Early B

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This article is about Jamaican musician. For South African rapper, see Early B (rapper).

Early B
Birth nameEarlando Arrington Neil
Also known asThe Doctor
Born(1957-02-28)28 February 1957
OriginKingston, Jamaica
Died11 September 1994(1994-09-11) (aged 37)
Dorchester, Massachusetts
Genres

Earlando Arrington Neil, (born 28 February 1957 - 11 September 1994) better known by his stage name Early B, was an early

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
.

Biography

Earlando was born into a poor family and left a promising school career at age seventeen to support his mother and two brothers. He began work as a machine clerk but within a year was elevated to acting supervisor.[1]

Neil began performing live on Soul Imperial Hi-Fi alongside his young apprentice,

sugar cane industry and was unable to run the sound system during harvest time. Frustration boiled over for "Cat" and Early B who both had ambitions to make it "big time". Their first chance came with Killamanjaro.[1]
deejay wanted to "hold the mike" on the Killamanjaro sound alongside Early B, who had by now acquired a new nickname – The Doctor. Such was the demand that Killamanjaro set a record, that still holds today, by performing on fifty-two consecutive nights in Kingston.[1]

Over the next two years, Early B was in constant demand as a recording artist scoring hits such as Gaterman Get Fraid, Wheel Wheely (also called One Wheely Wheely), Sunday Dish, and Learn Fe Drive.

deejay career brought him to other sound systems as well, including the African Star sound system in Toronto, Canada[2][3] and Crystal Blue Flames Sound in New York City.[2]

Early performed throughout the US and England (as well as Jamaica) until he was shot to death inside the Windsor Cricket Club, Dorchester, Massachusetts, on 11 September 1994.[4] While rumours have circulated as to the reasoning behind the murder, his killers have never been found.

Early B recorded several albums during the mid-80s, which remain well-circulated in the digital age today. Several tribute compilation albums have recently been released on CD, such as Immortal and A Memorial Tributed Reggae Hits.

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"

"Ghost Buster" (album)

  • Released: 1985
  • Format:
    LP
  • Label: Black Solidarity
  • Tracks: Eight

"Sunday Dish" (album)

  • Released: 1985
  • Format:
    LP
  • Label: Sunset
  • Producer: Jah Thomas
  • Tracks: Nine
  • Singles: "History of Jamaica"

"Wheely Wheely" (album)

  • Released: 1985
  • Format:
    LP
  • Label: Sunset
  • Tracks: Eight
  • Singles: "Wheely Wheely"

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Boss, Joe D.. Early B. Immortal. Black Solidarity, 1980–1987.
  2. ^ a b c Reggaepedia Wiki
  3. ^ a b "Interview with Stuart Brown". Archived from the original on 14 June 2008. Retrieved 5 May 2008.
  4. ^ "Guns out in the DANCEHALL – Entertainment". JamaicaObserver.com. Archived from the original on 28 May 2012. Retrieved 3 January 2012.

External links

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