he quit in 1965 to work as a tailor in Annotto Bay. During this period, he made stage outfits for musicians such as Kes Chin, The Mighty Vikings, Byron Lee and the Dragonaires, Carlos Malcolm and The Blues Busters.[6]
He went back to music in 1967, producing his own recordings as well as those of other artists.
Eccles launched different record labels for his works: Clansone, New Beat and Clandisc (the latter also the name of a sub-label set up by Trojan Records for Eccles' UK releases).[11] He recorded artists such as Alton Ellis, Joe Higgs, the Trinidian Lord Creator ("Kingston Town"), Larry Marshall, Hemsley Morris, Earl Lawrence, The Beltones, Glen Ricks, Cynthia Richards, Buster Brown and Beres Hammond.[7][11] Appreciated by musicians for his fairness and sense of equity, he helped Lee Perry set up his Upsetter record label in 1968 after Perry left Dodd's employment, and helped Winston 'Niney' Holmes (later known as 'The Observer') record his first hit as a producer in 1971 ("Blood & Fire").[7][12]
A socialist militant,
Eccles' political interests meant that he spent less time on music, although in the late 1970s, Eccles had further success as a producer with recordings by Tito Simon and Exuma the Obeah Man, as well as collaborations with King Tubby.[2] After the 1970s, new Eccles recordings were rare, and he concentrated on live concert promotion and re-issues of his back catalogue.[2] In the 1980s, Eccles slowed down his musical activities, and he never met success again, apart from a few political songs, such as "Dem Mash Up The Country" in 1985. Eccles died on 30 June 2005, in Spanish Town Hospital from complications of a heart attack.
Eccles' son, Clancy Eccles Jr., has followed his father into the music business, initially performing as simply "Clancy".[14][15]
Discography
Singles before 1967
- "River Jordan" / "I Live And I Love" – 1960 – Blue Beat produced by Coxsone Dodd
- "Freedom" / "More Proof" – 1960 – Blue Beat produced by Coxsone Dodd
- "Judgement" / "Baby Please" – 1963 – Island Records produced for Charlie Moo
- "I'm The Greatest" – 1963 – produced by Mike Shadad
- "Glory Hallelujah" – 1963 – Island Records produced by Coxsone Dodd
- "Sammy No Dead" / "Roam Jerusalem" – 1965 – Ska Beat produced by Lyndon Pottinger.
- "Miss Ida" – 1965 – Ska Beat
Compilations after 1967
Clancy Eccles
- Clancy Eccles – Freedom – 1969 – Clandisc/Trojan
- Clancy Eccles – 1967–1983 – Joshua's Rod of Correction – Jamaican Gold (1996)
- Clancy Eccles – Top of the Ladder – 1973 – Big Shot/Trojan
Clancy Eccles & The Dynamites
- The Dynamites – Fire Corner – 1969 – Clandisc
- Clancy Eccles & The Dynamites – Herbsman Reggae – 1970 – Clandisc
- Clancy Eccles & The Dynamites – Top of the Ladder – 1973 – Big Shot/Trojan
- The Dynamites – The Wild Bunch Are The Dynamites – 1967–71 – Jamaican Gold (1996)
- Clancy Eccles & The Dynamites – Nyah Reggae Rock – 1969–70 – Jamaican Gold (1997)
Clancy Eccles productions
- King Stitt – Reggae Fire Beat – 1969–70 – Jamaican Gold (1996)
- Cynthia Richards & Friends – Foolish Fool −1970 – Clandisc
- Tito Simon – Just Tito Simon – 1973 – Horse/Trojan coproduced by Joe Sinclair
- Various – Clancy Eccles – Fatty Fatty – 1967–70 – Trojan (1998)
- Various – Clancy Eccles Presents His Reggae Revue – Rock Steady Intensified – 1967–72 – Heartbeat Records (1990)
- Various – Kingston Town: 18 Reggae Hits – Heartbeat Records (1993)
- Various – Clancy Eccles – Feel The Rhythm - 1966–68 – Jamaican Gold (2000)
- Various – Clancy Eccles' Rock Steady Reggae Revue at Sombrero Club – 1967–69 – Jamaican Gold (2001)
- Various – Clancy Eccles' Reggae Revue At The Ward Theatre – 1969–70 – Jamaican Gold (2001)
- Various – Clancy Eccles' Reggae Revue At The VIP Club – 1970–73 – Jamaican Gold (2001)
- Various – Clancy Eccles' Reggae Revue At The Carib Theatre – 1973–86 – Jamaican Gold (2001)
- Various – Clancy Eccles: Freedom – An Anthology – Trojan (October 2005)
Notes
- ^ Some sources, e.g. Thompson, have DoB as 19 December
- ^ a b c d e f Katz
- ^ a b Barrow, p.109
- ^ Katz suggests that Eccles won this contest, but Eccles himself has stated that it was won by Tony Gregory.
- ^ a b Larkin, p.90
- ^ a b c d Walters
- ^ a b c d Thompson, p.310
- ^ Jamaica Gleaner, 17 August 2014. Retrieved 17 August 2014
- ^ Barrow, p.108
- ^ Gorney, Mark (2005). ""Clancy Eccles - Reggae Pioneer"" (PDF). Reggaefestivalguide.com. The Beat Magazine. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
- ^ a b Larkin, p.91
- ^ Barrow, p.110
- Jamaica Gleaner. 25 December 2011. Retrieved 14 May 2013.
- ^ Munroe
- ^ Cooke
References
- Steve Barrow & Peter Dalton (2004) The Rough Guide to Reggae, 3rd edn., ISBN 1-84353-329-4
- Mel Cooke (2005) "Spacious setting, good musical atmosphere – At Andy's Place", Jamaica Gleaner, 14 September 2005
- David Katz (2005) "Obituaries: Clancy Eccles", The Independent, 5 August 2005
- Colin Larkin (1998) The Virgin Encyclopedia of Reggae, Virgin Books, ISBN 0-7535-0242-9
- Norman Munroe (2003) "A Moonlight Serenade", Jamaica Observer, 19 February 2003
- Dave Thompson (2002) Reggae & Caribbean Music, Backbeat Books, ISBN 0-87930-655-6
- Basil Walters (2005) "Remembering Clancy Eccles", Jamaica Observer, 10 July 2005