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Big Youth

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Big Youth is the stage name of Manley Augustus Buchanan, a Jamaican deejay who had his greatest influence in the 1970s. He was born on 19 April 1949 in Trenchtown, Kingston. Before making music he worked as a diesel mechanic at the Sheraton Hotel in Kingston, where colleagues called him Big Youth and where he developed his toasting. He began at dances, at first under the influence of U-Roy, and around 1970 became the regular deejay of the sound system of Lord Tippertone. Of the deejays he said himself that they stood closest to the people, because there was no control by the establishment over the sound systems.

Music and breakthrough

His first singles for Jimmy Radway, Lee Perry and Phil Pratt did not catch on. He then worked with the young producer Gussie Clarke, and The Killer became his first big hit in Jamaica, followed by Tippertone Rocking. S-90 Skank, with a screaming engine in the studio, became his first number one. His first album was Chi Chi Run in 1972, followed by Screaming Target, a classic of the genre, and by Dreadlocks Dread in 1976. In 1973 he showed his dreadlocks during a performance, at a time when Rastafari musicians were often sidelined in the Jamaican music world. Later he released self-produced records.

Influence

Big Youth stood out for a half-sung style, unlike his colleagues, and for his teeth, which were inlaid with red, gold and green gemstones. He is one of the deejays who brought toasting from the dance floor to the record, and his style showed how Rastafari and street life could come together in the reggae song.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to S-90 Skank and notice the sound of the engine in the recording. Hear how he moves back and forth between talking and singing over a relaxed reggae rhythm.

Discography

Studio albums

See also

Categories: Artists