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Johnny Clarke

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

Johnny Clarke is a Jamaican reggae singer, born in 1955. He grew up in Whitfield Town, a poor district of Kingston. In 1971 he won a talent contest in Bull Bay. The prize was a meeting with producer Clancy Eccles, with whom a year later he recorded his first song, God Made the Sea and the Sun. It sold badly. With Rupie Edwards he had his first hits in 1973, Everyday Wondering and Julie. In 1974 he began a long collaboration with producer Bunny Lee and his band The Aggrovators. None Shall Escape the Judgement was an immediate success and gave his debut album its title.

Music and breakthrough

In 1975 and 1976 he was named Artist of the Year in Jamaica. He mixed his own songs with covers of other reggae songs and combined roots with love songs. Many of his lyrics are about his faith as a Rastafarian, such as Let Go Violence, against violence, and Legalize It, about legalising marijuana. In 1976 he was one of the first Jamaican artists at Frontline, Virgin's label, where Authorized Version and Rockers Time Now appeared. In 1983 he moved to London and worked there with Mad Professor, among others.

Influence

Clarke helped shape the so-called Flying Cymbals period, which preceded the Roots Rockers sound of the mid and late 1970s. On stage he hides his knee-length dreadlocks, his African Roots, under a large hat and takes it off at the end of the concert. In 2012 he released an album on his own label Hit Machine for fifty years of Jamaican independence. He continues to perform.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to None Shall Escape the Judgement and notice the high, pleading voice above the rhythm section of bass and drums, which keeps repeating the same pattern.

Discography

Studio albums

Categories: Artists