Super Cat
Super Cat | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Birth name | William Anthony Maragh |
Also known as | Wild Apache |
Born | Kingston, Jamaica | 25 June 1963
Genres | |
Occupation(s) | Deejay |
Instrument(s) | Vocals |
Years active | 1981–present |
Labels |
William Anthony Maragh (born 25 June 1963), Super Cat is considered one of the greatest deejays in the history of the Jamaican dancehall scene.
Biography
Born to an
He began appearing as a deejay under the name Cat-A-Rock, but soon switched to the name Super Cat.[4] He also appeared as 'Wild Apache'.[4] His first single "Mr. Walker", produced by Winston Riley, was released in 1981 and established his recording career. He went on to record for Jah Thomas ("Walkathon", on which he was billed as 'Super Cat the Indian'),[2] but his career was interrupted by a period of incarceration.[4] After his release he began working with Early B on the Killamanjaro sound system in 1984,[3] and his debut album, Si Boops Deh!, was released in 1985, and included the hit singles "Boops" (which was based on Steely & Clevie's updated "Feel Like Jumping" rhythm and sparked a craze for songs about sugar daddies),[2] and "Cry Fi De Youth", establishing his style of dancehall with conscious lyrics.[4]
He started his own Wild Apache Productions label and began producing his recordings, including the 1988 album Sweets for My Sweet.[4] He featured on the album Cabin Stabbin in 1991 along with Nicodemus and Junior Demus.[1] He had been scheduled to perform at the One Love concert in the UK in 1991, but his appearance was cancelled after the shooting death of Nitty Gritty, for which Super Cat was initially suspected but cleared in 1992.[5] Continuing success saw him move to the United States and sign a contract with Columbia Records, releasing one of the first dancehall albums on a major label, Don Dada (1992).[4] The following year, Sony Music issued The Good, the Bad, the Ugly, and the Crazy, teaming Super Cat with Nicodemus, Junior Demus and Junior Cat.[4]
Super Cat had a number of hit singles in the early 1990s, including "Don Dada", "Ghetto Red Hot" and "Dem No Worry We" with Heavy D. In 1992, he was featured on the remix of "Jump" with
His version of
Super Cat reappeared on the national reggae scene in 2009 for a show at Madison Square Garden with Buju Banton and Barrington Levy. He also headlined the 'Best of the Best' concert in Miami in 2008, with Assassin, Etana, Barrington Levy, Buju Banton, Junior Reid, Tony Matterhorn, Sizzla and Beenie Man.
In 2012, his song "Dance Inna New York" was sampled for Nas' single "The Don", from the rapper's album Life Is Good, with Cat adding vocals to the hook.
Super Cat made a surprise appearance at Massive B's on Da Reggae Tip concert in September 2013 during the set of Shaggy. That same week, a mix of his work previously recorded during his time with The Neptunes label was released to the internet.[7] In May 2014 he headlined the Reggae on the Bay festival in Trinidad.[8]
Super Cat is the elder brother of reggae artist Junior Cat and first cousin of reggae singer Marcia Griffiths.[citation needed]
Discography
Albums
- Si Boops Deh! (1985), Techniques
- Boops! (1986), Nick Crompton
- Sweets for My Sweet (1988), Wild Apache
- Cabin Stabbin (1991), Wild Apache—with Nicodemus & Junior Demus
- Don Dada (1992), Columbia/SME
- Good, the Bad, the Ugly & the Crazy (1994), Columbia/SME—with Nicodemus, Junior Demus and Junior Cat
- The Struggle Continues (1995), Columbia/SME
- Take 2 (2003), Columbia/SME—with Mad Cobra
- Reggaematic Diamond All-Stars (2004), Wild Apache
Charted singles
Title | Year | Peak chart positions | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
UK
[9] |
AUS [10] |
BEL (FL) [10] |
BEL (WA) [10] |
NZ [11] | ||
"It Fe Done" | 1992 | 66 | — | — | — | — |
"My Girl Josephine" (featuring Jack Radics) |
1995 | 22 | 26 | 33 | 40 | 6 |
"Girlstown" | 66 | — | — | — | 33 |
DVD
- Pick of the Past Keeling Reggae – with Nicodemus, Junior Demus, Louie Rankin, and Nick Crompton
References
- ^ Allmusic, retrieved 18 July 2010
- ^ ISBN 1-84353-329-4, p. 286
- ^ ISBN 978-0-9554817-1-0, p. 84
- ^ ISBN 0-313-33158-8, p. 283-4
- ^ ISBN 0-7535-0242-9, p. 286
- ^ "Super Cat - Dolly Be My Baby (1993, Vinyl)". Discogs. 21 November 1993. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
- ^ Walters, Hasani (10 September 2013). "'New' Super Cat". Jamaica Gleaner. Retrieved 11 September 2013.
- ^ "Super Cat takes spotlight at reggae show", Trinidad and Tobago Guardian, 9 May 2014. Retrieved 11 May 2014
- ^ "Super Cat | full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 October 2022.
- ^ a b c "Super Cat feat. Jack Radics". australian-charts.com. Retrieved 20 October 2022.
- ^ "Discography Super Cat". charts.nz. Retrieved 20 October 2022.