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Jacob Miller

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

Jacob Miller was a Jamaican reggae singer, born on 4 May 1952 in Mandeville. He was the only son of Joan Ashman, a choir singer and pianist. He grew up as a Rastafarian and was raised mainly by his great-aunt. At a young age he moved to Kingston and hung around the recording studios, especially Clement Coxsone Dodd's Studio One. He hoped to become the next child star there. At thirteen he recorded three songs for Dodd, including Love is a Message. It was not a success.

Music and breakthrough

In 1974 Augustus Pablo, who ran the sound system label Rockers with his brother Garth, recorded a version of that song: Keep on Knocking. Over the next year and a half Miller sang for Pablo Baby I Love You So, False Rasta, Who Say Jah No Dread and Each One Teach One, among others. He became the singer of Inner Circle, a roots reggae band that became known for covers of American hits, with Roger Lewis on guitar and Ian Lewis on bass. Alongside Inner Circle he kept recording solo, including I'm a Natty, a version of the Wailers' Soul Rebel.

Influence

His best-known recording is the dub track King Tubby Meets The Rockers Uptown with Augustus Pablo, a dub of Baby I Love You So, made by King Tubby. AllMusic called the vocal version a masterpiece. Miller died on 23 March 1980 in a car accident. He showed how a singer with a cheerful, playful voice could deliver deep roots reggae and how dub could completely renew a song.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to Baby I Love You So and then to King Tubby Meets The Rockers Uptown. What is left of the vocals in the dub, and what do bass and drums do with the space?

Discography

Studio albums

Categories: Artists