King Jammy


Lloyd Woodrowe James , better known as Prince Jammy or King Jammy, is a Jamaican dub mixer, sound system owner and record producer. He began his musical career as a dub master at King Tubby's recording studio. His dubs are known for their clear sound and use of effects.

Biography

After earning money from building amplifiers and repairing electrical equipment from his mother's house in Waterhouse in the late 1960s, he started his own sound system. He also built equipment for other local systems. After leaving Jamaica to work in Canada for a few years in the early 1970s, he returned to Kingston in 1976 and set up his own studio at his in-laws' home in Waterhouse, and released a couple of Yabby You productions. When Philip Smart left King Tubby's team to work in New York City, Jammy replaced him, getting to work with Bunny Lee and Yabby You.
In the late 1970s, he began to release his own productions, including the debut album from Black Uhuru in 1977. In the 1980s, he became one of the most influential producers of dancehall music. His biggest hit was 1985's "Under Me Sleng Teng" by Wayne Smith, with an entirely digital rhythm hook. Many credit this song as being the first "digital riddim" in reggae, leading to the modern dancehall era. Later into 1980s, Jammy improvised reggae and dancehall: he digitalized old riddims, like Real Rock, and Far East. King Jammy then began working with top artists in Jamaica throughout the 1980s and 1990s such as Admiral Bailey, Admiral Tibet, Chaka Demus, Frankie Paul, Lieutenant Stitchie, Pinchers, and Dennis Brown. Jammy's productions and sound system dominated reggae music for the remainder of the 1980s and into the 1990s. He continues to work as a producer, working with some of today's top Jamaican artists, including Sizzla.

Partial discography

Compilations

Appearances on various artist compilations

  • Big Showdown
  • Black Black Minds
  • Bunny Lee Meets King Tubby & Aggrovators
  • Creation Rockers
  • Don Letts Presents The Mighty Trojan Sound
  • Dub Chill Out
  • Dub Massive Chapter 1
  • Dub Massive Chapter 2
  • Dub Sessions
  • Dubwise & Otherwise
  • Fat Man Dub Contest
  • Fatman Presents Twin Spin Vol I
  • First, Second And Third Generation Of Dub
  • Flashing Echo
  • Haul & Pull Up Selecta
  • Heavyweight Sound
  • In Fine Style
  • King Jammy in Roots
  • Kung Fu !
  • Punky Reggae Party
  • Run It Red
  • Scratchy Sounds
  • Straight To I Roy Head
  • The Crowning Of Prince Jammy
  • The Rough Guide to Dub
  • The Trojan Story Vol 1&2
  • Third World Disco Vol 1
  • This Is Crucial Reggae Dub
  • Trojan 12" Box Set
  • Trojan Dub Box Set Volume 2
  • Under Me Sleng Teng Extravaganza
  • X-Ray Music

Albums produced

  • Anthony Johnson – A Yah We Deh
  • Barry Brown – King Jammy Presents Barry Brown
  • Barry Brown – Showcase
  • Black Crucial – Mr. Sonny
  • Black Sounds Uhro – Love Crisis
  • Black Uhuru – Black Sounds of Freedom
  • Black Uhuru & Prince Jammy – Uhuru in Dub
  • Cocoa Tea – The Marshall
  • Dennis Brown – History
  • Dennis Brown – Slow Down
  • Errol Holt – Vision of Africa
  • Frankie Paul – Sara
  • Frankie Paul & Michael Palmer – Double Trouble
  • Half Pint – Money Man Skank
  • Half Pint – One in a Million
  • Kruxial Selecta- Long inna Time
  • Horace Andy – Haul And Jack Up
  • Hortense Ellis – Reflections
  • Hugh Mundell Featuring Lacksley Castell – Jah Fire
  • Johnny Osbourne – Folly Ranking
  • Johnny Osbourne – Mr Body Bye
  • Johnny Osbourne – Musical Chopper
  • Johnny Osbourne – Water Pumping
  • Jolly Brothers – Consciousness
  • Junior Reid – Boom Shack A Lack
  • King Tubby & Prince Jammy & Scientist – Dubwise Revolution
  • Leroy Smart – She Just A Draw Card
  • Leroy Smart – Showcase
  • Leroy Smart – We Rule Everytime
  • Little John – Clarks Booty
  • Michael Palmer – I'm So Attractive
  • Natural Vibes – Life Hard A Yard
  • Niccademos – Dance Hall Style
  • Noel Phillips – Youth Man Vibrations
  • Peter Yellow – Hot
  • Prince Jammy – Kamikazi Dub
  • Prince Jammy – Osbourne in Dub
  • Prince Jammy – Prince Jammy Destroys The Invaders
  • Prince Jammy – Strictly Dub
  • Prince Jammy & Various Artists – The Rhythm King
  • Sugar Minott – A Touch of Class
  • Sugar Minott – Bitter Sweet
  • Tonto Irie – Jammy's Possee
  • Travellers – Black Black Minds
  • U Black – Westbound Thing A Swing
  • U Brown – Mr Brown Something
  • U Brown vs Peter Yellow – DJ Confrontation
  • Various Artists – 10 To 1
  • Various Artists – 1985 Master Mega Hits
  • Various Artists – 1985 Master Mega Hits Vol 2
  • Various Artists – King Jammy – A Man And His Music Vol 1
  • Various Artists – King Jammy – A Man And His Music Vol 2
  • Various Artists – King Jammy – A Man And His Music Vol 3
  • Various Artists – King Jammy in Roots
  • Various Artists – King Jammy's at Channel 1
  • Various Artists – Prince Jammy Presents Vol 1
  • Various Artists – Superstar Hit Parade
  • Various Artists – Under Me Sleng Teng Extravaganza
  • Wayne Smith (musician) – Smoker Super
  • Wayne Smith – Under Me Sleg Teng
  • Wayne Smith – Youthman Skanking
  • Ween – Friends EP

Albums engineered and/or mixed

As an arranger

  • Black Crucial – Mr. Sonny
  • Black Sounds Uhro – Love Crisis
  • Dennis Brown – History
  • Dennis Brown – Slow Down
  • Johnny Osbourne – Folly Ranking
  • Noel Phillips – Youth Man Vibrations
  • The Agrovators – Jammies in Lion Dub Style

As a percussionist

  • Dennis Brown – Slow Down
  • Johnny Osbourne – Water Pumping